Diving In Malaysia

Home to some great diving spots, Malaysia's rich turquoise waters boast a colourful array of fascinating marine life. With a scattering of easily accessible offshore islands to choose from, diving in Malaysia is a popular recreational activity for many travellers. From Pulau Perhentian's coral reefs to turtles on Pulau Tioman, there are plenty of diving spots on offer where you can discover colourful underwater worlds during your Malaysia trip. Whether you've got diving experience or are a complete novice, you'll find expert advice and PADI courses available in various diving locations. For more information on diving in Malaysia, take a look below at some of our best picks:

Feeling inspired? You can incorporate some diving in Malaysia into your own trip. Simply choose from our range of bite-sized Malaysia tours or take a look at our suggested holidays in Malaysia.

Diving in Malaysia: Pulau Langkawi

Pulau Langkawi is a well-known beach destination that is within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur; offering stretches of white sandy beaches, crystal waters, rustling palm trees and plenty of great restaurants. The nearby Pulau Payar Marine Park is located in the northern part of the Straits of Malacca, thirty kilometres south of Pulau Langkawi and is the focus of Langkawi’s diving and snorkelling day trips. By creating artificial reefs, the park has become home to a whole host of sea creatures. There is a floating platform that is used for day boats to moor and also as the base for snorkelling and diving trips. The most popular dive site is Coral Garden, at the south-west of Pulau Payar island, where you can see the moat vibrant soft corals.

Diving in Malaysia- Langkawi's turquoise waters

Diving in Malaysia - Perhentian diving trip

Diving in Malaysia: Pulau Perhentian

The two Perhentian islands, 'Kecil’ (meaning small) and ‘Besar’ (meaning big) are two of Malaysia’s most beautiful islands, with clear waters, white beaches and green jungles. The diving and snorkelling here are truly spectacular, with coral reefs surrounding both islands and there are over 10 dive sites. As well as the various species of fish and coral, you can also spot turtles and sharks. The most popular dive sites are the Pinnacle, which is exactly that, a pinnacle extending out from the sea bed, and Sugar Wreck, and 80 metre long cargo ship that sank in 2000.

Diving in Malaysia: Pulau Tioman

Tioman is commonly known as the turtle island of Malaysia due to the hundreds of turtles that lay their eggs on its beaches during the months of May to September. Although it is now a popular tourist destination with thousands of visitors annually, just a few years ago Time Magazine referred to this island as one of the most beautiful ‘deserted’ beaches in the world. However, despite its growing popularity and influence of the tourist industry, the diving here is still top notch as the waters are protected by its National Marine Park status. With good visibility and over 20 dive sites, you can be sure of an exciting experience; there are eerie swim-throughs, impressive gorgonian fans, and ethereal coral and anemone gardens.

Diving in Malaysia - Redang's shallow waters

Diving in Malaysia: Pulau Redang

This beautiful island is tucked away on the East coast, and is not usually on the tourist trail but ideal if you're after some diving in Malaysia. It is located within a marine park means that the diving and snorkelling is excellent. There are five dive sites around the island, and a whole host of other sites a bit further that are accessible by speed boat.

The most popular of the northern sites is Tanjung Tokong, because the reefs tend to be the healthiest in the Redang archipelago due to their distance from the bigger the resorts. The nearby islands of Pulau Paku with the dive sites of Mak Cantik and Chek Isa (Maxi and Mini Mount) are also a real must-see addition to your list of spots for diving in Malaysia.

Diving in Malaysia: Pulau Lang Tengah

This is the last in our list of great spots for diving in Malaysia. This relatively unknown island off the East coast combines a perfect blend of white sands, fringed by palm trees and remarkable coral reefs jam-packed with multi-coloured marine life. It really is a hidden gem, and, with an impressive 15 dive sites around the island, and many others nearby, it is an exciting destination for keen travellers looking for diving in Malaysia. Located within the Redang Marine Park, the reefs are in good condition and you might be lucky enough to see manta rays, leopard sharks and whale sharks in certain seasons. The most popular dive sites are Batu Kuching, Terembu Kuning and Tanjung Nibong Laut, and all three are very close to each other which proves practical and cuts down on travel time aboard the speedboats.