Terminal
One of the main activities in which people partake while in KK is to “island hop” – to visit one or more of the nearby five islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park to swim and snorkle or dive. The islands are Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, Gaya and Sulug.
You can also buy tours which include lunch, but this obviously costs more. Hotels also sell these. At the terminal there are lots of shops so you can buy food and drinks to take with you if you wish.
food stalls at terminal
A quick check online will find many other accounts of how to do this, so this is my quick take.
The weather being unstable, we couldn’t decide until the morning if we were going to do this, and in the morning it looked like it would later rain. But we had only one remaining full day, so we thought we’d try.
A taxi from our hotel to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal cost us RM12. This seems like another fee fixed by the taxi mafia, or whatever they are. We asked the driver which company at the terminal to use, and he said it doesn’t matter.
Booking Hall
So we picked one at random, as we’d heard they more or less provide the same services, at around the same price. We used a company called, “Sunny Rainbow.” It’s popular to arrange to go to two or more islands, but we opted for only one due to potential later rain, and this is what the person at the counter suggested, too. We chose to go to Sapi.
inside booking hall
inside booking hall
The amount you pay depends on how many of the islands you visit, and what equipment you hire. Here is a photo of the prices:
schedule and prices
Once you’ve paid you immediately collect any gear you’ve hired. A mask and snorkel is a good idea if you want to snorkel. I easily float without a life jacket, and you are swimming very close to shore, mostly where you can stand, so that’s all I hire. Mrs Tropical Expat, however, also hired a life jacket.
So, it cost us:
20 – hire of two mask & snorkels
10 – hire of one life jacket
46 – fare for two to one island
14.40 – Ferry terminal charge for two
——
RM90.40
Then you go and wait at the seats at the end of the pier after showing your tickets to the company’s representative there.
waiting area
When the boat is about to depart they will escort you to the boat.
If you didn’t rent a life jacket there are plenty on the boat to use for the ride.
life jackets
The boats are quite small, as you’ll see in the photos, and the ride is a little bit bumpy.
donning life jackets
Depending on which island you go to it takes perhaps 10 – 20 minutes boat ride to get there.
The boat departs and arrives at a jetty on the island with little fuss.
At the jetty a company representative meets you, and you tell him what time you want to catch the boat back or to other islands if that’s what you’re doing. But if you decide to return at a different time just go to the jetty 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time you want.
You can see fish from the jetty.
view from the jetty
When you walk off the jetty there is a little booth where you pay yet another charge – this time to Sabah Parks. This covers any islands you visit that day. Here is a chart of the charges:
We showed we were Malaysian residents, and paid the Malaysian price of RM3 each. There were no further charges.
After this we were escorted by the representative to a picnic table and bench under the shade of trees at the beach, and we were told we could sit there, or leave our things there, covered, if we go in the water, or elsewhere. So we were well looked after.
picnic table
Behind the beach are toilets – the usual Malaysian standard …
toilet block
…and outside showers.
showers
There are some shops, too.
We went in the water…
beach
and I could see some fish, but nothing that special.
There were a lot of jelly bugs – like jelly fish, but they only irritate your skin a little, and it soon fades. I put a t-shirt on to protect myself a little.
Even though we’d gone quite early there were so many people on the beach, and in the water.
A storm appeared to be on the way, so we actually left early, and that was no problem – the boat took us back with no fuss.
There is even a pub when you get back.
Well, I guess it is the high season, but there were too many people for my liking. I’d suggest getting the first boat of the morning to get some peaceful time. To be honest, I much preferred the Perhentian Islands for snorkelling. But while you are in Sabah, it is worth considering. But read a few more online accounts to see which islands you might prefer, what other strategies you might employ etc.
