Scuba Diving Malaysia

I’ve always found that scuba diving is one of the last great adventures you can undertake on planet Earth. While there are still plenty of places on land to explore, only underwater are you truly feel like you are on another planet. Scuba diving offers you the opportunity to truly experience a different world, one filled with bright, beautiful, and sometimes dangerous species. Here are a few of my favorite diving spots in Malaysia. 

Sipadan Island

Around the island of Sipadan, you will find some of the best scuba diving in Malaysia. There are twelve major dive sites that you won’t want to miss. This exquisite island is a diver’s paradise, filled with wondrous sights you won’t find in any other region on the globe. On your dives, you’ll encounter schools of predatory barracuda, a variety of reef sharks, numerous species of sea turtles, and countless schools of exotic reef fish in their natural habitat. The sites you’ll most want to see include: Sipadan Jetty, a breathtaking 600 meter drop-off; Turtle Cavern, an eerily beautiful turtle graveyard; Barracuda Point, where you’ll have the chance to witness a barracuda tornado; and Mid-Reef, one of the most spectacular coral groves in the region. 

Lankayan Island

Located just off the northern tip of Borneo, this tropical island boasts more than 20 highly acclaimed dive sites. This island stop is known to big fish enthusiasts, but is also home to some of the more exotic, smaller fish species, such as lionfish, frogfish, anemone fish, and cuttlefish. Keep your eyes out for magnificent blue spotted rays. You’ll be hard pressed to choose among the many wonderful sites available for adventure, but I recommend trying the Jetty Wreck first, an artificial wreck that serves as the stomping grounds for some spectacular pelagic wildlife. Other sites I recommend you don’t miss are: Moray Reef, Froggie Fort, Jawfish Lair, and Mosquito Wreck. 

Layang Layang Island

This coral atoll is renowned for its exceptional and exciting dive sites. While a clam lagoon awaits visitors within the protective circle of the atoll, just outside, divers can experience a thrilling 2000 meter plunge to the ocean floor below. Start with Dogtooth Lair, so named after the schools of dogtooth tuna that swim nearby. Here, you’ll see an amazing variety of reef species—gorgonian corals, parrotfish, batfish, and even the elusive sunfish. Other essential sites I recommend you include on your itinerary are: D’Wall; Sharks Cave, the place to see hammerheads during mating season, gray reef sharks, and manta rays; and The Lagoon—a paradise for macro species such as sea horses, pipefish, cuttlefish, and has a respectable 20 meter depth. 

Mataking Island

This is a great, secluded spot for serious divers. Mataking boasts ten spectacular dive sites nearby, and twenty more within easy travel. Topping the list of must-see sites is the Underwater Post Office. You should also make time to visit the Garden of Eden, Nudibranch Garden, Hump Head Point, and Turtle Playground to visit with a variety of sea turtle, pelagic, and reef species. 

Surrounded by exotic species in environments you won’t see anywhere else on the planet, take hold of your own sense of wonder. Let it lead you on an amazing adventure through crystal clear waters and brilliant coral forests. Explore sunken ships and colorful reefs. Flirt with shy tropical fishes, and get an adrenalin rush as you catch your first glimpse of a reef shark or a hammerhead gathering. Each of your experiences will be as unique as it is unforgettable.