RAID Try-Dive in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The best part of this Kota Kinabalu outing is that you get two supervised scuba sessions rather than a quick taste in a hotel pool. After a short lesson and shallow-water practice, you head onto a coral reef in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park, where clownfish, tropical corals, and possibly a turtle may appear.

I like the small groups and patient instruction, especially for first-timers who need time to get comfortable with breathing underwater. I also like the simple island lunch break, which gives you a proper pause between sessions instead of keeping you on the boat all day.

The main thing to watch is the extra Sabah Parks permit, which is not included in the advertised $112 price. You also need basic swimming ability, good general health, and at least 18 hours between your final underwater session and a flight.

Key points at a glance

• Two underwater sessions: The first takes place in a shallow, sheltered bay, while the second reaches about 40 feet, or 12 meters.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park: You explore protected waters around one of five islands near Kota Kinabalu.
• Small-group teaching: An instructor stays close while you learn basic skills and get used to the equipment.
• Island lunch included: You stop at Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi from about noon to 1:30pm.
• Marine life in the Coral Triangle: Look for unusual corals, clownfish, and, with luck, a turtle.
• Central meeting point: Boats leave from DBKK Jetty, with the crew meeting you at 8:45am.

Two reef sessions for first-time scuba learners

This seven-hour experience is aimed at people who have never completed a scuba qualification, or who want a gentle reintroduction before committing to a full course. The format follows RAID standards and is also described as a PADI Discover Scuba experience in the tour information.

That means you are not signing up for a certification course. You receive a short education session, practise basic skills in confined open water, and then complete two supervised sessions with a qualified instructor. The second one reaches a maximum of about 12 meters, or 40 feet.

That depth is enough to give you a real sense of reef exploration without asking a beginner to manage the demands of a deeper technical outing. You still need to listen carefully, communicate with your instructor, and remain comfortable in the water.

I see the progression as a strong feature. The first session is held in a shallow, protected bay, so you can get used to breathing through the regulator, wearing the equipment, and moving underwater before heading to a coral reef. The second session then gives you more time to enjoy the marine life.

The experience is not suitable if you have respiratory issues. You must also be at least 10 years old, comfortable in the water, and able to swim at a basic level. Before starting, you complete the required forms and self-certify that you are in suitable general health, particularly regarding your respiratory and circulatory systems.

Meeting the boat at DBKK Jetty

Your morning begins at 8:45am inside the DBKK Jetty building in central Kota Kinabalu. Look for the Borneo Dream crew wearing Borneo Dream shirts, near the DBKK Jetty poster with the Grab pickup and drop-off signage.

The boat leaves at about 9:00am. If you are staying in central Kota Kinabalu, the jetty should be a short walk or a quick taxi ride from your hotel. Hotel pickup is not included, so allow enough time to find the correct meeting spot without rushing.

The boat transfer is part of the appeal. Instead of spending the morning in a classroom, you travel out toward the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. The park covers five islands and has sheltered bays suited to beginners.

The tour information describes the boats as some of the best used in Kota Kinabalu. The more useful point for you is that boat transfers are included, so you do not need to arrange separate transport to the islands. Water, biscuits, and sweets are also provided during the day.

Language support is available in Chinese, English, and Malay. If you need extra personal attention, you can pay more for a private instructor. Otherwise, the standard small-group format is designed to keep the teaching personal without the cost of a fully private outing.

A calm lesson before the first underwater session

At about 10:00am, you complete the necessary forms and attend a short scuba education session. This is where the instructor explains the equipment, basic safety points, and the skills you will need in the water.

For a first attempt, this part matters more than it may sound. New scuba users often need a few minutes to stop thinking about the regulator and start noticing the world around them. A clear briefing gives you a better chance of feeling calm once you are in the sea.

At around 10:30am, you put on your equipment and complete a confined open-water skills session in a shallow bay. The location is deliberately gentle. You can practise under close supervision before moving toward the coral reef.

The teaching style is a major part of the experience. One family of four, ranging in age from 16 to 52, found the day easy to follow and specifically appreciated the guide Amil. Another first-time participant from Japan described an instructor who used a small underwater writing board to identify fish and signalled when unusual creatures appeared.

That detail is useful because it shows how communication works underwater. You cannot rely on a long spoken explanation once you are below the surface, so hand signals and a writing board can make the marine life easier to understand.

Coral reefs around the Tunku Abdul Rahman islands

The national park is near Kota Kinabalu but feels separate from the city once you reach its sheltered waters. You spend your underwater time around coral reefs and protected bays rather than heading into open, demanding water.

Sabah sits within the Coral Triangle, one of the world’s important areas for coral and tropical marine life. On this trip, you might see a broad mix of coral shapes and small reef fish. Clownfish are specifically highlighted, so keep watch for the familiar orange-and-white fish often called Nemo.

A turtle is possible, but not guaranteed. One participant had the good fortune to see a turtle twice during the underwater sessions. That is a pleasant reminder to keep scanning the reef rather than focusing only on the instructor or the nearest large fish.

The first session is mainly about comfort and control. The second gives you a better chance to enjoy the reef because you already understand the basic routine. It reaches about 12 meters, but the exact experience can vary with sea conditions, the instructor’s judgment, and your comfort level.

Do not book this expecting a technical expedition or a guaranteed list of animals. You are paying for a well-managed introduction to tropical scuba, not a wildlife promise. The park’s coral and sheltered water make it a sensible place to try, but nature keeps its own schedule.

Island lunch on Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi

After the first session, you return to land for a break from about noon until 1:30pm. Lunch is served on either Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi, depending on the day’s arrangements.

This pause improves the rhythm of the outing. You have time to dry off, eat, and rest before putting the equipment back on. A full day around the water can become tiring if every minute is spent on a boat or below the surface.

The island stop also gives you a change of setting. The morning is built around instruction and water skills, while lunch lets you enjoy the park at a slower pace. The exact menu is not specified, so you should think of this as a practical included meal rather than a restaurant experience.

The break lasts long enough to make the second session feel manageable. If you are new to scuba, you may appreciate this more than an extra few minutes underwater. It gives your body and mind a chance to reset.

The second reef session reaches 12 meters

At about 1:30pm, the instructor gives you a briefing for the second session. You then return to the water and follow the reef to a maximum of around 40 feet, or 12 meters.

This is the point at which the outing feels like more than a basic lesson. You have already practised the essential skills, so you can spend more attention on coral, fish, and the movement of the reef around you.

The instructor remains with you, and the small-group format is useful here. Beginners may move at different speeds, and a close instructor presence helps keep the session controlled. If you feel uneasy, say so early. There is no prize for pretending to be comfortable.

The second session ends at about 3:00pm, followed by the boat ride back to DBKK Jetty. Arrival is scheduled for roughly 3:30pm, making the total outing about seven hours from meeting time to return.

What the $112 price really covers

At $112 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a full beginner program rather than a single short underwater encounter. You receive the instruction, confined-water skills session, two supervised sessions, boat transfers, scuba equipment, refreshments, lunch, conservation fees, and jetty fees.

The small-group teaching adds value. A private instructor is available for an extra charge, but the standard arrangement already aims to provide personal instruction. That makes the experience a better fit for couples, families, or friends who want to learn together without arranging a private charter.

There is one important extra cost. The Sabah Parks diving permit is not included. It costs RM 125 for non-Malaysians and RM 58 for Malaysians. Add that to your budget before comparing this activity with other Kota Kinabalu scuba options.

Travel insurance is also not included. The tour information places responsibility for unforeseen circumstances and force majeure with your own insurance arrangements.

The value is strongest if you want the whole day organized for you. You do not need to source equipment, arrange a boat, find a reef site, or organize lunch on an island. If you already have scuba experience and only want independent reef time, this beginner format may feel too structured.

Who should book this Kota Kinabalu experience?

I would recommend it to adults and children aged 10 or older who are comfortable in the water and want to try scuba without taking a full certification course. It also suits families particularly well, provided everyone meets the health and swimming requirements.

The family experience involving people aged 16, 18, 50, and 52 shows the broad age range the format can accommodate. The key issue is not age alone. You need to be calm enough in the water to follow instructions and use the equipment.

It is also a good choice if you value patient guidance over maximum time underwater. The instructor-led structure, simple reef sites, and shallow first session help reduce the pressure on someone who is trying scuba for the first time.

You should reconsider it if you have respiratory problems, are not comfortable swimming, or need to fly soon after the activity. Recognized scuba safety standards require at least 18 hours between your final underwater session and a flight, so plan the tour carefully near the end of your Sabah stay.

The tour may also be less suitable if you want a private experience. You can pay extra for a private instructor, but the standard price is based on small-group teaching.

Practical details before you reserve

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your schedule flexible. Starting times should be checked when booking, although the usual meeting time is 8:45am.

Bring a willingness to get wet and allow enough time to reach DBKK Jetty. Scuba equipment, a towel, water, biscuits, sweets, lunch, and the boat ride are included, but hotel pickup is not.

Check your flight plans before choosing the date. The 18-hour no-fly period after scuba is easy to overlook, especially if you are taking a short trip through Borneo.

The activity is operated by Borneo Dream Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd. The available instruction languages are Chinese, English, and Malay.

Should you book the RAID Try-Dive in Kota Kinabalu?

Book it if you want a well-organized first scuba experience with two chances to get comfortable underwater. The strongest reasons are the shallow first session, reef-based second session, small-group instruction, and island lunch. The possibility of clownfish or a turtle adds excitement without being the only reason to go.

The extra Sabah Parks permit makes the final cost higher than the headline price, so include it in your calculation. Also confirm that you meet the health and swimming requirements and can keep 18 hours clear before flying.

For a beginner, this is a sensible way to sample the coral reefs near Kota Kinabalu. For a certified scuba user seeking challenging sites or a private schedule, choose a more advanced trip instead.

FAQ

How long does the RAID Try-Dive experience last?

The experience lasts about seven hours. A typical schedule runs from the 8:45am meeting time at DBKK Jetty until returning to the jetty at about 3:30pm.

Where does the boat leave from?

The boat leaves from DBKK Jetty in central Kota Kinabalu. The crew meets you at 8:45am near the DBKK Jetty poster with the Grab pickup and drop-off signage.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two supervised scuba sessions are included. The first takes place in a shallow, protected bay, and the second follows a coral reef to a maximum of about 12 meters.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served on either Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi. The lunch break is scheduled from about noon until 1:30pm.

Is the Sabah Parks permit included in the price?

No. The Sabah Parks permit costs RM 125 for non-Malaysians and RM 58 for Malaysians.

What are the minimum age and swimming requirements?

You must be at least 10 years old, comfortable in the water, and able to swim at a basic level. You also complete health forms and self-certify that you are fit to take part.

How long should I wait before flying?

You need at least 18 hours between the final scuba session and a flight, in line with recognized scuba safety standards.