Quick Facts

Destinations: Malaysian Borneo | Sipadan + Kinabatangan River

Dates: 18th - 24th July 2026

Type of trip: Women dive and land-based tour
Duration: 4 nights Seaventures Dive Rig + 2 nights Sukau Rainforest Lodge = 6 nights/7 days
Fly in: Tawau (TWU)  

Fly out: Sandakan (SDK) 

The northern state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo has an ABUNDANCE of wildlife both above and beneath the surface, so we have created the dream itinerary where we can explore both, including staying on the world's only dive rig!

We will visit Sipadan Island and the world's only dive rig, a renowned diving destination home to diverse marine life, including turtles, sharks, barracudas, reef fish, and unique macro creatures, making it a hotspot for both pelagic and macro divers. 

Then we will channel our inner David Attenborough and head to the rainforest! The vast floodplain forest of the Kinabatangan River contains a rich mix of vegetation that supports a remarkable diversity of wildlife; including proboscis monkeys, orangutan, gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants, tarsiers, slow loris, macaque monkeys, crocodiles, freshwater sharks, Irrawaddy dolphins, hornbills and a variety of other birds.

Seaventures Dive Rig

Our epic home for the first 4 nights is the worlds first and only DIVE RIG, situated 26 kilometres from the coast of Semporna, firmly standing on the seabed at the height of 24 meters above the Celebes Sea. This unique facility offers all the amenities and services of a full-board dive resort. We will have 9 comfortable guestrooms, each with a private bathroom for convenience, and there are various facilities and recreational spaces, including a circular sundeck with stunning views of nearby Mabul Island and water villages dotted across the island. Dive junkies will thoroughly enjoy the in-house rig dive, to discover exceptional house reef that offers shelter to a diverse ecosystem of marine life around the rig legs.  Seaventures’ 5-star dive centre offers a full range of technical diving equipment rental and facilities, a wet room, Nitrox fills, a camera room and training room.  

Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Get a taste of luxury in the midst of the Bornean Rainforest at Sukau Rainforest Lodge, an award-winning ecolodge situated along the Kinabatangan River, a place that exudes exotic Borneo vibes and lush comfort whilst being in the great wilderness. The lodge is also visited by various wildlife and birdlife from time to time - if we are lucky enough we will see resident orangutans drop by. Sir David Attenborough is a Sakau Rainforest Lodge Conservation Fellow, and Villa 9 is named after him!

Diving conditions in and around Sipadan are generally suitable for all levels of divers, although you can expect some current. We advise divers wishing to join this trip to have Open Water certification, or equivalent, with a minimum of 10 logged dives. You will be back-rolling off the dive boat as well as giant strides off the lowered platform of the rig.

You can enjoy diving around Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan throughout the year, with the best conditions generally from April to October, featuring calm waters, plentiful marine life and excellent visibility. 

Water temperatures are around 26°C to 30°C (79-86°F) and visibility averaging 15-30 meters (60-100 feet). 

New to Girls that Scuba trips? Find out more about our trips, the Girls that Scuba difference, along with the respect and openness we ask for on these experiences as well as any requirements. Read our full Girls that Scuba Trips Community Norms and FAQs here

This is an adventure trip, with upto 3 dives a day on our rig portion of the trips and plenty of time to relax in between on the sun deck, and a fun filled itinerary in the rainforest. There is a fair amount of travelling included within this trip, including approximately 1 hour drive and 45 minute boat to get to the dive rig, plus a 4 hour drive from the port to the lodge. 

This trip is for 15 like-minded women, who most probably will not know each other before you arrive, perfect you are looking to make some dive friends, explore a new place and have everything organised for you! 

By signing up to the trip you agree to our cancellation policy here: girlsthatscubatrips.com/cancelation-policy

It's time to meet your fellow GTS'ers and board our unique home!

Airport pick up from Tawau Domestic Airport between 8:30am and 11am

Our favourite bit! Dive time!
2 full days will be spent in Sipadan, the remaining dives will be in the house reef and surrounding dive sites of Mabul and Kapalai, weather and schedule permitting. 

We make our way to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, arriving just in time for lunch at our Melapi Restaurant, followed by an afternoon river cruise in search of wildlife and birds. That evening we will enjoy a delicious dinner overlooking the riverbank followed by a wildlife presentation by a naturalist guide. 

Up bright and early for a 0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap oxbow lake to view more birds and wildlife. We return for breakfast, and then head out on an educational tour along the lodge's Hornbill Boardwalk with our in-house naturalist. After lunch, we join our in-house Orangutan Talk before setting off on another river cruise for more wildlife. Another delicious dinner at the Lodge. 

After breakfast, we head to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. We will learn about the plight of the Orangutans and the rehabilitation efforts ongoing at the Centre, and enjoy a walk through the rainforest on wooden boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orangutans at 1000hrs, followed by visiting the newly completed enclosed nursery area for young orangutans, and the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about the conservation of the world's smallest bear.

After lunch, we wil proceed to the airport for the 1430HRS flight to Kota Kinabalu. For those taking the evening flight ETD 1800HRS, we will have a chance to visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Take a bird's view of the centre from the canopy walk and hanging bridge, and explore the botanical garden, home to various species of flora. Transfer to Sandakan airport for your departure flight.