Scuba diving in Malaysia is getting more popular as there has been much publicity about this underwater sport in the last few years.
There has also been a huge increase in scuba divers over the last five years due to the increase in budget airline destinations.
A recent statistic report from PADI shows that a whopping 15% of dive certifications worldwide come from Malaysia. However, this was shared by one of the senior divers in Malaysia recently. There is no official full report issued from PADI currently.
This article is created for anyone planning to do some diving in Malaysia as it highlights the best dive locations in Malaysia, what to expect and what kind of diving is available.
This article is created for anyone planning to do some diving in Malaysia as it highlights the best dive locations in Malaysia, what to expect and what kind of diving is available.
Scuba Diving in Malaysia
These will be the first questions that visitors will be asked, and there are, in fact, many places where you can dive around Malaysia and on both Peninsular and Malaysia Borneo.
The most popular place that divers would have heard about is no other than Sipadan Island in Sabah Borneo.
The most popular place that divers would have heard about is no other than Sipadan Island in Sabah Borneo.
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| Divers exploring the macro world in Mantanani Island, Sabah. |
The infrastructure for scuba diving in Malaysia is international, and facilities are top-notch with up-to-date equipment. Those who prefer branded diving equipment will be pleased to know that this is available at some of the dive centres in Malaysia.
For divers visiting Malaysia, your port of entry will be via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, or KLIA or KLIA2, the budget long-haul terminal.
You must also know that KLIA is located in Selangor, and no scuba diving is available around Selangor state of Malaysia.
You must also know that KLIA is located in Selangor, and no scuba diving is available around Selangor state of Malaysia.
Usually, you will transit to catch a connecting flight to your diving destination around Malaysia, and numerous airlines provide this.
AirAsia, FireFly Airline, Batik Air Malaysia, MyAirline and Malaysia Airlines are the most frequent flights to smaller cities around Malaysia.
AirAsia, FireFly Airline, Batik Air Malaysia, MyAirline and Malaysia Airlines are the most frequent flights to smaller cities around Malaysia.
Types of Diving in Malaysia
For divers, there are many types of diving available all over Malaysia. However, the most commercial would be leisure diving which is found on almost all of the famous islands in Malaysia.
Most dive sites are open water level certification, and if you need to do your scuba license, you can easily do so at several dive centres throughout Malaysia.
Most dive sites are open water level certification, and if you need to do your scuba license, you can easily do so at several dive centres throughout Malaysia.
The beauty of diving in Malaysia is that you can choose from leisure to technical diving, depending on how long you spend here.
You can also just walk into some dive centres to book your dive. Others include buying a dull stay and dive package from the resorts.
Below are the types of diving in Malaysia offered;
You can also just walk into some dive centres to book your dive. Others include buying a dull stay and dive package from the resorts.
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| Beautiful coral formations are what you can find in the waters of Malaysia. |
- Leisure Diving - Found on almost all islands in Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysia Borneo.
- Advanced Diving - Same as above, including wreck, drift and deep dives.
- Wreck Diving - Available around Malaysia. Some dive sites have wrecks as shallow as 16 meters. Kuching in Sarawak offers some of the best wreck diving in Malaysia, followed by Labuan Island in Sabah.
- Drift Diving - While the currents around Malaysia are not too strong, there are some dive spots where you can do drift diving in Malaysia.
- Night Diving - Most resorts and dive operators around the island offer night diving to those with advanced-level certification.
- Macro Diving - Many notable dive spots around Malaysia offer some great Macro diving, depending on what you want to photograph or see.
- Diving Photography - Several dive centres around Malaysia offer dive photography trips for underwater photographers. Camera equipment can also be rented at some centres.
- Live On Board Diving - A limited number of live-on-boards or LOBs are available around Malaysia, and you need to book directly with them. Usually, they are found in the waters of Sabah and the East Coast of Malaysia.
- Cave Diving - Selected dive operators provide cave diving in Malaysia. However, you need to book this with the operator directly.
- Rebreather Diving - Only very selected dive centres offer this; you need to ask which centres do this.
- Nitrox Diving - Quite a few dive centres offer Nitrox diving in Malaysia, or Trimix diving, for those who want to do wrecks or deep dives.
- Technical Diving - Selected dive centres offer technical diving in Malaysia. However, there has been an increase in technical diver certification over the years here, so it is familiar.
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| Me taking a close look at a Hairy Seahorse during a dive at Mabul Island, Sabah. |
Because Malaysia is a tropical country, there are multiple seasons to observe for diving here. The biggest factor in the Peninsular side is the monsoon season. This is when it rains hard, and the seas become really bad.
Depending on the weather conditions, most boats only go to sea during these times. And most resorts on the islands will close. However, some resorts remain open and offer discounted rates.
Diving during these times is also a gamble, as you may book your discounted package only to find that the five days here are just pouring rain.
On the other hand, there have been many cases where the weather is suitable for a few days or a week, with excellent diving conditions.
Over in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak observe the rainy season. Sabah is well known for its world-class diving sites and offers diving throughout the year.
However, Sarawak depends on the weather conditions, as the rain messes up the visibility of the waters here.
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| Whale Sharks are commonly spotted all over Malaysia (Photo from YTL Hotels). |
Again, Malaysia is divided between the Peninsular and Malaysia Borneo by the South China Sea. So, there are two different diving conditions.
Sabah and Sarawak are on Malaysia Borneo, while the other places mentioned here are on the Peninsular.
Best Places and Times to Scuba Dive in Sabah
East Coast Sabah - Islands of Mabul, Sipadan, Lankayan, Mataking, Kapalai, Pom Pom, Sibuan, and Siamil: The best time to dive here is from July to August, as visibility is at its optimum, and if you are lucky, 40 meters is not a problem.
Macro Diving in Mabul - Mabul Island is home to the best Macro or muck diving in Sabah, and you can do this all year round.
West Coast Sabah - Islands of Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug, Sapi, Mengalum, Tiga, Mantanani: The best time to dive at these islands is from March to October; the season is dry with very little rain.
Layang Layang Island - the Best time to dive in Layang Layang Island is from March to May, when chances to spot the schools of Hammerheads. There is only one resort here which closes from September to February.
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| Some of the dive sites in Malaysia provide excellent underwater visibility. |
The peninsular observes the monsoon and rainy seasons, so you must check carefully when diving in Malaysia.
East Coast Malaysia - These are the states of Terengganu, Pahang, and Johor, where most islands are located. The monsoon season here starts in mid-October and till mid-February.
This means that at the year-end and beginning of the year, it is the off-season for diving. So for anyone planning to visit these islands at the end of the year, you can avoid it.
Some resorts may remain open throughout, but weather-wise, it is unpredictable. It is a gamble if you want to dive during this time of the year.
West Coast Malaysia - States of Perak, Penang, and Langkawi offer some diving, and the best time to dive is from November to April. These are the driest months with little rain.
You can visit these places any time of the year but expect showers during other months. September and November are the wettest months of the year.
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| Night dives in Malaysia are quite common. |
Some divers claim that Malaysia is one of the cheapest diving spots in the world, probably due to the currency exchange.
The price ranges from RM100 to RM150 per dive at the more popular dive destinations. This is converted to US$25 to $45 per dive.
Most divers would instead go for diving packages as resorts or operators provide a 3-dive, 5-dive or 9-dive package for an excellent price. These packages usually include all-in.
More expensive resorts in Sabah charge more for dive packages, so the dive packages may vary depending on which resort you stay at.
In Peninsular Malaysia, dive prices are a little lower compared to Sabah. For example, one dive will cost around RM90-RM120 (US$22-$30). But if you take more dives, the price can drop to around RM60-RM70 per dive.
Most divers prefer to take the diving package offered by the resorts as it includes a stay, food and dives at one price. A 3 Day / 2 Night dive package with 5 dives will cost you around RM400 to RM600 (US$100 to $150) per person, depending on your room type.
If you have your own equipment, the price may be discounted slightly, but most visitors would use the operators' equipment, which is up-to-date and safe.
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| Some of the fantastic diving in Sipadan Island. (Photo by Sabah Tourism Board). |
The golden question. If you take a full package from some operators around Mabul Island, they will include 3 dives to Sipadan.
But the dive packages consist of a 3-4 nights stay, full board meals and everything. So you only pay one price and can dive at Sipadan Island.
However, many guest houses or budget hotels on Mabul offer ad-hoc bookings for diving at Sipadan Island.
The prices range around RM1500 for 3 dives, including boat, meals and everything else. You must know that Sipadan Island is a fully protected marine park, and only 120 visitor permits are issued daily.
These permits are divided among the dive resorts in the area, and there is no lodging available or allowed on Sipadan Island.
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| One of my epic diving moments trying to get into the Barracuda Vortex at Sipadan Island. |
Overall, Malaysia offers tropical diving as the waters are 28-30 Degrees Celsius. You can dive in your shorts, t-shirt or bikini if you prefer. If you bring your wetsuit, you just need a 3-5mm thickness and no need for a hood.
Most dive sites are leisure diving, while wrecks, caves and deep water diving are available. The marine life is rich due to the tropical climate, so many things can be seen throughout the year.
There are many dive centres found on most of the islands in Malaysia. They come fully equipped with all the necessary equipment, so you must keep your gear from lugging around.
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| Divers making their way back after a dive. |
Dive photography is also big here, so some dive centres offer camera or GoPro rentals. There are also dive videographers who will record your diving experience and compile a dive video.
More complicated diving is also available, especially for side mount, technical, and rebreather divers. But you need to check with the dive operator if they have this.
For selective divers, PADI, NAUI and SSI dive centres offer all kinds of dive certification and courses. Prices are one of the cheapest in the world when you compare the currency exchange.
Scuba Diving Insurance in Malaysia
As any diver, you should have your own dive insurance when you travel overseas. If you ask me, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Several companies offer diving insurance in Malaysia. Some of them are reputable, and some of them are internationally known. So, get your diving insurance as it costs little.
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| A scene at the Malaysian International Dive Expo in Kuala Lumpur. |
Over the years, there was only one leading diving expo called MIDE or Malaysia International Dive Expo, which occurs just before or during the middle of the year.
This is where dive operators, dealers, re-sellers, resorts, and distributors will make their mark. The last Malaysia dive expo was also held in May in Kuala Lumpur.
A new dive expo called DRT Malaysia, or Dive Resort Travel Expo, will occur in Malaysia around February in Kuala Lumpur.
This will benefit the dive industry here as all this while, there was only one. Consumers will have more options with the emergence of this new dive expo in Malaysia.
Scuba Diving Warnings in Malaysia
You should only dive with certified and professional dive operators in Malaysia. There have been cases where freelance dive operators who need proper licenses or insurance have been operating.
They offer cheap dive packages to unsuspecting tourists via online platforms like Facebook, Instagram or even personal blogs.
If anything goes wrong, no one is going to help you. So, please avoid diving touts and go for the recognized dive operators.
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| That's me, always curious underwater. Checking out a Frogfish in Mabul Island. |
Overall, this article is created for those who have an interest to do scuba diving in Malaysia. And if it is your first time, you should do your research on what kind of diving you want to do here.
Sabah is still known as the best place to dive in Malaysia due to the world-class dive sites available here.
There are many other dive sites in Malaysia, depending on where you are heading. You can also read more about my scuba diving adventures.
Some divers plan their trips purely for diving, while others try to mix and match their vacations with sightseeing and diving.
If you are coming halfway around the world to Malaysia, you will definitely want to see some of the fantastic places in Malaysia.