PADI Dive Master Internship Program - Gaya Island, KK, Sabah, Borneo, Asia
Welcome to Downbelow's new Professional Internship Candidate - Azman (image: far right)
He joined Edward (Left) a British Army participant and Strike (Centre)- was their ever playful and professional PADI Instructor.
Our Internship program has become very popular and successful with both international and local interns. Whilst our International Candidates do contribute to the cost of their training and pay for their accommodation our local interns are fully funded and financially supported by us, Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.
Many of the local interns come from underprivileged backgrounds where becoming a professional PADI Divemaster & Instructor would be financially impossible.
If you visit our PADI 5 Star Centre on Gaya Island you will meet some of our previous interns who successfully became PADI professionals.
After the internship we offer the candidates full time employment and they are now working as Divemaster and Assistant Instructors taking people scuba diving & snorkeling everyday and making peoples holidays to Sabah even more enjoyable - come see for yourself, they love to share their stories !!
Based only 10 minutes from the City of Kota Kinabalu, we dive everyday !
Anyone can apply to join our program, for more information please see our Professional PADI Internship Program dedicated web pages or contact us.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Adventure Sports Training AT & Team Building - Royal Gurkha Rifles - British Army in Sabah Borneo
For many years the British Armed Forces have chosen us - Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures to organize and conduct the adventure training.
Our island based PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is an ideal location for such events.
This group of 40 men took part in various activities, including the PADI Scuba Diver Course, Sea Kayaking, Sailing & Snorkeling.
They enjoyed beach BBQ’s and in the evening painted the town blue .... i their DIVE Downbelow T.Shirts (image below).
An incredible amount fun was had by all and at the same time everyone achieved their qualification.
We would like to thank the British Army once again for bringing their boys to us, it’s a great honor for us to organize and conduct such an event and we look forward to the next group.
Using the countries natural environment and skills of our international staff team, we run a wide range of programs, activities and courses for many different people.
On each you will find high standards of safety, experienced and well qualified staff and flexibility to your needs and to the conditions.
We are activity involved in a number of marine and environmental conservation and awareness initiatives, we include these concepts within our programs.
Adventure training complements both individual and collective development and should:
- Planned and executed with proper supervision by qualified staff
- Have well defined objectives, with clear instruction
- Provide mental stimulation by exposure to the perceived element of risk
- Stimulate initiative and teamwork
Throughout our programs participants face personal challenges and as a group work together to achieve a common goal.
We specialize in bespoke Adventure Training, taking the brief from the client and formulating itineraries to suit group size and duration.
For more information on Adventure Training and Corporate Events please see our dedicated webpages or contact our International Events Organizers Richard or Joanne
Please find us at KK TIMES SQUARE, Block B, 3rd Floor, Lot 12 (above and left of MOTHERCARE)
www.divedownbelow.com
Telephone Hotline: +6 012 866 1935
Lots more images from the event can be found on our FACEBOOK
.
Pajama Cardinalfish -Sphaeramia nematoptera Gaya Island TARP, Kota Kinabalu
We have discovered a wonderful colony of Pajama Cardinalfish just outside our island based PADI 5 Star Dive Centre on Gaya Island - Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
They are particularly sensitive to pollution so it's a good sign of a healthy reef to find them in any numbers.
Richard got a few pix for you to enjoy and help you know what to look out for !
Request your Downbelow dive guide to show you them next time you are here with us ;-)
You can see more images on our FACEBOOK.
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort & Lankayan Resort under Downbelow's Price Promise !
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort in the Celebes Sea and Lankayan Resort in the Sulu Sea are under Downbelow's Price Promise and our 2009 holiday price remains for 2010 !!!!!
We are so confident that our clients will not find better rates at these resorts that if a genuine quote is presented to us from another agent we will beat it by 2% !!
Kapalai and Lankayan are the only environmentally friendly resorts in their regions - thats one very good reason to support them above the others !!
Pulau Kapalai
Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort
We have stayed at many resorts in the area and without doubt our first choice of residence is Kapalai. Once a vegetated Island, now a sandbank on Litigan Reefs and home to the stilt village resort of Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort.
Comprising 40 wooden chalets, double, twin and triple sharing, ensuite bathrooms with a shower and bathtub, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, you really do get a lot for your money, this is true style at a very affordable price.
Reminiscent of the Maldives, the accommodation huts are build over the water with shutter doors opening to reveal breathtaking ocean views. The soothing sound of the water laps beneath you and reflections dance across the high ceilings.
Downbelow Directors, Richard and Joanne have featured Kapalai Resort in their latest article "Much and Magic" in Sport Diving Magazine (on the shelves next month).
To read more about this fabulous resort paradise and see a slideshow of images please click here.
Lankayan Island Resort
"One Island - One Resort"
Lankayan Island, located within the Sulu Sea, 80km off the northeast coast of Sabah, Borneo takes Eco Tourism to another level.
Stunning white sandy beaches surround the small four hectare island. Palm and casuarinas trees form the interior and sparkling turquoise waters lap the shore. One resort operates here under the same management and ownership as Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort in the Celebes Sea and Sepilok Nature Resort near Sandakan.
Comprising 20 luxury-detached chalets, each on the beach with balconies over looking the ocean, open air buffet style restaurant, dive station, turtle hatchery and conservation centre, the resort oozes peace and tranquillity.
To read more about this fabulous island paradise and see a slideshow of images please CLICK HERE.
"Two Centre" tailor made packages are available at both resorts at generous discounts.
Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.
Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs Day Trip from Kota Kinabalu
Kinabalu Park Day Trip – “A Walk In The Park”
“Offering Great Flexibility – so much to see in One Day !!”
This great mountain has become an icon of natural history and successful conservation whilst maintaining its position as the most accessible of high mountains to climb and explore.
This private day trip to Mt Kinabalu offers great flexibility – whether you wish to take relaxed walks along the river and through mountain trails, enjoy the beautiful and rare flowers of the Botanical garden, see the rainforest from a different perspective at 45m above the canopy floor, take a dip into sulfur springs or try your luck at searching for the Raflessia Flower – all this can be experienced on a one day trip from Kota Kinabalu.
For the more adventurous you can climb HALF WAY to the summit !!!
This 8 KM return climb follows the same route that climbers of Mt Kinabalu take but instead of continuing to Laban Rata you will turn around at Layang Layang (2700m) and return to the comfort of your car and driver It’s a very physical climb and can get a little cold at 2700m but well worth the views.
For more information on this fabulous day trip from Kota Kinabalu please CONTACT US.
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Emergency First Response Course, Gaya Island, TARP, Kota Kinabalu
Richard and all the Downbelow instructors like this ! ... hang on a minute, take a look at someone not taking it seriously !
Downbelow are committed to training all our staff to be able to handle emergency medical situations and who knows maybe this time next year it will be these trainees conducting the program with the next interns.
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Wildlife - Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
This harmless & stunning Green Snake is frequently seen hunting nearby our Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
Referred to locally as the simple Green Snake - found among the island palm trees - this is one of the only snakes to have a horizontal pupil.
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking Day Trip at Gaya Island, TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo
Based within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on Gaya Island where "Rainforest meets the Reef" located just 10 mins boat ride from the City of Kota Kinabalu (KK). Our paradise island location is perfect for friends, couples, groups and families to enjoy a day trip from Kota Kinabalu.
Our Multi Activity Day Trip offers the flexibility to Snorkel some beautiful sites from our island base, go Trekking through the primary rainforest & mangroves and Sea Kayak to explore some secluded bays and see the island from a different perspective.
A member of our staff team will
guide you throughout the Snorkleing & Sea
Kayaking taking you to the most interesting places
and pointing out fascinating marine & wildlife.
Our guide will also bring along all the required
safety equipment. Life ring & snorkel vests (if
required) and marine hand held radio. This
enables non swimmers to enjoy the activity. For
Trekking it is very safe to wander through the Jungle
Trails without a guide, we will give you a hand held
radio for communication with the Dive & Adventure
Centre and provide an area orientation.
Lots of fun actives but
also plenty of time to relax and enjoy our tropical
surroundings. We are the only operator at this
location so we enjoy no crowds, pristine corals,
walking trails through
primary rain-forest that meets the reef and
mangrove treks teaming with wildlife.
Itinerary
0800 - 0815 hrs Hotel pickup (KK City) transfer to Sutera Harbour Marina
08.30 hrs Meet Downbelow Staff & Transfer on Boat to Downbelow Dive Station on Gaya Island
09:00 hrs Welcome Briefing / Payment & Registration
09.15 hrs Snorkeling & Trekking
13.00 hrs Lunch at Adventure Centre
14.00 hrs Sea Kayaking
16.00 hrs Boat Transfer to Mainland Jetty
16.30 hrs Return to Hotel
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Scuba Diving Day Trips from Gaya Island, TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Our island based dive & snorkel center provides a very special experience, with a resort like feel it is a fun place to spend the day, enjoying the tropical surroundings and chatting about all the wonderful creatures you will have spotted.
We're only 10 minutes speedboat ride from the mainland of Kota Kinabalu so less time is wasted on boat trips leaving more time for Scuba Diving !
Our International staff team are highly skilled with many years of experience in their field, we pride ourselves on an exceptional level of service and safety.
We have an ALL INCLUSIVE POLICY with NO HIDDEN EXTRA CHARGES.
This means that you pay one price which includes: return transfers from your hotel - subject to confirmed bookings and availability, (KK City including Tanjung Aru & Sutera Harbour), boat transfers, park and jetty fees, equipment (except dive computer) refreshments - free flow water / tea / coffee, freshly cooked lunch and 3 guided boat dives are all included. If you bring your own equipment we offer 5% discount from the prices below.
Diving here in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is very good, our guests are always very surprised to see such a variety of Marine Life and healthy corals. The park offers some great diving for beginners and experienced divers alike, lots of hard and soft coral, great macro life, schools of tropical fish and many prized critters.
TARP Dive Sites, Offshore Dive Sites and The Wrecks !!
Our Daily Diving Program is an all inclusive day out. We offer day trips and multiple day trips, night dives and sunset dives, costs are as follows:
We have 37ft, 35ft and 32ft dive boats which are very spacious and comfortable to dive from, we have a great variety of dives sites just minutes from our island dive center.
We limit the number of divers on the boat and try to keep people with similar levels of experience on the same boat. Our staff to client ratio is very high so we can accommodate all levels of divers with their own Divemasters. We offer NITROX and dive computer rentals.
0800 - 0815 hrs Hotel pickup (KK City) transfer to Mainland Jetty
08.30 hrs Meet Downbelow Staff & Transfer on Boat to Downbelow Dive Station on Gaya Island
Welcome Briefing
0900 hrs Registration & Payment. Equipment Selection.
0930 hrs Dive Briefing
0945 hrs 1st Boat Dive
Return to Dive Center for Tea / Coffee / Fruit & Biscuits
1130 hrs Dive Briefing
1145 hrs 2nd Boat Dive
13.00 hrs Lunch at Dive Center
1400 hrs Dive Briefing
1415 hrs 3rd Boat Dive
16.00 hrs Boat Transfer to Mainland Jetty
16.30 hrs Return to Hotel
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010 from KKK- Sabah
This year has been an amazing year for us and we could not achieve such success without everybody’s support.
We have some really exciting plan for next year and can’t wait to share them with you all, please keep an eye on this page and all will be announced soon.
Meanwhile ..... the BBQ is still burning and its time for more BBQ lamb & Chicken, then perhaps a little late afternoon dive to look for the Frogfish that Evelyn found .....
Bye for now .......
More images from the event can be seen on our Facebook , here you can also see what we all get up to over here in Paradise !
Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
Activities for School Kids, Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking - Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
School kids form KL International School join us for the weekend for a Snorkeling, Camping and Sea Kayaking 2 Day / 1 Night Adventure Activity Program.
They have learned snorkeling & sea kayaking over the two day program and at the same time have enjoyed some exciting encounters with the local wildlife.
Pictured below, you can see them returning from a snorkel session to find a Monitor Lizard waiting on the beach and perhaps hoping to join in the fun !!!
Our PADI 5 Star Dive and Adventure Centre on Gaya Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is ideally suited to groups - friends and families because we can accommodate large groups with different levels of experience and at the same time the group can be together.
We have a large staff team of international divemasters and instructors so we are able to maintain high staff to guest ratios’s, we have three speed boats 37ft, 35ft, & 32ft so groups can enjoy a dedicated team of people and private boat charters.
Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
You can also take a look at our Facebook to see what we all get up to over here in Paradise !
Holiday & Travel Centre - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo
A Tours and Travel Centre for your Sabah Holiday
Whether you wish to climb Mt Kinabalu, visit the Orangutans at Sepilok, Scuba Dive, visit the Islands off Kota Kinabalu, Kapalai, Lankayan, take river safaris to the Kinabatangan or relax in some wonderful Resorts - we can assist.
Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures Sdn. Bhd is the brainchild of British expats and award winning Photo Journalists Richard and Joanne of Downbelow Dive Centre UK.
Upon realizing that the country is not only a biological melting pot but also a hidden treasure for Travelers, we felt we wanted to share our knowledge and passion for this wonderful country and put together some fabulous Marine & Wildlife Adventures - please peruse our TRAVEL PACKAGES and create your ideal holiday adventure.
We also have a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive & Adventure Centre based on Gaya Island within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, just 8 minutes offshore Kota Kinabalu City - a perfect day trip location for those staying in Kota Kinabalu wishing to Snorkel, go Trekking, Sea Kayak, Scuba Dive or relax in paradise !
On all our courses and activities you will find high standards of safety, very high staff to guest / student ratio, experienced, well qualified staff and flexibility to your needs and to the conditions.
As part of our internal staff training our office staff spend time at our Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island, learning about all the activities that we offer in TARP (image above - you an see Assistant Instructor Roy giving Naura an entry level snorkeling experience).
Should you wish us to help plan your holiday in Sabah, drop us a line and our Travel Centre girls will assist you. Please visit our Travel Centre & Dive Shop in Kota Kinabalu or email us for more information on our full Range of Scuba Diving Opportunities, Programs and Equipment Sales.
www.divedownbelow.com
Telephone Hotline: +6 012 866 1935
Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort & Lankayan Resort under Downbelow's Price Promise !
We are so confident that our clients will not find better rates at these resorts that if a genuine quote is presented to us from another agent we will beat it by 2% !!
Kapalai and Lankayan are the only environmentally friendly resorts in their regions - thats one very good reason to support them above the others !!
Pulau Kapalai
Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort
We have stayed at many resorts in the area and without doubt our first choice of residence is Kapalai. Once a vegetated Island, now a sandbank on Litigan Reefs and home to the stilt village resort of Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort.
Comprising 40 wooden chalets, double, twin and triple sharing, ensuite bathrooms with a shower and bathtub, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, you really do get a lot for your money, this is true style at a very affordable price.
Reminiscent of the Maldives, the accommodation huts are build over the water with shutter doors opening to reveal breathtaking ocean views. The soothing sound of the water laps beneath you and reflections dance across the high ceilings.
Downbelow Directors, Richard and Joanne have featured Kapalai Resort in their latest article "Much and Magic" in Sport Diving Magazine (on the shelves next month).
To read more about this fabulous resort paradise and see a slideshow of images please click here.
Lankayan Island Resort
"One Island - One Resort"
Lankayan Island, located within the Sulu Sea, 80km off the northeast coast of Sabah, Borneo takes Eco Tourism to another level.
Stunning white sandy beaches surround the small four hectare island. Palm and casuarinas trees form the interior and sparkling turquoise waters lap the shore. One resort operates here under the same management and ownership as Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort in the Celebes Sea and Sepilok Nature Resort near Sandakan.
Comprising 20 luxury-detached chalets, each on the beach with balconies over looking the ocean, open air buffet style restaurant, dive station, turtle hatchery and conservation centre, the resort oozes peace and tranquillity.
To read more about this fabulous island paradise and see a slideshow of images please CLICK HERE.
"Two Centre" tailor made packages are available at both resorts at generous discounts.
Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor - OWSI Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo
Downbelow Marine & Wildlife - Sabah have conducted the first Chinese PADI Instructor Development Course - IDC Course in Kota Kinabalu.
We owe a huge thankyou to Susan who acted as translator throughout the entire program including the IE.
We are pleased to say all our Chinese candidates were successful so their journey was not wasted !
Well done also to James who is now a fully qualifed Staff Instructor and Mark who is now a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor successfully completing his 3 month Professional Scuba Diving Internship Program, with us.
Big thanks to the team at Downbelow Marine and Wildlife Adventures - DIVE DOWNBELOW - who's support was key to the guys success.
Well done to our Course Director Joseph Chung, Richard, Susan and James for staffing the course and putting in so many hours to ensure the candidates success :)
WELL DONE and lets look forward to the next IDC on starting 17th March 2010 !!!!!!
Should you wish to join our next IDC beginning 17th March 2010 please contact us either by email, telephone or visit our Dive Shop and Travel Centre.
Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures. We adhere to PADI 5 Star standards and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com
PADI Open Water Course & Suunto Gekko Wrist Dive Computer Package, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Asia
Downbelow PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in Kota Kinabalu and Gaya Island are very pleased to offer the PADI Open Water Course & Suunto Gekko Wrist Dive Computer at an Incredible bundled price promotion of MYR 2140.00!
Throughout the PADI Open Water Diver Course, you'll learn fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. You will also be taught using the Suunto Gekko Dive Computer (Brand New with Warranty) which will be yours to keep at the end of the course.
Suunto Gekko can be used with both air and enriched air nitrox, and it is designed to give the specifics of any diving situation, including decompression, at a glance.
Easy to use push buttons and a straightforward menu structure make Gekko simple to operate.
The extensive logbook memory stores up to 50 hours of dive profiles and logbook data including dive start time and date, dive time, maximum depth attained and temperature at maximum depth. In addition the dive history keeps track of up to 999 dives and 999 dive hours, as well as the maximum depth ever reached.
Scuba Diving with a dive computer has many benefits, very simply put - dive computers constantly track a divers decompression status, allow for more time underwater by using multi level techniques, provide accurate depth/time recordings and decompression status is made simple with automatic calculations.
What better way to become familiar with using and diving with a dive computer than learning to scuba dive with your very own !!
Please contact us to book you PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course with the Suunto Gekko Dive Computer - only available while stocks last - In Stock Now !
We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.
We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines.
We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!
TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com



