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Camp Mantanani
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Overview
Camp Mantanani is where we conduct our Marine Awareness Programme from and is located on the edge of the island’s sole community. It is surrounded by blue ocean and reefs, and has a beach most of the way around its perimeter.
Mantanani is approximately 15 kms off the western coast of Sabah and it generally takes several hours to reach it by boat, depending where you set out from. It is made up of two main islands, Mantanani Besar (Big) and Mantanani Kacil (Little). Kacil is unpopulated due to water availability but Besar has a community of approximately 800 villagers on it.
The camp is a made up of a series of sleeping blocks which are rudimentary but designed to provide maximum cooling and ventilation. You will sleep in a hammock inside these blocks. There is a toilet and shower block close by as well as a kitchen area. The main communal area is under a thatched roof with open sides again providing ventilation and protection from the hot sun. In this communal area you will also conduct your dive theory sessions and briefings before dives. The dive providers live and work on site so all equipment and tanks are stored on camp.
The kitchen is small but well equipped and several of the local ladies will supply you with a daily menu of fresh, local produce. Our kitchen crews live nearby and will be on camp most of the time. They are responsible for providing three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals a day. There will be a mix of local menus and a sprinkling of western food, hopefully catering to all tastes and requirements. Since you will be living on an island and surrounded by the sea be prepared to eat plenty of fish!!
Our camp crew are very accommodating and will insist that you relax, sit back and enjoy all they can offer after project work, however we would prefer it if you got stuck in and helped wherever possible, assisting in the preparation of meals as well as cleaning up and other camp duties. Local cooking techniques are also taught and utilized. As in all our camps unlimited drinking water is supplied as standard: the water is purified through European standard filters and chemical purification, which reduces risk of waterborne diseases. Soft drinks can be provided at your expense.
There is virtually no signal on the island for mobile phones and so you should be prepared to be out of contact with home during this period. Management do have a phone link onto the island but this is used for emergencies and management purposes only. The people will only get jealous hearing you going on about the beautiful island and sea anyway so its best not to speak with home!!
The community are from the bajau ethnic group who originally come from pirates and fisherman, formerly from the Philippines. Like all Sabahan communities they have a long tradition of dancing and celebrations and will take every opportunity to show off. The community is also predominantly Muslim so you will have to be aware of certain codes of conduct on the island – in particular this applies to dress for the girls when in a public place.
