Diving In Malaysia

Malaysia known to be one of the best diving destination and ultimate diver's paradise. Sabah's Sipadan, Malaysia's sole oceanic island, was described by the famous oceanographer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau as 'a piece of untouched art'. Few islands in the world offer such prolific marine and coral life as Sipadan. Other world-renowned diving desrination are Langkawi's Pulau Payar, Terengganu's Redang and Pahang's Tioman, to name a few.

Due to its strategic location, a vast assortment of marine life can be found in the waters of Malaysia. Some of it's islands possess an enviably diverse underwater ecosystem, with several rare, exotic and endangered species. Coral gardens in a riot of colors can be found in abundance in the waters of Terengganu and Sabah, particularly around Redang and Sipadan, while short-finned pilot whales have been sighted in the waters of Layang-Layang in Sabah.

Wreck Sites

Malaysia is home to some of the best wreck sites in the world - some of which date back to the World War II. Labuan in the best destination in the country for the wreck-diving with four wreck sites. Johor's Aur and Sabah's Mantanani, Layang-Layang and Lankayan also have wreck sites that are worth exploring. Discover a wide variety of marine species that make the wreck sites either their home or their playground.

Muck Diving & Macro Diving

The island of Sabah, particularly the ones off Semporna, are the best destination for muck diving and underwater macro photography. Mabul is a prime destination for this with its wealth of macro life. Nearby Sipadan and Kapalai are also popular muck and macro diving destinations with its extensive variety of nudibranchs, frog fishes, leaf fishes and pigmy seahorses, just to name a few.

Diving Facilities & Courses

Most resort operators, particularly on the more popular island, also have their own dive centres which provide complete diving facilities. Dive equipment can be rented here, but the amount available could limited, especially during peak seasons, so it would be wise to book in advance. Some of these centres even offer diving courses, where visitors can learn how to dive and even get certificate at the end of it.

Best Time to Dive

The best times to dive differ from one place to another. For dive sites along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the best times would be from December to May, while for the ones along the East Coast would be from March to October. The islands around Sabah and Sarawak are reasonably well-protected and safe for diving anytime. Water visibility, however, is at its best from April to August.