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

Kota Kinabalu’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park gives this course a fine classroom: you learn essential scuba skills on the water, then put them into practice among protected marine life. The three-day format allows time to build confidence instead of rushing through a single introductory session.

I like the small maximum group of 12, along with the patient teaching style reported from instructors such as Basir, Yadi, Amir, Alex, and Didi. I also like the practical price, which includes equipment, park fees, boat transfers, three lunches, water, and RAID course materials.

The main point to check before booking is the course name. The booking information calls it RAID Open Water 20, while some general wording refers to Open Water 30. Confirm the exact certification level, course requirements, and online study details with Borneo Dream before paying.

Key points to know before you book

• Three full days on the water: You return to the DBKK Jetty each day rather than staying overnight on a boat.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park: The protected marine setting supplies both your training area and underwater scenery.
• Patient, safety-minded instructors: Basir, Yadi, Amir, Alex, and Didi receive especially strong praise for clear explanations and calm coaching.
• Most essentials are included: Equipment, permits, park fees, boat transfers, lunches, drinking water, and RAID materials are covered.
• Online study comes first: You complete pre-course learning before the practical sessions begin.
• Basic fitness is required: You need to be fit, healthy, and able to swim, and anyone under 18 must attend with an adult.

Three days to build real scuba confidence

This is not a quick taste of scuba followed by a certificate. You spend about three days working through the RAID Open Water 20 course from Kota Kinabalu, with each day based on a boat departing and returning to the DBKK Jetty.

That schedule matters. New scuba students often need time to become comfortable with breathing equipment, buoyancy, hand signals, and movement underwater. A three-day course gives your instructor room to repeat a skill, correct a small problem, and let you try again without turning the day into a race.

Your course begins with online pre-study. Borneo Dream asks you to complete that work before arrival, so you should not leave it until the last minute. It gives you the basic theory before the practical instruction starts and leaves more time on the boat for actual skills and supervised underwater practice.

The course is intended for people who are fit, healthy, and able to swim. The supplied information advises you to contact the operator if you need clarification about your suitability. The minimum age is 10, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park as your classroom

The course takes place in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, the marine area just outside Kota Kinabalu. The park is the central attraction here, not simply a backdrop for transport.

You learn in a setting with protected marine life and access to the sea. That makes the training feel connected to the reason most people want certification in the first place: to explore beneath the surface, not just perform skills in an artificial setting.

The exact sites within the park are not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular reef, island, animal, or visibility condition. Marine conditions change, and the course requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you receive the choice of another date or a full refund.

I like that the same park setting serves both education and enjoyment. You are not spending all three days in a classroom, yet the course remains structured rather than turning into an unplanned boat outing. The tradeoff is that weather and sea conditions can affect the schedule.

What your three days are likely to feel like

The supplied schedule identifies one main stop, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, rather than listing a series of separate attractions. In practical terms, the park is your base for the course while the instructors guide you through the required learning steps.

The first stage is likely to feel the most technical. You need to absorb safety rules, equipment use, underwater communication, and basic movement before you can relax. Your instructor may ask for repeated practice, especially with buoyancy. That is useful, not wasted time. Good control in the water makes later sessions safer and more enjoyable.

The second and third days give you more time to link the skills together. Feedback about the instructors points to a method that combines firm standards with a friendly tone. Basir is repeatedly praised for being professional, patient, encouraging, and funny. Yadi is described as patient and clear, while Amir helped a nervous student settle into the course. Alex and Didi are also praised for safety and instruction.

Those names matter because the instructor can shape your whole first impression of scuba. You may feel nervous when a mask fills, equipment feels unfamiliar, or staying level in the water proves harder than expected. An instructor who explains the problem calmly can help you correct it instead of simply pushing you onward.

One useful detail comes from a parent describing extra help with buoyancy for a son on the course. That suggests you should expect buoyancy to receive real attention. It is one of the skills that can separate a comfortable new diver from someone who spends the session kicking too much and using air inefficiently.

Boats, transfers, and the pace of the day

Borneo Dream uses two trimaran boats, each listed as 33 feet long and 9 feet wide. You leave from the DBKK Jetty at about 9:00 am and return to the same meeting point after the day’s activities.

The boats are part of the value. You are not arranging separate transfers to the marine park, and the price includes boat transport. A trimaran design also provides a broad platform for a group course, though the supplied information does not promise a specific seating arrangement or onboard facilities.

Because the course operates from the boat each day, plan for a full outdoor schedule. Bring any personal items you need for a day on the water, though the course includes drinking water. The operator asks for your height, weight, shoe size, nationality, passport number, date of birth, full name, and dietary requirements before the course. These details help prepare equipment and administration, so provide them carefully after booking.

The maximum group size is 12. That is not a private lesson, but it is small enough to give the instructor a better chance of seeing how each student is coping. If you are booking as a group, discounts may be available. Ask about the current group rate rather than assuming the advertised per-person price applies unchanged.

What the $375 price really covers

At $375 per person, this is a sizeable purchase, but it includes more than instruction alone. The package covers full scuba equipment, park entry and permits, three lunches, drinking water, RAID materials, and boat transfers.

That bundle makes the price easier to assess. A cheaper-looking course may still require you to pay separately for gear rental, marine park charges, boat transport, meals, or study materials. Here, the main costs are gathered into one booking.

The strongest value comes from the three-day structure and equipment inclusion. If you are starting from zero, buying or arranging your own equipment would make little sense. The course lets you use the required kit while receiving supervised instruction.

Lunch is included each day, but keep your expectations simple. One person found the meal unremarkable, and the operator says it comes from a local restaurant. You receive practical food during a long day, not a dining feature. If you have special dietary requirements, state them in advance.

Travel insurance is not included. That matters because the booking terms specifically exclude cover for unforeseen events or force majeure. You should arrange your own suitable insurance if you want protection beyond the operator’s refund or rescheduling terms.

The teaching style is the real selling point

Equipment and boat transport are important, but instruction is what determines whether a beginner feels ready to continue scuba after certification. This course receives its strongest praise for the instructors.

Basir is repeatedly described as patient, professional, thorough, encouraging, and humorous. That combination is useful. You want an instructor who keeps the safety rules firm while making the learning process less intimidating. Yadi receives similar praise for patient explanations and calm guidance.

Amir appears especially suited to nervous beginners. His humour helped one student settle down, while the course still maintained its practical standards. Alex and Didi are also named for professional instruction, clear teaching, and attention to safety. Didi is described as patient but firm, with extra time given to help improve buoyancy.

You should remember that instructor assignment may vary. The names above are not a guarantee that one particular person will teach your course. Still, they give you a useful picture of the team style you can ask about when confirming your booking.

A good tip is to tell the operator honestly if you feel anxious, have not used scuba equipment before, or need more time with a skill. The course is designed for beginners, and the strongest teaching feedback concerns patience and individual support. Hiding nerves will not help you. Clear communication will.

The small drawbacks to consider

This course has a strong package, but it is not perfect for every kind of visitor.

First, three days is a real commitment. If you have only one free day in Kota Kinabalu, this is not the right format. You also need to complete online study before the course begins, so the time commitment starts before you reach the jetty.

Second, the price does not include travel insurance. You also pay for anything not specifically listed, so read the inclusions carefully rather than assuming every personal expense is covered.

Third, the food is functional. Lunch is supplied, but it may not be memorable. That is a minor issue during an intensive course, though special diets should be declared early.

Finally, conditions are not fully under your control. Bad weather can force a change of date or cancellation. This is normal for sea-based activities, but it makes the course harder to fit into a tightly packed holiday schedule.

Who will get the most from this course

This is best for a first-time scuba student who wants a proper certification course rather than a short introductory session. It also suits families with older children, provided the child is at least 10 and anyone under 18 attends with an adult.

You should be comfortable with a moderate level of physical activity and able to swim. If you are uncertain about your health or fitness, contact Borneo Dream before booking. The supplied information does not spell out every medical requirement, so do not guess.

The course may also suit a parent and teenager, friends, or a small group who want to learn together. Group discounts could improve the value, and a shared course can make the three days more social. The maximum of 12 keeps the setting from becoming a very large class, though you should not expect a private instructor unless arranged separately.

It is less suitable if you dislike boat-based days, want luxury meals, need a guaranteed particular instructor, or have no flexibility in case of poor weather.

Booking details worth checking first

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

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Before finalizing plans, ask Borneo Dream to confirm the exact RAID course level. The supplied wording uses both Open Water 20 and Open Water 30, while the course title and course-specific feedback refer to Open Water 20. That is the one detail I would clarify in writing.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the RAID Open Water 20 course?

I would choose this course if you want a structured three-day route to certification, value patient instruction, and plan to spend several days around Kota Kinabalu. The included gear, marine park fees, boat transfers, lunches, water, and course materials make the $375 easier to justify.

Before booking, confirm the Open Water 20 versus Open Water 30 wording, ask about instructor availability if a particular teacher matters to you, and leave some flexibility for weather. If you can accept a basic lunch and a full schedule, this is a practical way to begin scuba in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, with instructors who appear to take both safety and student confidence seriously.

FAQ

How long is the RAID Open Water 20 course?

The course lasts approximately three days. You depart by boat from Kota Kinabalu each day and return to the DBKK Jetty.

Where does the course take place?

The course takes place in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, reached by boat from Kota Kinabalu.

What is included in the $375 price?

The price includes full scuba equipment, park fees and permits, three lunches, drinking water, RAID materials, and boat transfers.

Do I need to study before the course?

Yes. Online pre-study must be completed before the course starts. Contact Borneo Dream for details about accessing the materials.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 10. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. If poor weather cancels the course, you are offered another date or a full refund.