THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Three days of guided RAID Open Water training launch from Jesselton Point Jetty, putting you onto the reefs of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with full gear, permits and lunch included. Expect confined-water drills, multi-day open-water dives, and practical beach-to-boat skills.
Three days of guided RAID Open Water training launch from Jesselton Point Jetty, putting you onto the reefs of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with full gear, permits and lunch included. Expect confined-water drills, multi-day open-water dives, and practical beach-to-boat skills.
Standing on the wooden planks of Jesselton Point as the morning sun warms your shoulders, the boats line up like patient horses at a starting gate. The Red British phone boxes mark your meeting point; by 09:00 the engine hum pulls you away from the city and toward islands ringed with coral. Below the surface, currents and coral bommies challenge you in equal measure; above it, Kinabalu’s haze fades into clear blue.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Borneo Dream Travel Tours Sdn Bhd · Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Standing on the wooden planks of Jesselton Point as the morning sun warms your shoulders, the boats line up like patient horses at a starting gate. The Red British phone boxes mark your meeting point; by 09:00 the engine hum pulls you away from the city and toward islands ringed with coral. Below the surface, currents and coral bommies challenge you in equal measure; above it, Kinabalu’s haze fades into clear blue.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park—created in the 1970s to protect Sabah’s nearshore reefs—hosts these training dives. Geologically, the park’s islands are uplifted sandstone and coral limestone platforms; currents funnel nutrients here, feeding colorful reef patches and occasional pelagic visitors. The local Bajau and Kadazan communities have long depended on these waters, and small dive operators work with park rules and permits to limit impact.
Practically, this RAID Open Water course runs three wet days from Jesselton Point, with about four hours of pre-study expected. The operator provides RAID materials, full dive kit, park permits, lunch and water, and small group instruction. Expect confined-water skills, shore-to-boat transitions, and multiple open-water dives across days. Fitness should be moderate: able to swim and manage basic breathing control. Bring your passport details and health info at booking; the boat leaves at 09:00 sharp.
Plan for variable seas—pick calmer months if you’re prone to seasickness, hydrate between dives, and never touch coral. By the lastSurfaceSkills check you’ll be earning confidence as much as certification, leaving the reef with practiced buoyancy and new eyes for the life that lives where water dares you to look deeper.
moderate.
3 days (3 wet days, includes pre-study).
Moderate fitness: comfortable swimming ability and able to perform basic tasks under exertion
The RAID Open Water course is open from age 10 upwards; divers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
No prior scuba experience is required—this is an entry-level RAID Open Water course, but you must be fit and able to swim.
The program runs three wet days with classroom/ confined-water drills plus multiple open-water dives; there is also about 4 hours of required pre-study.
Yes — the operator supplies full diving equipment, RAID materials, park permits, lunch and drinking water as part of the course.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park was established in the 1970s to protect the nearshore reefs off Kota Kinabalu; the park bears the name of Malaysia’s first prime minister.
Park fees and dive permits fund reef management; divers are asked to follow no-touch rules, use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid feed-based interactions to limit impact.
Borneo Dream Travel Tours Sdn Bhd operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Standing on the wooden planks of Jesselton Point as the morning sun warms your shoulders, the boats line up like patient horses at a starting gate. The Red British phone boxes mark your meeting point; by 09:00 the engine hum pulls you away from the city and toward islands ringed with coral. Below the surface, currents and coral bommies challenge you in equal measure; above it, Kinabalu’s haze fades into clear blue.
Standing on the wooden planks of Jesselton Point as the morning sun warms your shoulders, the boats line up like patient horses at a starting gate. The Red British phone boxes mark your meeting point; by 09:00 the engine hum pulls you away from the city and toward islands ringed with coral. Below the surface, currents and coral bommies challenge you in equal measure; above it, Kinabalu’s haze fades into clear blue.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park—created in the 1970s to protect Sabah’s nearshore reefs—hosts these training dives. Geologically, the park’s islands are uplifted sandstone and coral limestone platforms; currents funnel nutrients here, feeding colorful reef patches and occasional pelagic visitors. The local Bajau and Kadazan communities have long depended on these waters, and small dive operators work with park rules and permits to limit impact.
Practically, this RAID Open Water course runs three wet days from Jesselton Point, with about four hours of pre-study expected. The operator provides RAID materials, full dive kit, park permits, lunch and water, and small group instruction. Expect confined-water skills, shore-to-boat transitions, and multiple open-water dives across days. Fitness should be moderate: able to swim and manage basic breathing control. Bring your passport details and health info at booking; the boat leaves at 09:00 sharp.
Plan for variable seas—pick calmer months if you’re prone to seasickness, hydrate between dives, and never touch coral. By the lastSurfaceSkills check you’ll be earning confidence as much as certification, leaving the reef with practiced buoyancy and new eyes for the life that lives where water dares you to look deeper.