Kapalai Dive Resort (II) - Kapalai Island, Sabah

- October 23, 2023

This is our second visit to Kapalai Dive Resort. The resort is about 45-minute boat journey from Semporna Jetty. We booked a three-day, two-night stay for RM 1,982.20 (including 6% SST) per person, excluding snorkeling or diving and related equipment fee. Package includes two nights lodging, full board meals and round-trip boat transportation (Semporna Jetty - Kapalai Dive Resort - Semporna Jetty).

This time, we stayed at the opposite end of the resort, closest to the small artificial island from where we could see the sunset. The layout of the chalet is different from the one in which we previously stayed. When we enter the chalet, we see an open bathroom concept with a bathtub. The toilet is on the left, with a wooden sliding door that does not lock and the shower is on the right side, also with a wooden sliding door that does not lock.

The chalet has with a king size bed, a single bed, a lazy sofa, an in-room safe, drinking water, coffee or tea making facilities, a mini fridge, a standing fan, a working desk, ceiling fan, self controlled air conditioning, a wall mounted hair dryer, two pairs of slippers, mosquito repellent spray, two pairs of umbrellas and a full set of toiletries. The room is very spacious with a private balcony overlooking the blue sea. There is no TV nor WiFi in the chalet, and my mobile service (U mobile) is completely unavailable on this island.

The water pressure is low, and the water is not hot enough. Apart from that, shower area is open concept, with wind blowing in while taking a shower. Beware, as we might be watched while taking a shower or soaking in a tub by others playing drones! There is no safety latch on the door entrance and housekeeping can just barge in unexpectedly. By the way, there is no pipping of water drainage from the bathtub, and the water drains directly into the ocean!

Even with the air conditioning on, the room was very warm, so we asked the front desk to look into the problem on our first night. Maintenance personnel arrived to fix it, but nothing has changed. The next day, we brought up the same issue again. They promised to correct it and made excuses about last night's inexperience worker. However, the air conditioning has not improved after the second visit. The reason given was the weather was too hot causing the room to be warm. So my partner made the decision to bring the issue to their corporate office. Mr. Voon, one of their employees attended to us and suggested that we switch to a chalet (on the opposite end of the resort) that was far from our friend's chalet. (We came here with our friends and their chalet was comfortable and cool). He even offered a special private dinner for the four of us. We politely declined his offer because we preferred to remain close to our friend's chalet.

In the end, they were able to resolve the air conditioning issue, and they explained that the voltage problem was to blame. That afternoon, our room was cold and the water heater was very hot. The power goes off the following morning at 6.30am and when it comes back on a few minutes later, the air conditioning is no longer cold and the water heater is no longer hot. Since we were checking out that day, we were too exhausted to bring up the same issue again. This explains why the chalet has a standing fan...

Fixed boat schedule:
a) Semporna Jetty to Kapalai Dive Resort - 10.30am
b) Kapalai Dive Resort to Semporna Jetty - 13.30pm

Dining time:
a) Breakfast: 7am to 9.30am
b) Lunch: 12.30pm to 2pm
c) Tea break: 3pm to 5pm
d) Dinner: 7pm to 8.30pm

Check in time: 2pm
Check out time: 12pm

Buggy service: 7am to 9pm
Dive Centre: 8am to 5.30pm
Restaurant: 7am to 11pm
Office: 8am to 9.30pm