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Blue skies, open ocean, and white clouds — the scenery before us felt almost too beautiful to be real.
Every trip is like getting to know yourself all over again. Why not give yourself a holiday — bring family and friends, or go it alone — and head to Sabah, a warm and unpretentious city, to discover the hidden paradise tucked away on the map: Semporna.
Pre-Trip Preparation
Sample Dive Trip Itinerary
This dive trip had just two goals: diving and genuine relaxation. So the schedule wasn't packed, and we didn't go crazy diving. Feel free to use it as a reference!
| Day | Time | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 9:50–13:20 | Taipei Airport → Kota Kinabalu Airport | |
| Currency exchange in the city & lunch | |||
| 17:55–18:50 | Kota Kinabalu Airport → Tawau Airport | ||
| 19:00–20:20 | Tawau Airport → Semporna town | ||
| Day 2 | 9:00–16:30 | Semporna island-hopping snorkeling | |
| Day 3 | 9:00–16:30 | Semporna island-hopping scuba diving (3 dives) | |
| Day 4 | 9:00–16:30 | Semporna island-hopping scuba diving (3 dives) | |
| Day 5 | 8:30–15:30 | Sipadan island-hopping scuba diving (2 dives) | |
| Day 6 | 10:25–11:15 | Tawau → Kota Kinabalu Airport | |
| Strolling the city & sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach | |||
| Day 7 | 6:05–9:25 | Kota Kinabalu Airport → Taipei Airport |
Sample itinerary for a Sipadan dive trip
Day 1 — Transit Day
After landing in Sabah, claiming our luggage, and checking it in (there's a luggage storage area behind the KFC near Gate 4), we headed into the city to the Wisma Merdeka mall to exchange currency and grab a bite. There's plenty of food nearby, and the Editor's very first Malaysian meal was a bowl of authentic bak kut teh!
Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh — a delicate, clear broth with melt-in-your-mouth pork ribs. The dry version is equally delicious and goes perfectly with rice!
Exchange rates are fairly similar across the mall's counters, but we got a great rate that day — 1 New Taiwan Dollar to 6.7 Malaysian Ringgit.
Many tourists come here to exchange money — the rates are better, and the counters are right at the ground-floor entrance of the mall.
After filling our stomachs, we hopped on the domestic flight to Tawau. By the time we arrived at Tawau Airport, it was already dark — a truly exhausting day of travel that left everyone looking thoroughly dishevelled (absolutely wrecked, lol!).
Stepping off the plane, the big "TAWAU" sign greeted us — we'd finally made it!
Tawau Airport is tiny — collect your bags and you're basically already on your way out!
Just one last leg to go!!!
A tip from the Editor: after collecting your bags, make sure to use the restroom first — it's still a 60–90-minute drive from here to Semporna town!
Day 2 — Semporna Island-Hopping Snorkeling
Day 3 — Semporna Island-Hopping Scuba Diving
Day 4 — Semporna Island-Hopping Scuba Diving
Day 5 — Sipadan Scuba Diving
Day 6 — Back to Sabah City as a Tourist
We arrived in the city by midday on the last day. Beyond wandering around town, the Editor — a committed foodie — launched a full culinary tour. All the places listed below are close to each other, so it's best to go in a group and share, so you can hit as many spots as possible! (Click on each image to open Google Maps.)
Yi Feng Tea House: Mostly soup-based dishes — highly recommend the laksa seafood noodles, tangy and spicy, a real appetite-opener!
Jin Sha Yuan Raw Meat Noodles: Go for the dry version — it comes with a side soup. If you're not a fan of offal, you can swap it for sliced meat (incredibly tender).
Wei Ya Hainanese Chicken Rice: The chicken is impossibly tender with silky, springy skin. Drizzled with chicken oil and the house sauce, a whole bowl of rice disappears in no time.
A supermarket haul is absolutely mandatory — hands full on both sides! Snacks from abroad always seem to taste extra good somehow!
Tanjung Aru Beach, said to boast one of the top three sunsets in the world, delivers stunning views no matter which angle you're watching from — golden hour or the glowing afterglow that follows. There's a small market along the beach where you can pick up some food and sit by the water to enjoy it with the sunset. Truly the most romantic thing you can do.
The endless ocean paired with a golden sunset — time seemed to stand still in that moment.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, so did our journey come to a close.
About a five-minute walk from the beach is a semi-open-air restaurant called Lucy's Kitchen. You can dine while watching the sunset — the menu is extensive and the prices are very reasonable, but do make a reservation in advance, as the best seats fill up fast!
When the Editor first walked in, the glowing afterglow in the background looked like a painted canvas — seeing it in person was absolutely breathtaking, almost surreal!
For the final meal, it had to be a plate of fried kway teow paired with a bowl of laksa!
A note from the Editor: Kota Kinabalu city centre is actually quite compact. If you have time to spare, consider staying an extra few days — join a local island-hopping tour (fireflies, proboscis monkeys, Moonbay Island), browse plenty of one-day itineraries online, or treat yourself to a stay at an overwater bungalow resort, which is far more affordable than the Maldives!
Moonbay Island: Lying in a hammock and letting your mind drift — pure bliss.
bungaraya-island-resort: A private island resort — compared to the Maldives, the price difference is truly remarkable.
Step out of your room and you're greeted by an endless ocean view — incredibly restorative.
Day 7 — Transit Day
Our flight home departed at 6:05 in the morning, so we decided to skip accommodation the night before and sleep at the airport — saving both the cost of a room and the hassle of an early-morning commute. Kota Kinabalu Airport has free Wi-Fi, and both McDonald's and the convenience store run around the clock, so a midnight snack is never out of reach. That said, it was the Editor's first time sleeping at an airport, and sleep was hard to come by. Thankfully, a few TV shows downloaded onto the tablet kept me company through the sleepless small hours.
Even the Editor eventually surrendered to exhaustion. Remember to take out a towel and put on long trousers and a long-sleeved top — the air conditioning inside the airport is fierce!
The return flight departs at 6:05, and if you're lucky enough to snag a window seat on the east side of the plane, you might just catch the sunrise!
The peak beside us is Mount Kinabalu — Malaysia's highest mountain.
Sabah, Malaysia is a destination the Editor wholeheartedly recommends. There are plenty of private island resorts right in the area perfect for a getaway, and even if you skip the island-hopping, the city itself sits right by the sea and is surrounded by wonderful beach resorts! Whether you're coming with family and friends, on a romantic escape with a partner, or embarking on a solo backpacking adventure, Sabah is the ideal fit for all.
On top of the low cost of living, the flight from Taiwan to Sabah takes only 3.5 hours — faster than travelling from Taipei to Kenting! Book early and you can snag incredibly cheap airfares. While the local language is Malay, most people speak English, and Mandarin is increasingly widespread here too, making communication a breeze. No need to worry!
After reading this, if you're feeling inspired — don't hesitate, go check those flight prices right now (highly encouraged)!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
