Diving in Malaysia: Everything you need to know before you go

By Zach Havard

Whether you’re an experienced scuba diver with years of experience or a newbie to the world of snorkelling and looking to open your eyes to a whole new world, Malaysia has a range of idyllic coastal getaways for you to immerse yourself in.

Made up of two land masses separated by the South China Sea, Malaysia is home to over 850 islands with coastlines that meet jaw-dropping coral reefs and provide the opportunity to spot one of the richest sea life ecosystems in the world.

Part of ‘The Coral Triangle’, the most diverse and biologically complex marine system in the world, Malaysia is estimated to feature 30 per cent of the world’s coral reef types and 35 per cent of the reef fish species on earth.

Thanks to its bountiful list of dive sites, Malaysia is a great place to secure your PADI dive license. Starting from around AUD $300, the PADI dive license is a globally recognised certification that covers three key phases; knowledge development, confined water dives and open water dives. A complete guide to your PADI course in Malaysia can be found HERE, on Klook’s website.

Travel Weekly’s Top 5 Malaysian Dive Destinations

Tioman Island

Source: Dive Adventures/Tioman Island.

A small island off the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, the Tioman Island is steeped in history, with a legend that says it was formed when a dragon princess stopped to rest in the water on her way to see Singapore. Offering something for all divers, options vary from depths of 10 metres, up to 70 metres, and showcase over a dozen shipwrecks, including an ex-Navy and marine police patrol vessel.

Sipadan Island

Source: Padi/Everything you need to know about diving Sipadan.

Sipadan Island, the only oceanic island in the country, is a volcanic rock formation that rises 600 metres from the seabed off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. The island received worldwide attention when legendary French oceanographer and naval officer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau said, “I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art” in the film, ‘Borneo: The Ghost of the Sea Turtle’ (1989). Because of its protected status, nobody is allowed to stay on the island and visitor numbers are limited daily, however, those that make the journey are presented with stunning deep sea drop-offs and schools of reef sharks and barracuda.

Perhentian Islands

Source: Scuba Diving/An Adventurer’s Guide to Diving Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands

20 kilometres off the coast of North East Malaysia, close to Thailand lie the Perhentian Islands. With over 20 sites easily accessible by boat, the islands are home to a healthy reef system with a huge variety of coral and a diverse population of reef fish, pelagic fish and small sharks. It is a great spot for those getting into diving, with water temps around 27 degrees and minimal current activity.

Mabul Island

Closeup and macro shot of the nudibranch Hypselodoris variobranchia during a leisure dive in Mabul Island, Semporna, Tawau, Sabah. Malaysia, Borneo. The Land Below The Wind.. (iStock – Josephine Jullian).

Mabul Island is one of the most popular destinations for divers in Malaysia, but not for steep drop-offs like Layang-Layang or its remote status like Sipadan Island. Mabul is famous for its vast array of macro-life like the nudibranch Hypselordori variobranchia (pictured) and is said to rival any of the world’s diving meccas. Mabul is a favourite among oceanographers and photographers thanks to the unique flora and fauna found in the region.

Redang Island

Redang Island/The 15 Top Redang Island Activities & Attractions.

Redang is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia that is renowned for its abundance of tropical fish and coral reefs which are located just steps from pristine beaches. Favourite dive sites in the area include Tanjung Tokong, one of the most popular thanks to a steep, sloping reef that gives travellers the chance to spot green sea turtles and big eye jacks among a mix of hard and soft corals. Pulau Lima North is another site that is popular because of its amazing boulder formations which drop as deep as 30 metres. Here, divers are often greeted by manta rays, groupers and black-tip reef sharks.

(Featured image: DivePlanitTravel. ‘Diving Malaysia’)

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