PADI 5 Star Career Development Dive & Adventure Centres
In Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, we offer two Downbelow PADI 5 Star Career Development Dive & Adventure Centres. Both are purpose built dive facilities based on paradise islands. Our PADI 5 Star Career Development Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island caters for day trippers who prefer to stay overnight on the Kota Kinabalu mainland in KK City or other resorts. Our PADI 5 Star Career Development Dive & Adventure Centre on Manukan Island is perfect for guests that wish to stay overnight in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
Daily diving & snorkelling programs, PADI courses as well as dive sites are available and are the same from both our PADI 5 Star CDC Dive centres. The difference is the time you spend out of the water, and this will determine which dive centre suits you best,
Go Pro candidates that join our internationally renowned PADI Professional Courses benefit from the education they receive at both our PADI dive centres.
Downbelow Dive Centre Gaya Island
Downbelow PADI 5 Star CDC Centre – Gaya Island
Downbelow PADI 5 Star CDC Centre Gaya Island or “The Beach House” offers inclusive packages. We include KK city land transfers, lunch, refreshments, required equipment plus your chosen fully guided activity or PADI course.
Surface Intervals
Being the only operator here, the island provides a very special experience for guests to enjoy a private tropical paradise away from crowds. Whether in groups or families, guests will still spend time together as surface intervals are on the beach house veranda. Basic washrooms and fresh water non-heated showers are available. We serve a freshly cooked local lunch of rice, a meat dish, vegetables and fruit, vegetarian & vegan options are available.
About Gaya Island
Pulau Gaya or Gaya Island is the largest of 5 islands in TARP. It remains unspoiled and is not on the main tourist route. Walking trails criss-cross the island, meandering through virgin, tropical rainforests. We have sheltered reefs with year round dive access.
Pool vs Confined Open Water?
Confined water training for skill practice and introduction to scuba diving takes places immediately in front of the dive centre, which boasts a natural confined open water lagoon. Open water dive sites start literally a giant stride away from our jetty, with the rest a few minutes away by boat.
Downbelow Dive Centre Manukan Island
Downbelow PADI 5 Star CDC Centre – Manukan Island
If you are seeking for a beach resort holiday, then the Downbelow PADI 5 Star CDC Centre on Manukan Island is the place for your. We offer great value stay & scuba dive, stay & snorkel and stay & learn to dive packages. For walk-in guests staying at the resort, we offer daily scuba diving, PADI courses, snorkel safaris and sea kayaking trips. We can also arrange dive trips for island-hoppers.
Surface Intervals
In-house guests or day trippers at our dive centre can enjoy resort facilities. Indulge in delectable food and a variety of drinks by the resort pool. All food & beverage is at your own expense. Resort washrooms are provided.
Island transfers are not included in our standard package, however daily boat transfers can be arranged with us or you can us the water taxis that operate daily within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
Pool vs Confined Open Water?
At Manukan Island, training for scuba diving skill practice and introduction to scuba diving takes places in the resort swimming pool. Open water dive sites are accessed from the beach just a few minutes away by speedboat.
Full Service Dive Centres
Both PADI dive centre Kota Kinabalu, Sabah are purpose built and offer the same high standard of safety & equipment you would expect from a Downbelow PADI 5 Star CDC dive centre. Fast custom- built speedboats, air compressors with NITROX, a certified equipment service center plus equipment to easily handle a great variety of shapes and sizes.
Downbelow’s international staff are highly skilled with many years of experience in their field and we pride ourselves on an exceptional level of service and safety. Our diver-to-dive-guide ratios are very low, ensuring that new divers a well looked after and experienced divers can enjoy the dive to the full.