Diving in Malaysia (2026): Best Sites & When to Go

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46 dive logs in “Malaysia”

  1. Hello, I am going to be diving in Malaysia in mid September this year, and I was just wondering if you knew of any good hotels to stay in on Tioman Island? I am not looking to spend too much money, but would also like to stay somewhere nice with close beach access. Thank you!

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    • Hello Aubrey,

      I can’t recommed you any particular hotel as there are so many guesthouses with nice bungalows by the beach. Just walk along the beach and I am sure you will find your perfect place for a reasonable price ;-).

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    • Thanks Julien. I have booked a few nights at Bamboo Hill Chalets. It is very cheap and basic, but it is right on the beach and I will be spending most of my time in the water :)

      I can’t wait!

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  2. I haven’t dived in Malaysia but I’m heading there in a few days and I’d like to do my advanced open water in a good resort with lots of marine life and activity. I’ll be arriving in Kuala lumpur, so probably easiest if I can dive round the peninsula.

    Any advice on the best resort to visit would be appreciated..

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    • Hello Steve! The best diving is in Borneo but you can still fnd really good diving resorts in peninsular Malaysia. Try Pulau Redang, or Pulau Perhentian Besar. Tioma has also a few great resorts.

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  4. Hey hey! what a cool www ;)
    what r the best times to be in Mexico /Cancun to catch the high season 4 scuba diving?

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  5. I have been diving in Sipadan, Malaysia.
    Fantastic dive-site, lots of fish in large groups, turtles, different sharks, barracuda-spin, nice coral, deep walls and clear water. It is hard to get out of the water…so four dives a day are a must! The perfect resort is Kapalai – I will never forget the sunsets there!
    Very nice for small things is diving Mabul. Get the cameras ready!
    One sad thing: while diving we heard the dynamite fishing from far away but still very scary!

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  6. Dear Julien,
    Friends will be coming to Singapore this year and I would like to organize a diving trip with them during the first weekend of March (1st-3rd).
    Do you think that we’ll be likely to see whale sharks at that time on the islands of Perhentian/Redang?
    If not, when is the best time to see them on the Northeastern coast of Malaysia? Thank you for your answer!
    Cheers,
    Guillaume

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  7. Hi,
    I would like to buy a water proof camera case and a camera (canon) for diving.
    Do you have any suggestions ?
    I’m gonna by in Kuala Lumpur for the next fews days, do you know a place where i can buy the water proof camera ?

    Thank you

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    • I’m based in KL, but dive mainly around Borneo. Personally I used a Powershot S95 for underwater photos. Just a headsup that camera gear in KL tends to be pricey and underwater cases even more so. Depending where you’re from, you may want to get your gear elsewhere before coming down.

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  8. hey,
    a group of friends were planning to go to either Thailand or Malaysia to go diving in the end f june (beginning July).
    I was just wondering which one was a better choic. we were initially thinking of staying in krabi, but most sites say the monsoons set in around then and the similans will be closed.
    is there an equivalent place to go to in Malaysia?

    Reply ↓

    • For pure diving, try East Malaysia. West Malaysia has better facilities, but overdiving has affected the quality of the dive sites.

      However if you’re looking for the party/beachlife atmosphere then I’m sad to say Malaysia hasn’t got quite the same style as Thailand. Closest would be Phuket or Langkawi in West Malaysia… and they’re far from Krabi’s standard!

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  10. I completed my open water diver licence at Pulau Tioman. The instructor Ezzaaq from Azmi dive centre is very patiient. I spent four days there to complete the course. The visibility is about 10-12m. we dive to about 17m deep. The coral was beautiful and a lot of clown fish is found.The current is not strong during June 2013.

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  11. After me and my friend completed our first open water diver licence we proceed to a better place, Perhentian kecil island beginning of July 2013 . We make reservation at Matahari diver resort at long beach for 5d4n for five fun dives to brush up our diving skill. When we reach the resort, there are two foreign instructor persuade us to do Advance course there. According to them its easy and fun to do five advanture dive. We did told them we have not much experience in diving and we just have five log. After long consideration and encourage by them we agreed to take the Advanture dive. On that day as we reach we follow an instructor name Gina to do buoyancy dive. We completed a few task under water and was praise by Gina that we were excellent and were told to continue the navigation dive, fish identity, deep dive and then wreck dive on the following day. We were joyful. The water is clear about 25-30m visibility. The following day we were suprise that another instructor lead us to do navigation dive. How are they going to judge our performance improvement if with different instructor. Doesnt matter we just go on with instructor name Heidy. We did a few navigation tasks. We almost finish all the task. The last task was square navigation with a compass. My friend go first then me second. During my turn i accidentally float up to almost reaching the surface.without the instructor help, i decent and thought to make a second try. We still have 150bar and the time spent is only 20mins. I was suprise when i get back to Find Heidy, she make a sign to ascend. So we followed. On the surface, near the boat, Heidy insist us to pull ourselves onto the boat without ladder. We really frustrated with her attitude pissing off with asian people unable to get into the boat. We were left struggling ourselves with both hand hanging on the boat side trying and trying to push ourselves into the boat for about 20mins. I am not a good swimmer, without the BCD and gas regulator. I was so panic. At last the driver pulls us up into the boat. We kept silence till we reached the diver centre. In resting condition, Heidy,Gina and another instructor name Sam siting with us at a round table. My friend then asked, when is our next adventure dive. Heidy in a very annoying face saying that we were not ready for deep dive and wreck dive is too dangerous for her to take us, because she feel we r poor on our buoyancy. Her statement were mutually aggreed by Gina who pass us on buoyancy dive and Sam who has not observe us at all. Istead she ask us to go back to do fun dives and continue our advanture dives elsewhere. And she arrange another instructor to lead us for fun dives. We were very dissappointed and left the island the next day without doing any fun dive. We felt we really miss out alot that we not be able to enjoy the wonderful underwater world at Perhentian kecil and felt that the instructor is very irresponsible and racism cause we saw her taking the new same color students to do a following fun dive on the day itself, after giving up on us. If we r really not good enough ,why we pass the buoyancy test. We really left the island with very low self esteem. Never wonder in our own country we were being look down by foreign instructor. We pay butwe suffer, heart broken…

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  12. I just finished my open water course in the mid of April at Perhentian Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. That was my first experience in diving, so I don’t have much thing to tell. I did the course was not on purpose, it just happen because my uncle wants to treat me for my excellent result in exam. But, now I realize that diving is fun and exciting (:

    regards from the beginner.

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  13. Hi All,

    I want dive in Malaysia (or Indonesia) in late March 2014. I have already dived in the Sipadan (and it was amazing) area and I would love some tips on the best dive sites at that time. All tips are welcome.

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  15. Hey, I’m going diving in March 2014, am really wanting to see whale sharks or any other sharks really!
    Can you guys recommend any dive sites where I might be able to see these at that time of year?
    Thanks!

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    • I ve been diving all the best places in SE Asia and the best is definitely Komodo marine park in Indonesia. But this is kind of chanllenging dives as the current is usually insanely strong… Philli

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  16. Hi, I wish to learn how to dive this Dec. Any specific recommendations on who can I get in touch with? Understand that Sipadan is already closed and only those that have logged 20dives are eligible to dive there. Hence, any other place I can get started and get certified? Thanks a lot in advance!

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  17. Hi there!
    We (me, my husb, and my 9 months old son) are leaving Indonesia after 3 months here in a couple of days. We were thinking to see also Malaysia and we obviously want to do some diving (both instructors), maybe find a job there, but at least visit a bit the country. We are on a low budget as you can imagine, so we’d love to get some suggestions on where to fly to and where to sleep and dive a bit (we fly from Manado).
    Thanks a lot!
    MMD

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  18. Awesome video and website!! Thank you so much. My bf and I would like to learn how to dive when we go to Malaysia from Feb 25 to March 2. Are these good season to go? Also, where in Malaysia in Sabah area is good for beginners who want to try for the first time? We would like to stay at a diving resort at a beautiful island for 1 night. Thanks a lot for your help!! :) Fanny

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  19. Hello everyone!

    I’m Dell from Malaysia and recently being certified as an Advanced Diver.

    I went to Tioman Island in Pahang, Malaysia for my Open Water and Advanced Open Water licenses.

    I summarize as follows:-
    a) to go there, you must take a ferry either from Tanjung Gemok or Mersing Jetty. Return ride costs less than RM80.00/pax. I recommend Blue Water Express ferry;
    b) the ferry ride takes approx. 2 hours from the jetty to Tioman Island;
    c) the ferry will stop at six (6) jetties namely Kg. Genting, Kg.Paya, Kg. Lalang, ABC, Tekek and Kg. Salang (Note that Tekek is the most developed village with ATM machine – BSN, police station, etc. while other villages only have basic accomodations i.e. chalets, food courts, dive centres, etc.);
    d) the cost of living in Tioman Island is DOUBLE compared to the mainland. Obviously the food costs higher there. Tips: bring your own food from the mainland to save cost;
    e) there are lots of Dive Centres to choose from. I recommend Scubanaut @ Kg. Salang as they will treat you as part as their family there (plus, many local celebrities had dived with them);
    f) there are many diving sites at Tioman Island namely Soyak Island, Renggis Island, Chebeh Island, Sepoi Island, Tiger Reef, KM Sipadan to name a few. You can ask the dive centre for recommendations and other details;
    g) At KM Sipadan, you may experience three (3) wreck dives at once but only if you’re allowed too (Allowable Bottom Time) as the wrecks are located 30m under. To go there, you need to ride a speedboat;
    h) FYI, you can do many shore dives from the beach itself or from the jetty. But please be aware of the incoming and outgoing ferries;
    j) there are also dive centres that provide night dive;
    k) since you will be in a tropical country, expect the sea temperature to be from 25 – 30 celsius. you may not need a wetsuit to dive;
    l) if you have hard time to equalize, please bring along a nasal spray (you can get this from the pharmacy) before you depart to Tioman Island;
    m) I also recommend divers to bring along your underwater cameras, so you can brag amongst your friends. HAHA!;
    n) you may experience blackout during your stay but worry less, since they have back-up supply (generators);
    p) here in Malaysia, bare sun-basking is extremely prohibited. unless, you’re on a private island;
    q) lastly, you’re recommended to visit Tioman Island from January to August, before the monsoon season

    These are what I can share with you guys and will definitely give further details shall you have further enquiries ^___^

    Experience dive in Tioman Island, and you won’t regret it!

    Love, Dell

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  20. Hey!
    I am 19 years old from Pakistan,
    I am not a swimmer, but I really want to do diving in Malaysia. Can you please tell we really need to known swimming for doing diving???
    Waiting for your answer
    Thank you

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  21. Hello, I am going to be diving in Malaysia in mid August, 201. Which is the nearest (and good diving site near Kuala Lumpur?
    Do you recommend any operator?
    Thanks in advance.

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    • I am planning a trip to Malaysia in August this year.
      My partner & I are advanced divers & wish to dive with Whale sharks, Manta Rays & then look & undisturbed coral etc.
      What area / island are we best to be going too?

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  22. I’m planning to go somewhere this year… Would anyone give me some suggestion… I don’t want to go beach side… Other than beach… I’m not worring about the price… Suggest me beautiful place in Malaysia expect Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Perlis & langkawi

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  23. Hi there! Was diving in Mabul and Sipidan last year and loved it. Some of the best diving I’ve done, with some of the best masters and instructors to date. Lots to see. This time, I’ll be passing through this month (December) – not ideal timing. I’m told traveling the west coast during monsoon is not a problem, and that Langkawi offer decent dives. Hoping you might be able to recommend some other sites? Or should I head back to the Borneo side? Thanks so much! Take care!

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  25. Hi,
    Were in Malaysia is the best place to learn to dive for beginners Some were between end of August and the begin of september?

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  26. Hi guys. I’m looking for a lady dive buddy to dive Tioman in Oct 2015. I will be diving with B&J and stay @ Tioman Dive Resort. Cost is not more than RM600 for 3D2N. If you’re interested please email kl.teo@outlook.com. Thanks!

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  27. Hey everybody, I’ll be in Malaysia in almost one and half weeks. I’m searching for a cheap school for get a diving license, would u guys recommend me any school in Perhentians. I just have a really low budget for it, maybe I could get any recommendations of u guys. Thx in advance

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  28. Hi all diver friends,

    i would like go diving for one day during my business trip in januari next year. I don’t have much time but i would like a one day diving trip. I will stay in the sunway resort in kuala lumpur and would like some advice where i could go for having a dive day without too much travel time loss

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  29. hi all, i would like some advice from you. i will be in business trip middle of januari 2016, i would like to go on a one day diving trip; i will be staying in the sunway resort in kuala lumpur and i don’t wnat too much time by transport/travelling. anyone have a good tip ?

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  30. Pingback: Best Scuba Diving In Peninsular Malaysia | diving instructions

  31. Just wrapped up a week diving on Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan. Truly amazing! Saw an immense variety of sea life (turtles, nudis, reef sharks, frog fish, Pygmy seahorse, etc etc). I dove with Scuba Junkies and stayed on their Mabul resort. It’s a camp-style feel (communal dining) which I thought would be odd but turned out a lot of fun! Loved all of my dive guides and the boats/equipment were clean and efficient. I’ll make it back here again :)

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Have you been travelling or scuba diving here? Rate it!

(78 votes, 3.49/5)

Have you dived in Malaysia?

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