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Spheredivers Homestay & Scuba Diving

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#1 of 4 guest houses in Pulau Mabul
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
4.5
Value
4.5
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Property amenities
Free breakfast

Location

Pulau Mabul Malaysia
Spheredivers Homestay & Scuba Diving
Getting there
Tawau Airport
34.8 mi
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77Reviews5Q+A3Room tips
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Ognir S wrote a review Jul 2023
Amsterdam, The Netherlands58 contributions11 helpful votes
Stayed her for 2 nights. Disappointing from start to end. Lunch, dinner and breakfast was below every level. the staff here wasn’t really hospitable or helpfull in any way. I have travelled a lot and have been in many basic places but never experienced this in 30 years. I stayed in the room with own “bathroom”. The shower didn’t work and the sink was loose. On top of everything the housecoat was urinating on my stuff outside. I do understand why it was so quite. Choose this place based on the reviews but unfortunately I couldn’t find anything back of the positive.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Joël Kuster wrote a review Jun 2023
7 contributions
If you do dive i would definately not recommend! Big big safety issues!!! If you do not dive, its a nice hotel with nice food and nice people. Back to the safetyissue: We had to turn back on our first dive because of 2 completely malfunctioning bcds prior to going down, then in 25 m deth the plastic mouthpiece got disconnected from the regulator, resulting in an emergency exit. And when testing other regulators for following dives, most of the regulators had issues with changing pressure while inhaling. We never felt more uncomfortable in combined 250 dives. We hope they changed the equipment in the meantime.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Dominik G wrote a review Jan 2020
Zurich, Switzerland37 contributions28 helpful votes
Great friendly guys, good diving, well prepared and clean cosy rooms. Can definitely recommend this place. Local people make the stay at Spheredivers even better. Must dive is Sipadan, if you have the chance go there.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Anna Meier wrote a review Dec 2019
4 contributions4 helpful votes
I stayed a week at Spheredivers in Mabul and it was a wonderful experience. They provided a boat from Semporna to Mabul which picked us up straight away, no hassle, and brought us directly to Spheredivers. When we arrived, we were welcomed by the staff who immediately helped us organise our dives for the following week, and when we mentioned that we would like to dive in Sipadan, despite it being difficult to acquire permits to dive there on short notice, they organised a day of diving there for me and my brother later on in our stay. The rooms were basic and didn't have the best facilities, but not uncomfortable and allowed my whole family to have a relaxing time. Considering the proximity of the island to Sipadan and the dive sites themselves around Mabul, the price was reasonable. My brother and I dived everyday during our stay and the dive sites were beautiful. The divemasters accommodated us when we needed to dive at different times and were really nice, pointing out smaller marine life that we wouldn't have seen on our own. They spoke English well too, so there wasn't so much of a language barrier. There were no restaurants in close proximity to the homestay, and we found that it was more convenient to eat the food they provided. While the food was basic, rice, vegetables and either fish or chicken, it was consistently delicious. We also had the opportunity to buy fresh seafood that came around by vendors in small boats, which we gave to the kitchen staff and they prepared it for us for dinner. Returning to the airport was similarly well organised, with both boat transport and a taxi to the airport in Tawau. Overall an incredible experience with helpful staff and comfortable accommodation, allowing my family to have a relaxing stay.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
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Timbocean wrote a review Oct 2019
23 contributions9 helpful votes
+1
I stayed 6 nights at Spheredivers in Mabul and I love that place. It is very simple and basic but has great vibes to dive and relax. The view for sunsets and literally living on the ocean is just amazing. To experience Mabul, the Bajau Laut and learn or just go scubadiving is just great there. The food is simple but delicious and if you like the easy life its highly to recommend. Diving with Azhar is great, he is a great spotter especially for Macro stuff and if you are a UW Photographer he will Show you the best things to shoot! Trips to Sipadan are easily arranged by Spheredivers, I would come any time again!
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Tony van der Krogt wrote a review Sep 2019
Ghent, Belgium51 contributions44 helpful votes
Don’t go here... There are some old reviews online (possibly from previous different owners?) that seem pretty good, but that’s not what we experienced. We stayed 3 nights at Spheredivers. Don’t get me wrong, the location is absolutely beautiful, the ocean view is great and there’s a nice terrace with long chairs outside. Perfect to enjoy the sun and watch sunsets. But the rooms are definitely not ok. Everything is outdated and broken. The bathroom is disgusting, tiles are falling down from the wall, the shower is cold seawater and the sink is so small you can’t even put your head above it. There are holes under the walls and animals can enter the bathroom through the space between the roof and the ceiling. We stayed in a room with a private bathroom, but unfortunately we were unable to close the door properly between the room and the bathroom. Therefore we had 1 rat and 2 mice in our room the first night. The second night there was a big fight above the ceiling (in the space between the ceiling and the roof) between the cats and mice. There was a lot of noise for hours and eventually a death mice fell through the broken ceiling into our room! The noise happened every night so we didn’t sleep well at all. The old fan in the room and the bed are still ok, but the ceiling and floor are completely broken and full of fungus. To continue, the communication with the staff and the organisation of transport was very difficult as well. When you arrive in Semporna you have to find a different company like scuba Junkie or Uncle Chang to give you a ride to Mabul with one of their boats (75/MYR pp). When you arrive at Mabul it’s also not so easy to find Spheredivers. It’s a maze of wooden walkbridges that are seriously dodgy :) Anyway there is no communication whatsoever about this. If you call the staff they hardly speak any English. They are not very friendly and the food is the same every day, not that bad, but very basic. Our conclusion is that the old reviews give a very different image about this place. Either way, we think it’s way too overpriced for what you get, aspecially when you count up every separate thing. You are better off buying a full experience like scuba junkie who gives you the bus transfer from Tawau airport, boat to Mabul and a very nice place to stay with snorkelling/diving opportunities.
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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george d wrote a review Sep 2019
London16 contributions8 helpful votes
Cute place to stay- diving master there is a don- Ronnie- he is famous in these parts so having him with you makes you feel as though you are in safe hands. Accom is adequate- not much you can complain about considering you are on a very remote island and the prices are ok. Lunch and dinner is ok- breakfast could use a toaster but really cant complain- I will defo be returning!
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Date of stay: August 2019
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Room Tip: Don't expect luxury- best thing about this place is the diving and snorkeling
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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kaaaaaaaj wrote a review Jul 2019
2 contributions
Spended 3 nights at the homestay. Simple rooms and shower with salty water, one fan and some cockroach. The homestay were quite hard to find through there were no sign on the way. The staff were friendly. The lokals were very helpfull and kind to us when we got lost. If you travel on your own it could feel a bit scary to walk through the village on your own. Nice bridge were you can watch the sunset.
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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M&N Ferreira wrote a review Mar 2019
5 contributions3 helpful votes
Spheredivers is a great place if you want to be somewhere chill and feel at home. It is not overcrowded, it is clean and comfortable, though very simple. They serve up delicious traditional dishes. Super friendly staff. Great sunsets to enjoy after a great day of diving! They are super flexible with where they take you diving and often choose sites based on your preferences and away from the crowds. When we go back to Mabul, we will stay again at Spheredivers! Would recommend this place to anyone who wants to stay away from the busy touristy centres! Another plus, it's Malaysian owned:)!
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Date of stay: March 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
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Ann H wrote a review Nov 2018
18 contributions15 helpful votes
Sitting watching turtles, snorkelling from the jetty, home cooked food and superb hosts. This is basic accommodation but clean and full of character. The boardwalk to the land is not for the faint hearted!
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Date of stay: July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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ALSO KNOWN AS
spheredivers homestay & scuba diving hotel sabah, spheredivers homestay and scuba diving
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahSemporna DistrictPulau Mabul
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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SPHEREDIVERS HOMESTAY & SCUBA DIVING - Guest house Reviews (Pulau Mabul, Malaysia)

Frequently Asked Questions about Spheredivers Homestay & Scuba Diving
What food & drink options are available at Spheredivers Homestay & Scuba Diving?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is Spheredivers Homestay & Scuba Diving located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Pulau Mabul.