Sabah Islands > Mabul > Lodges in Mabul Island > Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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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