Malaysia is a land of varied and alluring attractions, with soaring skyscrapers, vibrant markets, delectable food, pristine beaches, and lush rainforests. Its location in the coral triangle also makes it one of the most spectacular and rewarding dive sites on the planet. Scuba diving in Malaysia offers you a chance to unravel the mysteries of the kaleidoscopic marine world thriving under its oceans. With two main diving regions, peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, it offers some breathtaking diving sites thronged by diving enthusiasts from across the world. Let’s dig deeper into the hidden secrets of this beautiful country to reveal the spots for the best diving in Malaysia.
Why Scuba Diving In Malaysia Is A Great Idea?
With ample shallow dive locations, it is a great idea to learn the best scuba diving in Malaysia if you’ve decided to take the plunge. Easily accessible shore dives with depths starting from 3 metres are comfortable for beginners. The breathtaking biodiversity of aquatic flora and fauna and top diving sites ensure your diving in Malaysia experience will make you come back for more.
Places For Scuba Diving In Malaysia
Here are the some of the most popular islands for scuba diving in Malaysia to explore the depths of the sea:
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- Sipadan Island – For Coral Gardens
- Islands Of Mabul & Kapalai – Spot Macro Species
- Lankayan Island – Scuba Diving Hub
- Layang-Layang Island – Rich Marine Life
- Mataking Island – For Diving Resorts
- Redang Island – For A PADI Certif
- Tenggol Island – Discover Untouched Corals
- Perhentian Islands – Perfect For Learners
- Tioman Island – Diverse Diving Spots
- Lang Tengah – Night Scuba Dive
- Sibuan Island- Perfect for Reefing
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park -Ideal for Spotting Rare Marine Creatures
- Mantanani Island – Getway for snorkelers
1. Sipadan Island – For Coral Gardens
This gorgeous island holds the unrivalled spot for the best scuba diving in Malaysia, with its perfect diving conditions and an unparalleled range of marine species to discover. Sipadan Island is an outstanding diving location with top sites like Barracuda Point, Coral Garden, Hanging Garden, etc. teeming with an unbelievable display of underwater life. Sipadan scuba diving in Malaysia, allows you to witness turtles, reef sharks, grey sharks as well as lots of leaf fishes, frogfishes and pygmy seahorses.
Best time to visit: March to October
Best time to dive: April to DecemberMust Read: Indian Restaurants In Malaysia
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2. Islands Of Mabul & Kapalai – Spot Macro Species
Mabul Island scuba diving in Malaysia allows you to experience one of the best spots for Muck Diving in the world. Macro species are abundant too and you will be amazed to discover rare species of Nudibranch, cuttlefish and the blue-ringed Octopus. You can pick luxurious 5-star resorts or a budget backpacker lodge for your stay here. Kapalai Island, with its shallow diving spots, is a paradise for underwater photography as well as night diving.
Best time to visit: March to October
Best time to dive: July and August3. Lankayan Island – Scuba Diving Hub
After Sipadan, this probably offers the best diving in Malaysia. With about 30 dive sites close by, Lankayan offers the rare opportunity of enjoying beautiful corals, muck diving and easy wreck diving at the same destination. With just one luxury resort, Lankayan is the perfect getaway for a relaxing vacation spent exploring the underwater world and enjoying the lovely resort stay. The wreck diving spots around the island are teeming with huge schools of fishes, as well as barracudas and trevallies.
Best time to visit: June and September
Best time to dive: June to SeptemberSuggested Read: Shopping In Georgetown Penang
4. Layang-Layang Island – Rich Marine Life
With more than 10 dive sites within 5-15 minutes of the speed boat ride, Layang Layang is an amazing choice for scuba diving in Malaysia. Untouched by human intervention, the corals and underwater world at this remote island are in pristine condition which makes it one of the best dive sites in Malaysia. With huge schools of pelagic fish, manta rays & even whale sharks, diving around Layang Layang is just fantastic. If you’re visiting the island in April-May you can also spot the stunning hammerhead sharks that gather in the deep waters for mating.
Best time to visit: March to August
Best time to dive: March to August5. Mataking Island – For Diving Resorts
Both amateurs and experienced divers will find Mataking Island diving hugely rewarding and satisfying. The island also has beautiful luxury resorts from where you can plan your dive trips. The divers can spot manta rays, eagle rays, grey reef sharks and huge green turtles. Mataking along with Sibuan is one of the best diving spots in Malaysia for muck diving as well, with chances of spotting rare critters. Do not miss the experience of visiting the first underwater post office in the world through a wreck diving trip near Mataking. Apart from Mataking Island, Pom Island and Sibuan Island also offer similar scuba diving experiences.
Best time to visit: February to November
Best time to dive: March to OctoberSuggested Read: Loagan Bunut National Park
6. Redang Island – For A PADI Certif
Lying on the Eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia, Redang Island is part of the Terengganu Marine Park and offers superb diving opportunities, with clear calm waters bejewelled with rich and beautiful corals. With its perfect diving conditions and exotic marine treasures, it is the ideal spot for scuba diving in Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur. The 4-day PADI certification course is quite affordable here, making it a great spot to learn scuba diving in Malaysia.
Best time to visit: April to October
Best time to dive: NA7. Tenggol Island – Discover Untouched Corals
Another splendid peninsular Malaysia dive site, Tenggol Island is recommended mainly for experienced divers as the currents are quite strong. With some fantastic resorts and untouched corals to explore, this beautiful island just a 45-minute speedboat ride away is considered amongst the best diving in Malaysia. Get ready to explore vibrant marine life at more than 20 spectacular dive spots with unforgettable underwater landscapes.
Best time to visit: October to February
Best time to dive: March to OctoberSuggested Read: Hiking In Malaysia
8. Perhentian Islands – Perfect For Learners
One of the best places to learn scuba diving in Malaysia, Perhentian Islands offers great diving conditions and abundant diving spots for beginners. Also part of the Terengganu Marine Park, there are about 20 dive sites around the archipelago with clear water and shallow reefs brimming with spectacular marine species. Sugar Wreck is a great wreck diving site around the island which offers wonderful opportunities for underwater photography. Perhentian Islands also offer the most reasonable prices for learning scuba diving in Malaysia.
Best time to visit: March to November
Best time to dive: April to October9. Tioman Island – Diverse Diving Spots
Just like other peninsular Malaysia diving sites, Tioman Islands is great for both beginners and experienced divers with more than 25 exciting dive sites including the incredible Tiger Reef, making it one of the best spots for diving in Malaysia in February. As you traverse the fascinating topography with granite boulders, caves, and canyons you enter a magical world brimming with colourful fishes, reef sharks, turtles, manta rays and even whale sharks. Beginners seeking the best sites for scuba diving in Malaysia will love the Salang Jetty and ABC House Reef on this island.
Best time to visit: March to October
Best time to dive: February to NovemberSuggested Read: Crocker Range National Park
10. Lang Tengah – Night Scuba Dive
Meaning ‘The eagle in the middle’, this pristine island located between Redang and Perhentian Islands has some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in West Malaysia. The deep sea diving enthusiasts will be rewarded with shoals of rabbitfish, snappers and fusiliers while the shallow bays are abundant with crustaceans and critters. The island is also perfect for night scuba diving in Malaysia.
Best time to visit: March to October
Best time to dive: NA11. Sibuan Island- Perfect for Reefing
Sibuan Island is a hidden gem of the Celebes Sea. This beautiful island has some of the best diving spots in the region, making it a haven for muck diving enthusiasts from all over the world. The diverse marine life on Sibuan Island is truly fascinating, and a diving experience here gives you the chance to spot rare critters that you might not find anywhere else. From the colourful mandarin fish to various species of crustaceans and molluscs, the waters surrounding Sibuan Island are teeming with life. It’s no wonder that diving enthusiasts consider it one of the best places to indulge in their passion, and it’s worth a visit if you’re looking to explore the beautiful underwater world of Malaysia.
Best time to visit: July to September
Best time to dive: NASuggested Read: Water Sports in Malaysia
12. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park-Ideal for Spotting Rare Marine Creatures
Nested on the western coast of Sabah, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a breathtakingly beautiful group of five islands. The park is named after Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. TAR Marine Park features a total of 25 diving sites and several resorts for accommodation. The park is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, stunning coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life, making it a haven for divers and snorkelers. Along with scuba diving you can indulge in various water sports activities, snorkelling, and kayaking. You can also spot magnificent sharks, turtles, and rays in the area. With its stunning beauty and rich marine life, the TAR Marine Park is one of the best destinations for scuba diving in Malaysia for adventure lovers and explorers.
Best time to visit: March to September
Best time to dive: January to April13.Mantanani Island-Getway for snorkelers
Mantanani Island is a small and secluded island located in the northern part of Sabah, Malaysia. The island is also known as Mermaid Island among the locals because of its past association with dugongs. This hidden paradise is an ideal place for diving enthusiasts, with its crystal-clear turquoise waters and vibrant coral reefs that are waiting to be explored. The island’s untouched coast offers a kaleidoscope of corals, which is best explored through diving experiences. Mantanani’s diving sites are home to a variety of marine life, such as ribbon eels, tropical reef fishes, stingrays, batfish, and giant clams. You can swim alongside these magnificent creatures and get lost in the underwater world.
The best time to visit: is April to September
Best time to dive: April to SeptemberSuggested Read: Malaysian Street Food
Cost Of Scuba Diving in Malaysia
Scuba diving in Malaysia prices are usually in the range of INR 6000 – INR 7000, which includes:
- Three guided boat dives
- Jetty & marine park fees
- Dive equipment rental
- Pick-up & drop from the hotel/resort
- Lunch and refreshments
There are some fantastic & reliable scuba diving schools in Malaysia at all the top diving spots which offer a complete package with your stay as well as dive plans. Most diving schools have PADI certificate courses & authentic scuba diving licenses in Malaysia. Diving spots like Perhentian & Tioman Islands usually offer the most reasonable scuba diving license cost in Malaysia and are the best bet for beginners.
Further Read: Sarawak Gawai Festival
Already enticed to visit these scuba diving in Malaysia spots? Well, we don’t blame you. It is an adventure worth your time and money. So, don’t think much and plan your trip to Malaysia with TravelTriangle right away!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scuba Diving In Malaysia
Is Malaysia good for diving?
Malaysia has calm waters and protected reefs making it ideal for scuba diving of all levels. Scuba diving in Malaysia is not only a wonderful experience, where you can explore breathtaking diversity of marine life but its also soul-soothing.
What is there to do in Malaysia?
The most amazing things to do in Malaysia for a wonderful vacation are:
1. Go for Skydiving
2. Go on Awana Skyway tour
3. Try Bunjee Jumping
4. Visit the Taman Negara National Park
5. Take a Mangrove Boat Safari.How much does scuba diving cost in Malaysia?
A one-day scuba diving trip in Malaysia will cost you within a range of Rs. 6000 to Rs. 7000.
Where can one dive in Malaysia?
Some of the best places for scuba diving in Malaysia are Sipadan Island, Mataking Island, Tioman Island, Redang Island, and more.
How one can get to the Perhentian Islands?
The Perhentian Islands are well-connected with Malaysia via airways, roadways, and waterways. Ome can either take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bahru, a bus, a train, or a ferry to reach the Islands.
Is scuba diving difficult?
On the contrary, scuba diving is one of the easiest activities to learn. This sport is a combination of the three most basic skills including floating, kicking, and breathing, making it easier to learn.
Can non-swimmers do scuba diving?
Yes, even the non-swimmers can do scuba diving as it is mainly about gliding and floating underwater. However, certain limits are implied for non-swimmers.
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A writer at heart with the soul of a traveler is pretty much who she is. Besides, she also loves treating her taste buds to different cuisines, binge-watching almost all sorts of series and movies, and indulging in new experiences every now and then. Also, languages and cultures fascinate her to a great extent, which is why currently she is brushing up her Spanish.
