Snorkelling trips are normally within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) which comprises the islands of Pulau Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi and Sulug, all only about 20 minutes boat ride from the jetty at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu. We know the best sites and can take you away from the crowds aboard your own private boat for the day.

Prices start at RM1,800 for the first 5 hours for up to 5 people; additional hours are RM350 per hour; additional people are RM250 per person.

Prices include: snorkeling equipment, jetty and marine park fees, lunch onboard, bottled water, hot drinks such as tea, locally brewed coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, biscuits, towels, and if required, snorkeling instruction.

Payment: A booking deposit is required (normally RM450) with the balance to be paid by cash on the day of the cruise.

Cancellation Policy: if, on the day,of the charter, it is unwise or unsafe to go to sea because of adverse weather conditions, this is the procedure:

1. We delay departure for an hour or two to wait and see if the weather improves. It usually does.

2. We postpone to another day if this is possible for both parties.

3. I cancel the trip and refund your deposit, minus any bank/PayPal charges.

If we are already at sea and the weather becomes unmanageable, we can return to land and you will only pay for the time at sea plus any additional equipment or services used or fees incurred. Any balance you have already paid will be returned to you. My full cancellation policy is available on request and will be sent to you automatically if you make a booking before you receive the invoice for the booking deposit.

"Sea Oasis" our wonderful 32ft twin catamaran was built for charters and is powered by two 140hp outboard engines. It sleeps 4, has a spacious cabin, a galley kitchen, toilet, outside freshwater shower and convenient swim ladder. It has an impressive sound system.

Safety equipment: life jackets (adult, child, baby), life buoys, VHF Radio, depth sounder, Satnav Chart Plotter, 2 fire extinguishers, first aid kit, vinegar (in case of minor stings).

Maximum 12 people.
Sea Oasis comes with experienced and dedicated English and Malay speaking crew with extensive local knowledge. Your safety and comfort is our priority.

"Sometimes mistaken for the latest incarnation of James Bond, Jonathan Shale captains his catamaran with both panache and care. He can help less-experienced members of your group with the finer points of snorkelling, accompanying them to the best spots.

They can provide a light meal for you, if required. The vessel has space and shelter for up to twelve people. There is a toilet below. We found Jonathan a warm and convivial host, and were surprised at how modest his rates are, compared with similar charters....."

(Dr) Frank Gee, Kings Point, New South Wales, Australia

“Our great thanks to Jonathan for being the perfect host and maintaining his good humour. Our trip out on his boat was a definite highlight and I would highly recommend it to all who visit KK. The snorkelling was certainly ranked in the top 5 sites for us.”

Hancock family, Australia.

"Enjoy very much spending time with the snorkelling at the islands. We had a good time on the ‘Sea Oasis’ together with Jonathan and his boatman. They taught us to use the snorkelling equipment; in fact this was my first time using it.”

Lee family, Subang Jaya, West Malaysia.

Note: You may notice we use 2 different spellings for "snorkeling/snorkelling". Both are correct depending where you learnt English! It seems that Americans use one "l" and British use two "ll"s. As Google search engines favour the American spelling it makes sense for us to use that.