Join us for a RAID Try Dive in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu’s RAID Try Dive gives first-timers a proper taste of scuba, not just a quick swim with a tank. You start with a briefing and shallow-water skills, then visit a reef and take a later boat trip for a fuller underwater session in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

I like the one-instructor-for-four-students ratio, which matters when you are still learning to breathe, move, and stay calm underwater. I also like the easy meeting point at Jesselton Point, plus the fact that lunch, equipment, park permits, water, and boat transport are already covered. The main caution is that this is a six-hour outdoor activity, so weather can change the plan, and you need a moderate level of fitness.

Key points to know before booking

• A gentle first step into scuba: You learn basic skills in shallow water before moving to the reef.
• Small teaching groups: Each instructor handles no more than four students, within a total group limit of 12.
• Two underwater stages: The day includes a shallow-water skills session, a reef session, and a later boat-led session.
• Lunch is included: Food and drinking water are provided, so you do not need to arrange lunch during the day.
• Simple city meeting point: Meet at Suria Seafront near Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal at 9:00am.
• A relaxed feel for beginners: Alex is one named instructor, and the calm, patient teaching style suits people with little or no scuba experience.

Starting at Jesselton Point at 9:00am

The morning begins at Suria Seafront16 on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, close to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in central Kota Kinabalu. This is a useful meeting place because it is easy to reach and near public transportation, rather than hidden away at a remote resort.

You should allow time to arrive before the 9:00am start. The day finishes back at the same general meeting point at about 4:00pm, giving you a clear half-day-plus schedule. That makes this easier to fit into a Kota Kinabalu itinerary than an overnight marine trip.

Your RAID instructor begins with a verbal introduction and safety briefing. This is not just a formality. For a first scuba experience, the briefing helps you understand the equipment, the basic plan, and what to do if you feel unsure underwater.

The maximum ratio is one instructor for four students. That is one of the most useful details here. Four people is still a small group, but it is not a private lesson, so you should expect to share the instructor’s attention. The total group can reach 12 people, split among several instructors.

Learning the basics in shallow water

The first practical session takes place in shallow water. You will put on the supplied equipment and work through the skills your instructor considers necessary before moving farther from shore.

This part can feel less glamorous than the later boat trip, but it is where the day earns its value. New scuba participants often need a little time to get used to breathing through a regulator, controlling their body position, and responding to simple instructions while wearing a tank and mask.

The shallow-water setting gives you room to get comfortable before the reef session. If you are anxious, tell your instructor early. The small group ratio means the instructor has a better chance of seeing when you need help, but clear communication still matters.

The experience is suitable for beginners, and no prior scuba background is stated as a requirement. Still, you should have a moderate level of physical fitness. You will be handling full equipment and spending much of the day around water, so this is not a passive boat sightseeing trip.

The equipment is provided in full. That keeps the booking simple and avoids the extra cost and inconvenience of arranging a mask, regulator, tank, and related gear yourself. You are still responsible for bringing anything not listed as included, such as personal travel insurance.

The first reef session after your skills practice

Once you have completed the shallow-water skills, you move on to a reef scuba session with your instructor. The order is sensible: learn the basics first, then use them in a more natural setting.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is the setting for the underwater activity. The park sits off Kota Kinabalu and gives the experience a clear sense of place. You are not simply practicing in an indoor pool or generic training area. You are learning in the marine environment that makes Sabah such a popular stop for water-based activities.

The reef portion is likely to be the moment when the equipment begins to feel worthwhile. Instead of concentrating only on breathing and hand signals, you can start paying attention to the marine life around you. Exact visibility and sightings can change with conditions, so you should not book this expecting one guaranteed animal or a fixed underwater scene.

The small group remains important here. Your instructor stays with you, and the 4:1 ratio is especially useful when the group is still finding its rhythm. Beginners do not all move at the same pace. Some people need more help with buoyancy, while others need reassurance before they relax.

One supplied account describes a first-time participant feeling safe underwater with Alex’s help. That detail matters more than a long list of technical claims. Comfort and trust are the key tests of a beginner session, and a supportive instructor can make the difference between an enjoyable first attempt and an exhausting one.

Lunch, water, and a break in the middle of the day

Lunch is included after the first underwater session. Drinking water is also provided. That is a practical benefit, since you do not need to stop and search for food during a schedule built around boats, equipment, and changing locations.

The information does not specify the exact lunch menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or dietary arrangement unless you confirm it in advance. The useful point is that a meal is built into the day and you can take a break before the next water session.

This pause also helps pace the activity. A six-hour program with two underwater stages can feel long if everything happens without a rest. Lunch gives you time to regroup, eat, drink, and prepare for the boat trip.

Taking the trimaran to the second underwater session

After lunch, you board one of the operator’s two boats for a proper boat-based underwater session. Both boats are described as 33 feet long and 9 feet wide trimarans. Boat transfers, return transport, park fees, and permits are included in the price.

The boat ride adds a sense of exploration without turning the day into a complicated expedition. You leave the meeting area, head farther into the marine park, and return to Kota Kinabalu later in the afternoon. The exact location of the second session can depend on local conditions, so the plan may not be identical every day.

Your instructor remains with you for this session. That continuity is valuable. You are not handed from a classroom teacher to a boat crew and left to work things out alone. The same small-group approach should continue during the second underwater period.

A first-time participant may find this later session easier than the morning one because the basic equipment and breathing pattern are no longer completely new. Another person may feel the opposite, since a boat trip and a longer day can bring more tiredness. The program gives you two chances to settle into the activity, but it is still wise to keep your expectations realistic.

One account describes seeing five large sea turtles during a similar session. That is an exciting possibility, but it is not a promise. Wildlife sightings vary. Book this for the chance to see marine life in a protected park, not for a guaranteed turtle count.

What the $110 price really covers

At $110 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning in Kota Kinabalu. It offers more than a short introductory swim, though, and the included services explain much of the cost.

Your fee covers full scuba equipment, lunch, drinking water, park and permit fees, professional insured staff, boat transfers, and return collection from the DBKK Jetty area. You also receive instruction in a small group, which is one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience over a larger, lower-cost outing.

You are paying for structure as well as equipment. The operator handles the timing, transport, marine park access, teaching, and supervision. For someone trying scuba for the first time, that can be better value than booking separate boat transport, hiring gear, and attempting to arrange instruction independently.

The value is strongest if you want a guided introduction with a full day of support. It is less compelling if you already hold scuba certification or simply want a scenic boat trip. This program is built around learning and supervision, not an advanced underwater itinerary.

Group discounts may be available, which can improve the price for couples, families, or friends booking together. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability, so do not assume a place is final until you receive it.

The relaxed teaching style beginners need

The strongest praise attached to this experience concerns the atmosphere. One participant described the session with Alex as a safe first experience. Another, on only a second lifetime scuba outing, found the crew relaxed and fun despite struggling at times.

That is useful guidance for choosing this activity. You do not need to arrive as a natural athlete or someone who already knows how to move underwater. You do need to listen, stay patient, and let the instructor guide you through the awkward first minutes.

The staff are described as showing no impatience when a beginner needed extra help. That tone matters. Scuba can feel technical at first, and a stern or rushed instructor can make a manageable task feel frightening.

Of course, a friendly atmosphere does not remove the need to follow safety instructions. You should expect a proper briefing and close supervision. The experience includes professional and insured staff, but every participant still has a role in communicating clearly and behaving responsibly.

Who will get the most from this experience

This is a good match for you if you have never tried scuba, want a structured introduction, and prefer a small teaching group. It also suits someone who has tried it once before and wants a calmer second attempt, especially if you appreciate patient guidance over a rushed schedule.

The experience may work well for couples or friends who want to share a new activity. Group discounts can help if several people book together, and the maximum total group size of 12 keeps the outing from becoming a huge mass excursion.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, have limited physical fitness, or want complete control over the schedule. The day runs from 9:00am to roughly 4:00pm, and the weather can affect the operation. You also should not choose it only because of the possibility of seeing turtles or other particular marine animals.

This is not presented as a certification course. It is a try-out experience with instruction, shallow-water practice, a reef session, lunch, and a later boat-based session. If you want formal certification, you would need to ask the provider about a separate RAID course.

Weather, cancellations, and a few practical cautions

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached and the operator cancels the experience.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Travel insurance is not included. The operator specifically excludes cover for unforeseen circumstances and force majeure, so you should arrange your own policy if that protection matters to you.

The meeting point is near public transportation, and the activity returns to the starting area. Since the booking includes return collection from the DBKK Jetty area, check the exact meeting instructions after confirmation and arrive ready for a full day around the water.

Should you book the Kota Kinabalu RAID Try Dive?

I would book this if you want a well-supported first scuba experience in Kota Kinabalu and value close instruction. The 4:1 ratio, included equipment, lunch, permits, and boat transport make the $110 fee reasonable for a guided six-hour program.

The best reason to choose it is not a guaranteed animal sighting. It is the patient setup: briefing, shallow-water practice, reef session, lunch, and a second session with your instructor still nearby. Alex is specifically named in one account, and the calm teaching style is a useful sign for nervous beginners.

Skip it if you want a quick, low-cost splash or if a full day around boats and scuba equipment sounds tiring. For everyone else, this is a practical way to test whether scuba suits you while exploring the marine park off Kota Kinabalu.

FAQ

Where does the activity start?

It starts at Suria Seafront16, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, near Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.

What time does the activity begin?

The start time is 9:00am.

When does the experience finish?

You return to DBKK Jetty and the meeting point at about 4:00pm on the same day.

How many students are assigned to each instructor?

The maximum ratio is four students for one instructor.

How large can the total group be?

The activity has a maximum total group size of 12 participants.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and drinking water are provided.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Full diving equipment is provided, along with park and permit fees and boat transfers.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may also result in an alternative date or a full refund.