RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

Your first underwater outing takes place in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a short boat ride from central Kota Kinabalu. You learn the basics in the morning, practice in shallow water, then head to a reef with your instructor for a proper underwater session. Lunch on a tropical island rounds out the day.

I like the small maximum group of 10 and the clear meeting point at Jesselton Point. I also like the way the schedule gives beginners time to get comfortable before heading to the reef. The main drawback is the strict cancellation rule: once booked, the $110 fee is not refundable unless the operator cancels because of weather or too few bookings.

Key points at a glance

• Two underwater sessions: Practice skills first, then head out for a reef visit after lunch.
• Jesselton Point start: Meet beside the British Red Telephone Boxes at 8:45 a.m., before the 9 a.m. departure.
• Instructor support throughout: You remain with a trained, insured, licensed PADI instructor during the activity.
• Lunch on a tropical island: Food, drinking water, equipment, fees, and return boat transport are included.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 10, with low instructor-to-participant ratios.
• Back by midafternoon: Return to Jesselton Point around 3 or 4 p.m., leaving your evening free.

Starting at Jesselton Point at 8:45 a.m.

The day begins in a part of Kota Kinabalu that is easy to reach. Jesselton Point Jetty sits in the city center, near public transport and the waterfront. You should arrive at 8:45 a.m., even though the boat leaves at 9 sharp.

Look for the British Red Telephone Boxes on the left side of the jetty, about 20 meters from the entrance. This is a useful landmark in a busy port area, and it avoids the vague meet-us-somewhere-near-the-water instructions that can make early departures stressful.

Your crew checks the group, explains the day, and outlines the schedule before you board. Staff speak English, Malay, and Chinese, which helps if you are working through new equipment and unfamiliar safety instructions.

The boat then heads toward Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The trip is not just a transfer. It moves you from the city waterfront to the islands and reefs that make this area popular for water activities. Exact boat conditions can vary with the weather, so anyone prone to seasickness should plan accordingly, though the supplied information does not specify whether motion-sickness medication is available.

Learning the equipment before heading to the reef

The morning session is built for people who have never used scuba equipment. Your instructor gives a verbal lesson, explains the gear, and helps you get used to breathing through the regulator and moving with the equipment in the water.

That first session matters. Scuba can feel strange at the start, even for confident swimmers. The mask, tank, regulator, and other gear all require a little adjustment. You are not simply handed equipment and sent off to figure it out alone. The instructors teach basic skills before the main reef visit and remain with you during the activity.

You then enter the water to practice. The session includes new scuba skills followed by a short underwater outing on the same cylinder. This gives you a chance to settle your breathing and find out how comfortable you feel before the afternoon session.

I like this two-stage plan. It treats the morning as a proper introduction rather than using the reef as your classroom. It also gives the instructor a chance to see how you handle the gear and to guide you at a suitable pace.

The activity requires a moderate level of physical fitness. You should be comfortable getting into the water, wearing full equipment, and taking part in a day on a boat. The supplied details do not set out a swimming test or a medical questionnaire, so ask the operator about any health concern before booking.

The reef session after lunch

After the morning practice, you receive lunch on a tropical island. Lunch comes from a menu, and drinking water flows throughout the activity. The food is included in the price, as are the landing and facility fees, equipment, and return transfers from Jesselton Point.

The island stop breaks up the day nicely. You get time away from the equipment before the main underwater session, and the lunch stop gives the six-hour outing a more complete island feel. Do not expect a full sightseeing day across several islands, though. The focus is the scuba experience, with lunch serving as a practical and pleasant pause.

After lunch, you take part in a proper boat-based reef session with your professional instructor. This is the main attraction: seeing the marine environment around Kota Kinabalu from below the surface instead of only from the boat or beach.

The exact reef, marine life, and visibility are not specified, so you should not book expecting a guaranteed animal sighting or a particular coral formation. What you can count on is time in the local marine park with an instructor and a chance to explore an underwater reef using the skills practiced earlier.

The instructor stays with you, which is especially important if this is your first time. The low ratios also help. A maximum of 10 people is a fairly contained group for a boat activity, although the actual number on your departure can be smaller or different. One outing had seven tourists on the boat, with five taking a snorkel option while two chose the beginner scuba program. That example shows how the boat can serve people with different interests without forcing everyone into the same activity.

How the instructors shape the experience

The human side of this tour is one of its strongest features. Aamir guided one beginner pair and was praised for making the experience easy to understand and comfortable. Esther was also singled out for staying close and taking care of participants throughout the day.

Those details matter more here than they would on an ordinary sightseeing trip. A first scuba session depends heavily on calm instruction and patient support. If you feel nervous, the quality of the briefing and the instructor’s attention can make the difference between enjoying the reef and spending the session worrying about your equipment.

The crew is described as professional, and the included package lists trained, insured, and licensed PADI instructors. The schedule also identifies the afternoon instructor as a RAID professional instructor, so you may see both PADI and RAID terminology associated with the program. If a particular certification or training standard matters to you, confirm the details with Borneo Dream Travel Tours before booking.

The stated low ratios are another plus. Small groups do not guarantee a private session, but they should make it easier for the instructor to keep track of participants and respond to questions. The maximum of 10 is also more appealing than a large boat packed with first-timers.

What the $110 price really covers

At $110 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning around Kota Kinabalu. It is also more than a simple island boat transfer or a basic snorkel outing. The useful question is what you would otherwise need to arrange separately.

The price includes:

• Full scuba equipment needed for the activity
• Professional instructor support
• Morning instruction and practice
• A reef session after lunch
• Lunch from a menu on a tropical island
• Free-flow drinking water
• Return transport from Jesselton Point
• Landing and facility fees
• A small-group setup with low ratios

That is a solid package for a first-time scuba experience. You are paying for instruction, equipment, boat transport, food, and access to the marine park in one booking. You also avoid the cost and hassle of purchasing or renting individual pieces of equipment.

The value is best if you want to try scuba without committing to a full certification course. You receive a taste of the activity, but this is not presented as a certification program. If your main goal is to spend as much time as possible underwater, check how long each water session lasts before paying. The total tour runs about six hours, but the listed schedule does not give exact minutes for the lesson, practice, reef session, or lunch.

Travel insurance is not included. The operator also excludes anything not specifically named in the package, so personal spending and other extras should be treated as your responsibility.

A practical half-day plan

The schedule is straightforward:

• 8:45 a.m.: Meet at Jesselton Point by the red telephone boxes.
• 9 a.m.: Depart by boat for Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
• Morning: Attend the verbal lesson, become familiar with the equipment, practice basic skills, and complete a short underwater session.
• Midday: Have included lunch on a tropical island.
• Afternoon: Take part in the main reef session from the boat with your instructor.
• Around 3 to 4 p.m.: Return to Jesselton Point.

This timing works well if you want a water activity without surrendering the entire day. You should still keep the late afternoon flexible because the return is given as an approximate window rather than a fixed arrival time.

The six-hour length also suits a mixed itinerary. You can plan an evening meal, a city walk, or another low-key activity afterward. I would avoid booking a time-sensitive late-afternoon appointment, since weather and boat conditions can affect the return.

Who should book this experience?

This is aimed squarely at first-time scuba participants. You do not need to arrive with your own equipment or previous scuba experience. The morning lesson and practice session are there to help you get comfortable before the reef visit.

It also works well for a small group of friends or family members with different interests. Some people can choose snorkeling while others try scuba, as shown by the mixed group arrangement on one outing. That makes the boat option more flexible than a tour built only around certified scuba participants.

I would consider it a good fit if you:

• Want a first taste of scuba in Kota Kinabalu
• Prefer an instructor-led experience
• Like having lunch and boat transport included
• Want a small group rather than a large crowd
• Need to be back in the city by late afternoon
• Are comfortable with a moderate level of physical activity

You may want a different product if you already have substantial scuba experience and want advanced sites, longer underwater sessions, or a specialized marine-life trip. The information here focuses on beginners, basic skills, and a single reef outing.

Weather, booking, and the strict cancellation rule

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. The activity needs suitable weather, and it also requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum group is not reached, you can choose a different date or experience, or receive a full refund.

Your own cancellation options are much narrower. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That makes flexibility important. I would avoid booking this too far ahead if your Kota Kinabalu schedule is uncertain, and I would not pay until you are confident about the date.

The experience is booked, on average, 13 days in advance. That is a useful sign that planning ahead may be wise, especially if you have fixed vacation dates. Group discounts are available, so check the current rate if several people are booking together.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, and the start and finish are both at the Jesselton Point meeting area.

What to bring and what to confirm

The package supplies the scuba equipment, drinking water, lunch, boat transport, and facility fees. You should still confirm any personal items you may need, since the package only promises what is specifically listed.

Useful things to clarify before booking include:

• The expected length of each underwater session
• The exact lunch choices
• Any health or swimming requirements
• The current weather policy for your date
• The meaning of the available group discount
• Which instructor certification applies to your departure

The supplied information does not state whether towels, dry bags, hotel pickup, personal photography, or other extras are included. Do not assume they are. Jesselton Point is the stated departure and return location, so you should make your own way there unless the operator gives you different instructions.

Should you book the Kota Kinabalu try scuba session?

Yes, if you want a carefully guided first experience with a reef visit, island lunch, and a manageable group size. The best reasons to book are the morning practice, the instructor support, the included equipment, and the simple city-center departure.

The $110 price makes sense when you value convenience and guidance. It is less compelling if you only want a quick look at the water or if you already have scuba experience. Remember that the booking cannot normally be changed or refunded, so check your schedule and the weather outlook before committing.

For a beginner who wants to try scuba in Kota Kinabalu without signing up for a full course, this is a well-organized half-day option. Book it when you are ready for a structured introduction, not when you are looking for an advanced underwater expedition.

FAQ

Where does the activity start?

The activity starts at Jesselton Point Jetty in central Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

What time should I arrive?

You should arrive at 8:45 a.m. The boat departs at 9 a.m.

Where exactly do I meet the crew?

Meet beside the British Red Telephone Boxes on the left side of Jesselton Point Jetty, about 20 meters from the entrance.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts about six hours. You are expected to return to Jesselton Point around 3 or 4 p.m.

Is this suitable for a first-time scuba participant?

Yes. The experience includes a verbal lesson, equipment practice, basic scuba skills, and instructor-guided underwater sessions for beginners.

How large is the group?

The maximum is 10 participants. The activity also states that it uses low ratios.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch on a tropical island is included, along with free-flow drinking water.

What equipment is supplied?

Full scuba equipment needed for the activity is included.

Are instructors provided?

Yes. The experience includes trained, insured, and licensed PADI instructors. The afternoon session is also described as being with a RAID professional instructor.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of participants is not reached.