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One thing to look forward to in 2010 is the number of long weekends on offer.
With nine long weekends next year - two more than this year - and the upcoming festive season and new year, you'll have plenty of opportunities to take a well-deserved break without using up all your annual leave to do so.
And once you have more than a couple days off, you aren't limited to just the quickie weekend destinations of Phuket, Koh Samui, Tioman or Langkawi.
Aside from top diving destinations like Sipadan, Manado, Layang Layang, there is plenty of fun to be had at a few lesser-known dive spots.
Whether you're a novice or have webbed feet and gills, these destinations all offer a unique, off-the-beaten-track experience that will surprise and delight - and they're all just a few hours away.
Kota Kinabalu: not just for divers
There is more to KK than climbing Mount Kinabalu. It's a cute little town with its own Clarke Quay-esque stretch of chic waterfront restaurants. The protected coral reefs of the Tungku Abdul Rahman Park (Tarp) are a mere 10 minutes away. A little further afield is Pulau Tiga - the setting for Survivor: Borneo - which can easily be reached from KK on a relaxed day trip.
Outdoor enthusiasts can head to the hills for a spot of Grade IV white-water rafting on the Padas River, nature-lovers can take in a proboscis monkey tour and spa junkies can be thoroughly pampered at Shangri-La's spa-village, Chi.
If you're new to the sport or simply want to take in a few dives while keeping your other (non-diving) half happily occupied, KK is a great place to do it all and in five-star comfort, too.
GETTING THERE: AirAsia, Jetstar, Tiger and SilkAir all fly to KK, making it one of the most easily-accessible diving spots in Asia.
GETTING WET: There's a dive centre on Pulau Gaya within the Tarp run by Downbelow Marine (www.downbelow.co.uk). This makes for a supremely comfortable dive trip. You spend your lunchtime surface interval on shore, with a hot catered lunch and a white sandy beach to lounge on.
Pulau Weh, Aceh: Take a walk on the wild side
This special territory on the northern-most tip of Sumatra is home to one of Asia's best kept diving secrets. The only reason why it isn't as famous (or as crowded) as Sipadan is that before the advent of Firefly and AirAsia, it was terribly inconvenient to get there. Now, it's possible to travel from Singapore to Pulau Weh within a day, making it an easy getaway.
Like Sipadan, Weh is noted for its pelagic life - barracudas, trevallies, sharks, mantas are all frequently spotted. It also features a fantastic variety of dive sites. From the raging currents of Seulako's Drift to the hot bubbles of the underwater volcano in Sabang harbour, Weh really has something for everyone.
Experienced deep divers can also take in the wreck of the Sophie Rickmers, a beautifully-preserved 134m German steamship sitting down at 70m, and where a rare megamouth shark was once spotted.
GETTING THERE: The best connection is the AirAsia flight from KL to Banda Aceh, which touches down at 2pm (schedules may change), allowing you enough to time to board the afternoon ferry to Pulau Weh. Another way is to stay overnight in Penang and catch a Firefly flight to Banda Aceh.
GETTING WET: Lumba Lumba (www.lumbalumba.com) is conveniently located right on Gapang beach nestled in a beautiful, secluded bay with a scattering of restaurants and small chalets. Lumba Lumba sports a well-designed dive centre with all the amenities a diver could wish for, including free wireless.
They recently added some pleasant concrete chalets on the hill behind the dive shop, with lovely ocean views.
Moalboal: Just jump in
The central islands of the Visayas group in the Philippines - Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Siquijor - have some of the most varied diving with some of the best visibility in Asia. And Moalboal is at the centre of it all.
While the town doesn't have much of a beach to speak of, the fact that most of the hotels and restaurants are built right out over the water means excellent snorkelling is available right at your doorstep.
Most of the diving is in the 300m deep Tanon Strait, with its stunning gin-clear water and steep drop-offs. From huge schools of sardines to basketball-sized frogfish, there is plenty of unusual marine life.
The main highlight is Pescador Island, just 20 minutes from Moalboal, with a beautiful swimthrough called The Cathedral, schools of snappers and black coral walls.
GETTING THERE: Cebu Pacific and SilkAir offer direct three-and-a-half hour flights from Singapore. From Cebu city, Moalboal is a short but scenic three-hour drive.
GETTING WET: Sea Explorers (www.sea-explorers.com) has six dive centres located all over the Visayas, including one in Moalboal. This allows them to offer inter-island dive trips and transfers, letting you explore more than just one dive destination if you have the time.
- TODAY/yb
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