Comparing Kuching to KK is a non starter. You are trying to compare a city like Kuching which, has it's own plus points and own vibrancy vs KK which is developing rapidly and growing at a staggering rate and is now a tourism hub for tourist from China, Korea and Taiwan compared to Kuching which is still struggling to bring in big volumes of tourist because of the limited products it has to offer.

There is a lot to see and do in Kinabalu if you know what you want to do.

Diving around TAR is boring. I am sorry, but being absolutely honest. If you are a seasoned diver, you don't dive at TAR. You head over to the east coast and dive at Sipadan and Mabul as well as the Atoll's around the area.

Or, you do what some of us are now doing quietly. Fly into Labuan Island (30 minute flight out of Kinabalu) and dive the 3 WW2 shipwrecks at the beautiful island of Pulau Rusukan Besar which is absolutely beautiful. We do day trips out to the island with the local dive company, have a great seafood lunch, get 3 dives in and then a 30 minute boat trip back to the main island on a Saturday and Sunday.

Best part about this? The dive rates are literally 70% cheaper than diving at Sipadan though, you don't see the barracuda's or the sharks or the vast number of turtles but you get the micro fishes and other corals which make the dives worth while.

The only people who generally dive in Kinabalu are new divers getting certified or divers who just can't spend 5-6 days away at Sipadan or can't afford it and just want a short dive experience.

Much of TAR has been fished bombed no thanks in part to the growing community on Gaya Island over the past 30 years. Yes, some coral's are coming back but.....don't expect too much.

And the Manukan, Sapi and Memutik islands are packed with korean, taiwan and chinese tourist most day's anyways so no peace and quiet.