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Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge was destroyed by a fire on 18th February, 2020
Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge was destroyed by a fire on 18th February, 2020

February 18, 2020 Tuesday

Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge was destroyed by a fire on 18th February, 2020 evening at around 5:00pm. Among the building destroyed are eight guest rooms, 10 staff quarters, resort’s diving shop, restaurant, bar, generator set, compressor room and a nearby village house.

Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge was destroyed by a fire


Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge

Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
Wholly Owned By Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn. Bhd (Co.No.595150K) (KPL No.4491)
Member Of Malaysian Association Of Tour Travel Agents (MA2432)
 

Office of
Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn. Bhd
Causeway Road, Peti Surat 37 Semporna Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: 60 89 781002

 


Uncle Chang is a legendary personality on Semporna among the tourism communities.
Having gained experience in his early days working for dive operators in Semporna, Uncle Chang ventured out on his own more then 10 years ago and established Borneo Jungle River Island Tour Sdn Bhd, which owns Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge.

Most people come to Sipadan to dive, and just need basic accommodation. That is the idea behind the setting-up of this simple dive lodge Backpacker Resort.


Built entirely of hardwood timber over the shallow waters of the Sulawesi Sea, Uncle Chang’s Lodge offers very basic accommodation with its twin-sharing rooms going at RM50 per person per night.

On the same Mabul Island is also four other high end dive resorts.

Uncle Chang’s backpacker resort is where everyone being able to afford Mabul with basic accommodation, food, diving and fun on a budget.

With Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge, visitor no longer need to stay in Semporna. Situated on beautiful Mabul Island, the Lodge puts you in the heart of world-class diving, with all of the diving sites only minutes away.
 


Uncle Chang house reefs are only 5 minutes from the lodge jetty.Dive Mabul island and you are into the unusual and rare creatures in the sea like Crocodile fish, Stone fish, Scorpion fish Frog fish or Nudibranch to name but a few. Also see the giant Groupers at Kapalai wrecks & Froggy Lair.


THE OLD AND NEW ACCOMMODATION
It's not 5 stars luxury, but a backpacker's resort, Uncle Chang's Lodge is able to offer a holiday for those with a tide budget.
Uncle Chang's Lodge has two wings; the new wing and the old. (The Air Con rooms and Fan rooms). The new chalets style was constructed and completed in 2012 while the old longhouse style need a lot repair and maintenance. The staff pay more attention in maintaining the new chalets to cater the increase number of Chinese who pay higher price.


Uncle Chang Lodge started as humble guest house somewhere in 2003. By now the old dormitory are usually neglected because they are used as cheap accommodation for drivers who spent the day in the sea and return only at night to sleep.


So if you also expect some comfort and luxury like those Chinese, then get the chalet instead when booking.


If you are on budget and can adapt to the local toilet and room with cockroach, then the longhouse style room is among the cheapest on the island.


Both old and new rooms are on the water with beautiful views overlooking the ocean. Sunset at the West and Uncle Chang is on the West side of the island.


Air-conditioners of budget accommodation so not always work in perfect condition. The island is always in shortage of servicemen and technicians.


Main dining/socialising area,
Sundeck with hammocks,
Diving Center,
New public conveniences near the dining area.
3 brand new smacking chalets have been constructed. The new chalets are indeed a class above the existing ones!



FRESH SEAFOOD
Every day a couple of fishermen will paddle their boat with their fresh catch from the sea. The price is always lower then the market so satisfy yourself if you love seafood. The kitchen's chef is happy to cook for you at a fee of Rm10.00 - 20.00

THE NIGHT BAND
The place has a nice relaxed atmosphere, people playing guitars and hanging in the common area.
"party place" when band playing some nights of the week.


RATS ON THE ISLAND
Budget rooms have rats enter at night when they smell foods in the rooms. So if you do not totolate rats, then get a room at one of the classy resorts.

SNORKELING
Uncle Chang provides free snorkel trips around Mabul daily and for a small fee going to Kapalai. Sipadan and island hopping tours can also be arranged through the office staff.


DINING HALL of Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
THE THREE MEAL
Buffet style meals are included in all accommodation package.
The meals at UChang's are not lavish, but you get a balanced diet daily. If you would like to treat yourself to some super fresh seafood, Chef Ah Long will be more than happy to cater to your culinary delights for a small fee.

DINING HALL
of Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge

Spacious open air dining area/common area over the waters of the Celebes Sea.
You can buy fresh seafood everyday from the local fisherman and have them cooked for a small fee.
Basic food is all inclusive in package.

FREE tea, coffee, water.


CHALETS of Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
CHALETS
of Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge

The newer Chalets are more spacious, even with small private balcony. Worth the extra money for much larger and comfortable than the dorms.

Nice view of sunset from here. Clear crystal waters below chalet.

All rooms are air condition.

No TV, no hot water, no electricity during the day. Electricity Power is from 4.30pm to 8.30am. Uncle Chang's is basic accomodation , but most visitors of Uncle Chang's come to Mabul for the marine life, not for comforts. They came here to experience nature.


Standard Twin Share: Two single beds, wall fan, attached washroom.
Rooms

Dormitory: Four single beds, wall fan, attached washroom.

Standard Twin Share: Two single beds, wall fan, attached washroom.

Standard Twin Share (Air Conditioned): Two single beds, air conditioner, attached washroom.

Double Bed Chalet (Air Conditioned): One double bed, air conditioner, attached washroom.
Old rooms are renovated in 2011.

All the rooms at Uncle Chang's are constructed with iron-wood and built above water. Each room supported with thick iron-wood stilts, offering you the local "Floating-village" experience.


Revamped dive center of Uncle Chang's Lodge in Mabul Island
DIVE CENTER
Dive center of Uncle Chang's Lodge in Mabul Island

Dive Center

Though the Dive Center is not a registered PADI Dive Center, most of the dive staff are all PADI Dive Masters and Instructors with others are certified by other scuba training federations like SSI, NAUI and SDI.

The most popular scuba courses readily available here are:
1) PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program,
2) PADI Open Water Diver Course and
3) PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course.
The dive center offers the lowest rate for all PADI Courses provided here and the instructors are all friendly, attentive, enthusiastic and fun.

The dive center provides daily dives and snorkeling trips to Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Maiga and Sibuan. Each dive are guided by a qualified professional and each dive and snorkeling session is around 35-40 minutes. The dive center general trip schedule each day is 0900am first trip, 11pm second trip, 3pm third trip, 7pm optional night dive. The dive center do not offer unlimited shore dives.

The dive center provides you with:
* First aid kit & Oxygen
* Changing room & Shower
* Pantry & Snack bar
* Scuba gears & snorkeling gears for rent
* Aluminum scuba cylinders
* Lead weights
* Fiberglass 6 passengers dive boats


An aging sea turtle swimming around feeding on sea weed behind Uncle Chang's Lodge.
Photo above : An aging sea turtle swimming around feeding on sea weed behind Uncle Chang's Lodge.
 

TURTLE
At night you can even see turtles swimming around the lodge.
You may even fortunate to see turtles swim beneath your bungalow night or day.


Office of Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn. Bhd Causeway Road,

Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn. Bhd
Lodge's Office on the mainland Semporna Town

From Mabul Island To Sipadan Island is 25 minutes


Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn Bhd
Address : Semporna Ocean Tourism Centre, ,Jln Kastam, 91300 Semporna, Sabah.

Room Options Rates (per person per night)
Chalet (New Room) RM140
Aircond Room RM100
Double Room RM90
Dormitory Room RM70
Boat Transfer RM100
  Rate per person
Snorkeling at Mabul Rm 115.00 per person
2 Dives in Mabul Rm 180.00
3 Dives in Mabul Rm 220.00
Night Dive Mabul Rm 120.00
   
Torch Light Rm 20.00
Snorkeling Gear Rm 15.00
Scuba Gear Rm 40.00

There are six diver's lodges on Mabul Island


Mabul Paradise Lodge
馬布島天堂度假村

BillabongScuba

BIG JOHN Scuba

Uncle Chang's  Lodge

Spheredivers Scuba

Mabul Backpackers (SipadanBorneo.com)

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