The Buwan Dive Resort — Hotel in Borneo

I am reluctant to share my opinion of The Buwan as I am frightened that they will become too popular and lose the wonderful boutique and intimate feeling that is so effortless right now. The Buwan service across the board was 5 star. Font of House (that's you Vanessa and Pamela) provided a welcome introduction and orientation to the resort and its facilities, we we even upgraded to a chalet on the water. You would touch base several times per day to ensure that we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. Housekeeping were inconspicuous, yet had that attention to detail (arriving with umbrellas during the morning storm as soon as our curtains were drawn open) and Head Chef Auntie Mary and her restaurant team created delicious, local meals three times per day. This included our lunch pack which was taken on the boat each day. The dive crew (Cous and Basha in particular) un/loaded our gear onto/off the boat and set our dive kit up for each dive as well as lead us around the various sites. They sang and joked on the deck but underwater they were all business, being extremely competent and ever watchful. Captain Jack Sparrow ensured that we arrived to the site and back home again safely each day. A very skilled sailor with exceptional mastery of his seacraft!

Our chalet was roomy and comfortable with fan and a/c and had an amazing ensuite. We liked that the rooms were devoid of TV and Wifi as we really needed to disconnect from the 24/7 distractions. This enabled us to reflect upon the beauty of underwater Malaysia and how it compared or contrasted to other dive locations that we have experienced.

There is a lot of water litter, especially around the dive resort dive site (which is on the same coast as Semporna and the water villlages) ...I collected at least 10 plastic bags on my 1st night dive, which my dive instructor Basha, put into a collection bag for disposal...Everyone must understand that not all citizens of a country respect the affects of plastic on the environment) .. I never saw plastic litter in the water of the outer islands ( Mabul and Mataking), however, when ever I caught floating plastic bags etc, I would collect these and the Buwan Dive Masters would collect for disposal at what I assume is at Buwan's cost. I would say that this is an environmentally sensitive company.

Another advantage is the location of this resort: Buwan is just south of Semporna, close enough for a town excursion, but remote enough to be amongst the monkeys and, unlike Mabul or Mataking Islands, Bunwan is equi-distant to both in a northerly or southerly direction, so you have more options when diving.

In summary, The Buwan Diving Resort over delivers on all aspects that matter (in my opinion), intimate and friendly (like an extended family), client focused to an exemplary level, relaxing, laid backed, unpretentious and beautiful.

Despite having access to a fridge and TV/Wifi available in the office, in time, I think that a client/guest room with these facilities would be a nice touch so that guests aren't imposing on or interrupting staff by being in...

Purchase their island package after recommendation from a friend after purchase their island hoping package and went on March this year and I book the package for this year July. Reach there and everything is good except that their standard hotel room is a bit too low as compare to the price paid. Snorkelling trip on the first day is nice with Terry as our snorkelling guide where we do not know how to swim he still swim and bring us around using float hoop and we manage to travel around the sea to see fish and sea turtle. Then we decided to upgrade to discovery scuba dive (DSD) on the second day to experience diving excitement but end up in disaster as safety is not secure. The day before when we went to the office to upgrade the plan we did as some question regarding how to reduce the ear air pressure when we are down in the sea and the experience divers of the resort did explain and he mention that next day is him who will guide us thru our DSD experience and we felt really excited. The next day we went early to the jetty and tried on the diving jacket and also fins and they ask us back to the dining area to wait till 9am till the ship arrive. Then we continue with our DSD experience where we go in the deep sea with the goggles and also the mouthpiece they giving to us which is not suitable to us and causes few accident to happen where the mouthpiece not suit us and when we inside the sea around 3m the sea water will flow into our mouth when we inhale the oxygen, the mouthpiece and the pipe connected to the oxygen got off and causes drinking a lot of sea water and lastly the goggles keep on having sea water coming in. After this experience I just ask my friend whether they did experience this situation and they mention they tried the goggles and mouthpiece before starting the DSD the day. So we know that how is the irresponsible worker there that ignore the most important thing and causes us to experience accident inside a big sea where we do not have any experience on diving. The person in charge for the equipment testing is a Chinese man with long hair and I’m not really remember on his name, maybe is “Kim”, and ended up we not able to enjoy the DSD experience and wasted our money just like that due to their irresponsible workers who ignore our safety. And their divers who guiding us for DSD is also not the experienced divers they mention in the office the day before and is the one they hired on part time which I do not have bad review on him. Overall I would not recommend my friend or family to go here cause I feel they do not put their customer safety as top priority so is totally a minus point even the first day experience by them is good. The resort experience fire outbreak on May and we didn’t know this issue till we reach there and they mention to us. Totally different feel where the scenery is not as beautiful as before already. Added 1 star for them as they upgrade my last day stay from standard room to...

I recently had the pleasure of diving with Buwan Dive Center, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish.

The staff and instructors were professional, friendly, and highly knowledgeable. They ensured that safety was a top priority while keeping the dives fun and exciting. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, they cater to all levels and make you feel comfortable throughout the experience.

The dive sites they took us to were breathtaking—crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life. The guides were excellent at spotting unique sea creatures and sharing insights about the underwater ecosystem, making each dive even more special.

A huge shoutout to our dive master, Nash, who was incredibly nice, patient, and calm throughout our dives. He shared a lot of valuable diving tips that helped improve our skills and confidence underwater. Spending five days diving with him was such a great experience that it even made us want to upgrade our license to Advanced!

Beyond the diving, the food at Buwan Dive Center was absolutely delicious. After a great dive, nothing beats enjoying a well-prepared, flavorful meal. The variety and quality of the food made the experience even more enjoyable, adding to the overall relaxation and satisfaction.

A special mention to Ashikin, the receptionist, who was incredibly helpful throughout our stay. When our airline left our luggage behind in Kuala Lumpur, she went above and beyond to assist us in resolving the issue. Her kindness and efficiency made a stressful situation much easier to handle, and we truly appreciated her support.

Another great aspect of Buwan Dive Center is its location. Unlike some remote dive resorts in the middle of the ocean, this one is conveniently located near a town, allowing us to go out at night and explore. It was nice to have the option to experience local culture, visit shops, and enjoy the nightlife after a full day of diving.

The equipment provided was well-maintained and of high quality, ensuring a smooth and safe diving experience. The dive center itself was clean, well-organized, and had a welcoming atmosphere that made us feel at home.

Overall, Buwan Dive Center is a fantastic place for both diving and hospitality. With amazing staff, delicious food, a great location, and top-tier service, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an...