I joined Snorkeling Safari 1 day tour few days prior to the booking date. I must say the whole experience with Downbelow had been absolutely nothing but high praise.

It started off with booking via their website. Booking and payment was quite straight forward. Invoice is sent to your email with follow up questions about your hotel details and health questions before taking in “somewhat” dangerous activities in snorkeling. (Obviously, snorkel is not dangerous but it’s standard health questionnaire so tour is not liable if your health condition became an issue while on tour).

After providing information to the company, a personalize trip itinerary with activities detail and timeline is sent via PDF to you. This is my first observation of outstanding customer services sign which I have not seen by other tour operators. I can print it out and exactly know what to do or bring prior even being picked up.

Hotel Pick Up:

The approximately pick up time was noted on the personal trip itinerary mentioned earlier. I waited at the hotel
Lobby and before pick up schedules time. However, when pick up time was reached, I did not see car. Just when I thought about contacting tour operator’s local Malaysia number, my US mobile phone rang. I had provided Mobile numbers when they sent follow up questions. I didn’t think they would call an international number but they did. They mentioned car is running 5 minutes late due to heavy pick up prior to my hotel (last pickup). Pickup did come within 5 minutes windows. Again, another praise for customer services notifying customer if there are any problem.

Ferry Ride:

There are 3 vehicles picking up guests from the area so we had to wait few more minutes at the jetty area. Once guests are all accounted for, boat left on time and transferred everyone to the “base camp” at the Gaya Island. It was quick 10 to 15 minutes speed boat ride.

Gaya Island Based Camp:

This is what impressed me because the tour operator had a private jetty and small beach area on the south side of Gaya Island. I didn’t feel like I was cattle call into crowded tourist center similar to the problems now at the Sapi Island and Manukan Island. All of us, snorkeling guests and diving guests reached about same time in the morning around 9:30am. Once we reached the based camp, snorkel guests are grouped together and 2 snorkel guides are assigned and introduced to the group. Equipment(snorkel, mask, fin etc..) also is retrieved from the based camp equipment counter. They do have cold water machine which you can fill your water bottle with cold water.

Base camp facility also has male and female toilets and coupe outdoor showers.

There are some shelf space where you can leave your bags while out for trips.

Snorkeling

All day tour included 3 snorkel trips. Basically, you go to snorkel sites near the based camp for 40 to 50 minutes each trip then come back to based camp for rest. This is very well done and professionalism is outstanding. For each snorkel trip, there is a pre snorkel trip briefing explaining what site and where is located in relation to the based camp. Also, what type of underwater sea creatures we expected or would be surprise to see. Do and Don’ts etc...

Most of snorkel tours I had been in Southeast Asia had not experience this level of details and information provided. Most of time, you get on a boat with others, the boat drops you off at each site then move on to next one without much of explanation.


2 snorkeling guides are accompanied guest group for each trip. Both of them are in the water, one is leading and one is staying behind to ensure all guests are accounted for and no one gets left behind. For my snorkeling date, I was fortunately enough to spot reef shark, sea turtle, etc.. on each trip. Kudo to the guide as they seem to know where to find fish and what area to take us.

After 2nd trip, everyone (diving and snorkeling guests) came back to the base camp for lunch. Lunch meal was great but it did not have many choices. However, I wasn’t here for nice meal anyway so it wasn’t any issue for me. After lunch, we all went out to the last trip either snorkeling or dive.

Return home and Drop Off:

After 3rd trips, everyone came back to base camps to change clothes, shower, or take a nap etc....all guests then were transferred back to mainland.

Overall, outstanding services, and superb professionalism I haven’t seen anywhere else. I will definitely return next time to earn diving certificate.

Had a great experience getting my 2 day advanced open water certification with down below. Crazy jack was my instructor and he ensured I got all the information I needed. He had a great positive character and made me laugh constantly. The premises have a gorgeous view and the staff run the place professionally.