Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 20 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu’s RAID Open Water 20 course gives you three days to learn scuba skills in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, rather than squeezing certification into a hurried weekend. You study online before arriving, then spend your course days on the water with instructors such as Yadi, Didi, Basir, Amir, and Alex.

I like the small maximum group of 12, the all-in setup with equipment, park fees, boat transfers, lunches, and water, and the calm teaching style reported for instructors such as Basir and Didi. The main consideration is that lunch is practical rather than memorable, and the course needs good weather, moderate fitness, and a full three-day commitment.

Key points about this Kota Kinabalu scuba course

• Three full course days: You leave from DBKK Jetty at 9:00 am each day and return to the same meeting point.
• Training in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park: Your classroom is backed by local marine life and protected island waters.
• Patient, safety-focused instruction: Yadi, Didi, Basir, Amir, and Alex are specifically praised for clear explanations, patience, and confidence-building.
• Most major costs are covered: Equipment, RAID materials, park and dive permits, boat transfers, three lunches, and drinking water are included.
• Small-group format: The maximum is 12 participants, useful when you need help with buoyancy, equipment, or underwater skills.
• Plan around weather: Poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund, but you should keep flexibility in your schedule.

Three days to earn an Open Water 20 certificate

This is a proper entry-level certification course, not a short introductory swim with a tank. You complete online preparation before the course begins, then work through the practical training over three days from Kota Kinabalu.

The supplied information calls the course RAID Open Water 20, while one overview line refers to Open Water 30. That mismatch is worth clearing up before payment. Ask Borneo Dream Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd to confirm the exact certification level, course requirements, and the online study material attached to your booking.

The course is open to people aged 10 and above who are fit, healthy, and able to swim. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. You also need to provide your full name, passport number, nationality, birth date, height, weight, shoe size, and any dietary requirements before the course.

That paperwork may feel fussy, but it has a practical purpose. Your height and shoe size help the operator prepare equipment, while health and swimming ability matter for a course that takes place in open water. If you have any doubt about your fitness or swimming ability, contact the provider before booking.

What your mornings at DBKK Jetty look like

The meeting point is Suria Seafront16 on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens in central Kota Kinabalu. The start time is 9:00 am, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point each day.

You travel out by boat to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, the main setting for your training and underwater practice. The operator uses two 33-foot trimaran boats, each about 9 feet wide. That gives you a purpose-built platform for a group course, with space for equipment and passengers during the trip to the marine park.

You should arrive ready for a full day on the water. The package includes drinking water and lunch on all three days, but not personal travel insurance or anything not specifically listed. Bring only what you need and confirm any special food requirements in advance.

The boat transfers are especially useful if you are staying in Kota Kinabalu and want a course with simple daily logistics. You do not need to arrange separate transport to different training sites. Still, this is not a hotel pickup service based on the details provided, so plan your route to Suria Seafront16 yourself.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is your training ground

The marine park is the real draw here. You are not completing the practical work in an anonymous pool and then moving elsewhere for the final stage. Your three days take place around local island waters, with marine life providing a memorable backdrop to the required skills.

For a beginner, this setting adds both pleasure and pressure. Seeing fish and reef life can make the first underwater sessions feel exciting, but you still need to focus on breathing, buoyancy, equipment checks, and the instructions from your teacher. The best part of this course is that the natural setting does not replace the training. It gives the training a reason.

The information provided does not name exact islands, sites, depths, or the number of training sessions. Conditions can affect the day’s plan, so you should not book this expecting a fixed list of underwater locations. The practical benefit is flexibility. Your instructor can focus on safe learning rather than forcing a rigid sightseeing schedule.

The course requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is reassuring, but I would still leave a little space in your Kota Kinabalu itinerary rather than scheduling your flight immediately after the third day.

The instructors are the heart of the experience

The strongest feature of this course is the teaching. Several instructors are singled out by name, and the praise is notably consistent.

Yadi is described as patient and clear, which matters when you are trying to absorb new equipment procedures and underwater skills at the same time. Didi receives particular credit for working patiently with a young participant and spending extra time on buoyancy. That detail is useful because buoyancy is not something every beginner masters quickly.

Basir is repeatedly praised for combining firm instruction with humor. One account describes him as thorough with course requirements while still friendly and encouraging. Another highlights his systematic approach, with objectives and milestones completed in order. That balance is exactly what you want in a certification course: enough discipline to keep standards high, without making a nervous beginner feel foolish.

Amir is described as helping an inexperienced participant settle initial nerves through humor and steady guidance. Alex is also praised for professional support and clear teaching. The instructor assigned to your group may vary, so you should not book on the assumption that you will receive one particular teacher. You can, however, expect the operator’s teaching team to be a major part of the experience.

If you are anxious about scuba, say so early. The comments about patience and confidence suggest that the team is used to helping beginners get comfortable. Do not rush to keep pace with another participant. Ask for an explanation, take a moment, and tell your instructor if a skill does not feel right.

Why buoyancy practice deserves extra attention

New scuba students often focus on breathing and remembering equipment names. Buoyancy is just as important. It affects comfort, air use, control, and your ability to avoid bumping the bottom or marine life.

The course has a useful reputation for giving this skill proper attention. Didi is specifically praised for helping a participant improve buoyancy, and Basir is praised for making sure students became competent and comfortable. That suggests a learning environment where you are expected to understand the skill, not merely complete a checklist.

You should treat the three days as training time, not as three sightseeing trips. There will be moments when you need to repeat a task or listen carefully instead of looking at fish. That is a good trade. A certificate has more value when it reflects skills you can use safely after leaving Sabah.

The maximum group size is 12, which is small enough to allow support but not so small that you should expect constant one-to-one attention. If you have a concern with a mask, fins, buoyancy, or any other part of the equipment, raise it immediately. Small problems are easier to solve on the boat or at the start of a session than after you have become uncomfortable.

What the $375 price includes

At $375 per person, the course is priced as a three-day certification package rather than a single paid excursion. The value comes from the number of inclusions.

Your price covers full diving equipment, RAID materials, park and dive permits, boat transfers, three lunches, and drinking water. You also receive the practical instruction needed for the course. The package removes several costs that can catch beginners off guard, especially equipment rental and marine park fees.

The boats are included too. Since you use them on each course day, this is more convenient than arranging separate transport to the marine park. The small-group limit adds value, particularly if you need help with equipment or want an instructor who can keep track of your progress.

Lunch is supplied each day, but you should keep your expectations modest. One participant found it ordinary. That is not a serious flaw in a certification course, but food matters when you are spending long days in the sun and on the water. Mention dietary requirements before arrival, and bring any personal snacks you know you will want.

Travel insurance is not included. The cancellation terms provide a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 am start, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded. The operator can also require a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Who should choose this course

This course suits you if you want a recognized beginner qualification and prefer learning over several days. It is also a good fit if you value a marine park setting, included transport, and an instructor-led format rather than trying to organize every part yourself.

Families may appreciate the age policy, though anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum age is 10, but age alone does not determine readiness. Your child must also be fit, healthy, and able to swim, and you should confirm any concerns with the provider.

The course may also suit a nervous beginner. The teaching team’s repeated strengths are patience, humor, clear explanations, and attention to comfort. Those qualities can make a major difference during the first hours with scuba equipment.

You may want a different option if you have only one free day, dislike structured instruction, or want a luxury boat and special meals. This is a working certification course. The trimaran transfers are practical, the lunch is simple, and the timetable is built around learning rather than lounging.

Practical preparation before you arrive

Complete the online pre-study before the first morning. Doing so gives you more time on the boat and in the water for practical work instead of trying to absorb basic theory at the last moment.

Use the provider’s requested information carefully. Your name, passport number, nationality, birth date, height, weight, shoe size, and dietary needs should be ready when asked. If you need clarification about health or swimming requirements, contact the operator before confirming the booking.

Wear clothing suitable for a full day around the sea and follow the equipment guidance from your instructor. The operator supplies the scuba equipment, but personal comfort still matters. Most importantly, arrive rested and prepared to listen.

Because weather can interrupt the program, avoid placing an unmovable flight or long-distance connection too close to the final day. A spare day in Kota Kinabalu gives you breathing room if the sea conditions change.

Is this Kota Kinabalu course worth booking?

I would choose this course if you want a serious beginner qualification with a friendly teaching team and a straightforward base in central Kota Kinabalu. The price is fair for three days with equipment, boat transfers, park fees, meals, water, and course materials included.

The best reason to book is the instruction. Basir, Didi, Yadi, Amir, and Alex are associated with the qualities beginners need most: patience, humor, clear explanations, and firm attention to safety. The main compromises are simple meals, possible weather disruption, and the need to commit three days.

Before paying, confirm the Open Water 20 versus Open Water 30 wording and ask which certification you will receive. If that detail is clear, you meet the fitness and swimming requirements, and your schedule allows for weather flexibility, this is a sensible way to begin scuba in Sabah.

FAQ

Where does the course start?

It starts at Suria Seafront16, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

What time does the course begin?

The stated start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the activity end?

It ends back at the meeting point at Suria Seafront16.

How long is the course?

The course lasts approximately three days, with boat-based course days departing from and returning to DBKK Jetty.

Where does the underwater training take place?

The course takes place in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park near Kota Kinabalu.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Full diving equipment is included in the price.

Are marine park fees included?

Yes. Dive permits and park fees are included.

Are meals included?

Yes. Lunch is included on all three days, along with drinking water.

What is the minimum age?

The course is open to people aged 10 and above. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if bad weather cancels the course?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.