Downbelow Dive Centre will facilitate a free Project AWARE beach and reef clean-up on 20 September, co-sponsored by Sabah Parks.

The event takes place this Saturday, 20 September, and the group will depart at 10.30am from the Sabah Parks jetty opposite the Hyatt Kinabalu in the centre of Kota Kinabalu.

Downbelow Dive Centre will provide the speedboat transfers to their dive station on Gaya island, also the location of the Sabah Park Headquarters for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

The clean-up operation will be based here and will entail rubbish collection from the beach and river mouth, as well as from the reefs in the immediate vicinity.  An open-water dive qualification is required for the latter activity.

Downbelow Dive Centre has made their diving infrastructure available for this event, and Sabah Parks has agreed to waive the park entry and jetty fees, which means this Project AWARE sponsored event is completely free for participants.

As a result divers cleaning the reefs will have equipment available at no cost to them and for everybody, the boat transfers, lunch, park fees and jetty fees will also be free of charge.

In summary:

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2008
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Depart from Sabah Parks Jetty in front of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Event Location: Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park
Cost: As many bags of rubbish as you can collect.
Included: Return transfers, lunch, equipment rental, party entry fees, jetty fees

Remember, you’ll be out in the sun all day, so bring along at least sunscreen and a hat.

We only had space for 30 participants at this particular event, and we’ve already filled the quota.  In future more such events are planned, so join the KK Dive Club and make sure you’re in the loop next time.

Yes, we know it’s short notice, but there’s no time like the present. KK Dive Club is on the move and whilst the official website is being worked on, here’s this weekend’s schedule for activities that you can join as a KK Dive Club Member.

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Night Dive – Friday, 29 August 2008
By popular demand, members have the opportunity to join a night dive in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.  We’ll meet at Sutera Harbour and depart from there for a thrilling night dive.

Departure Time: 5.45pm (don’t be late)
From: Sutera Harbour Marina
Includes: 1 night dive
KK Dive Club Member Price: RM 80
Other Fees: Park fees (RM20 Malaysian or RM50 Non-Malaysian), torch rental at RM30 (unless you want to swim in pitch blackness, but that’s not so much fun).

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Pulau Tiga Overnight Package – Sat 30 Aug to Sun 31 Aug 2008
Last weekend the first of the KK Dive Club members went to Pulau Tiga and had themselves some fabulous dives – in the ocean and in the mud volcano!  It was such a hoot that guests and KK Dive Club members alike demanded another, longer outing.

So this weekend, we’re at it again.  We leave at the crack of dawn (fine, shortly after) from Jessleton Point and head off to Pulau Tiga.  The weekend includes 4 guided boat dives, a trip to Snake Island and lots more mud (bring swimmers you don’t want ruined, the mud stays forever).

Departure Time: 7.30am (don’t be late)
From: Jessleton Point
Includes: return boat transfers, 4 guided boat dives, accommodation in a twin-share standard room (bathroom, aircon, fan), meals (buffet lunch, dinner, breakfast, lunch, tea & coffee & non-alcoholic beverages), guided walk to volcanic mud baths, boat trip to Snake Island, park fees.
Super Low Club Member Price: RM 517 per person sharing
Other Fees: None! (but if you’re drinking alcohol, that’s gonna cost you).

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Obviously, at this rate the spaces are seriously limited and remember, you have to be a KK Dive Club member to qualify for these super low club member prices.

If you’re keen to join, become a KK Dive Club member and email dive@kkdiveclub.com to reserve your spot on either the night dive or the Pulau Tiga Overnight Weekend. And do it quickly, mkay?

Isn’t it true that we are blind to the treasures of where we live, only to be reminded by tourists who flock here to enjoy what we take for granted?

Think climbing Mt. Kinabalu, enjoying the beach at the Tip of Borneo, cruising down the Kinabatangan river and diving in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) – how often do we enjoy these treasures?

Well, some of that is about to change.

A Dive Club for KK

Downbelow Marine and Wildlife Adventures is a PADI Certified dive centre and specialises in Borneo adventures with an office in Likas Square and a dive station based on Gaya Island.

Downbelow also established the KK Dive Club with the main purpose of getting locals down below more often for less, to appreciate the splendour of the corals and marine life we have right here on our doorstep in Kota Kinabalu.

The Dive Club does it cheaper

If you live in Sabah, whether you’re a Sabahan or a foreigner, you qualify for the excellent dive rates the KK Dive Club has to offer. A normal fun-dive day consisting of return boat transfers to the Downbelow Dive Station on Pulau Gaya, 3 fun dives in the TARP and lunch, will cost KK Dive Club members a mere RM 145.

Your only other expense will be the park dive fee payable to Sabah Parks, which is RM20 per diving day for Malaysians and RM50 for non-Malaysians.

If, however, you are taking part in a diving course, the dive fee is valid for up to 4 consecutive diving days, which now also covers night dives, as opposed to before where an additional fee was required for night dives in the park.

An annual fee of RM100 gets you into the KK Dive Club family, which includes a Downbelow t-shirt as a welcome gift. Membership entitles you to affordable diving days, discounted dive courses, PADI Aware events, social outings and get-togethers.

Get Busy in the Water with KK Dive Club

A regular schedule of KK Dive Club days will keep you busy and, subject to certain conditions and minimum club member requirements, outings on request can also be arranged.

How to get involved? Download the KK Dive Club membership form, fill it in and visit the Downbelow office at 9A 1st Floor, Likas Square Commercial Centre to pay your membership fee.

Alternatively, email dive@kkdiveclub.com for more information or to get the skinny about what’s next on the KK Dive Club schedule.