Trevo Malaysia If you love the ocean as much as we do, you’ll be happy to know that the diving sites in Malaysia are some of the most stunning in the world.
From calm, beginner-friendly reefs to adrenaline-filled drift dives, Malaysia’s diving sites have something for everyone.
Malaysia is blessed with two very different diving regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo (Eastern Malaysia). That means we get variety all year round. You’ll find vibrant coral gardens, dramatic drop-offs, and marine life ranging from tiny nudibranchs to whale sharks.
And here’s the best part: there’s something for every level of diver.
We’ve compiled this list of the Top 10 diving sites in Malaysia for you. Whether you’re a tourist, a local, or an expat exploring places to dive, you’re in for a treat!
First, let’s talk about what kind of diving you can do here.
Types of Diving Sites in Malaysia
When it comes to diving, there are so many different kinds of diving. So first, let’s talk about what types of diving you can even do in Malaysia.
Reef diving is the most popular here, thanks to our healthy coral ecosystems. It’s perfect for beginners and photographers.
Wall diving is incredible in places like Sipadan and Layang Layang, where the ocean floor just disappears beneath you.
Drift diving offers a thrill as you ride the current past bustling reefs. Tenggol’s Moonraker is a great example.
Muck diving is a treasure hunt for critters in sandy or silty bottoms, like Tioman’s Salang Jetty.
Some divers also specifically come for scuba diving in Sabah, which is famous worldwide for its marine biodiversity and year-round diving opportunities.
Top 10 Best Diving Sites in Malaysia
1. Barracuda Point, Sipadan
If there’s one dive in Malaysia you’ll never forget, it’s this one. Barracuda Point is often listed among the best diving sites in Malaysia and even in the world.
The first time we descended here, the water was shimmering with silver. Out of nowhere, a wall of chevron barracuda! Watching them dance together in perfect unison is a mind-blowing experience.
As you drift along the reef wall, you’ll spot bigeye, giant trevally, and turtles cruising gracefully. You might even spot a manta ray or a hammerhead. It’s the kind of dive that spoils you for all others.
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Barracuda, trevally, tuna, manta rays, hammerheads, turtles
Best time to dive: April–December
2. The Drop-off, Sipadan
You can literally walk from the beach into this dive, and yet it feels like you’ve stepped off the edge of the world.
One moment you’re in knee-deep turquoise water, the next you’re peering down a giant 600 m vertical wall that vanishes below.
The corals here are bursting with life: crabs, shrimp, and tiny creatures in every corner. You’ll also see jacks and barracudas. It’s thrilling yet strangely peaceful..
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Jacks, barracuda, bumphead parrotfish, trevally, crustaceans
Best time to dive: April–December
3. Hanging Gardens, Sipadan
This site feels like diving into a fantasy. Hanging Gardens is easily one of the best diving sites in Malaysia.
The reef here is terraced, and each level is draped in swaying soft corals in every colour imaginable. It’s as dreamy as it sounds.
As you glide past giant sea fans, you’ll spot moray eels and schools of sweetlips. There are also ribbontail stingrays and turtles. Sometimes they’ll come so close you can almost touch them!
Hanging Gardens is also a top spot to go snorkeling.
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Turtles, stingrays, moray eels, sweetlips, gobies
Best time to dive: April–December
4. Goby Garden, Lang Tengah
Lang Tengah doesn’t always make the headlines as one of the best diving sites in Malaysia, but Goby Garden is proof that it should. As you descend into the coral garden, it’s so full of life you won’t know where to look first.
If you slow down and really look, you’ll see decorator crabs blending perfectly with their surroundings, nudibranchs in fluorescent colours, and gobies darting in and out of coral heads.
It’s calm, it’s beautiful, and it’s perfect for anyone who loves the little details of the ocean.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu)
Marine life: Gobies, nudibranchs, decorator crabs, Christmas tree worms
Best time to dive: March–October
5. Moonraker, Tenggol
Tenggol Island has quite a few diving sites, but Moonraker is all about adrenaline. The current here picks you up and sweeps you along deep walls lined with massive staghorn and table corals.
Just go with the current and watch the scenery racing past you like an underwater roller coaster.
It’s a dive for experienced divers who want that heart-pumping mix of speed and spectacle. Every time we’ve done it, we’ve surfaced grinning from ear to ear.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu)
Marine life: Pelagic fish, staghorn corals, table corals
Best time to dive: March–October
6. Tiger Reef, Tioman
This site is one of our favorites among diving sites in Malaysia. Tiger Reef sits between two small islands, and the water here is always moving. That current brings in nutrients, which means the coral is lush and the fish are everywhere.
As you descend, the pinnacle takes shape beneath you, looking uncannily like a crouching tiger.
You’ll see jacks, mackerel, and barracuda sometimes darting in close before disappearing again. And in between the bursts of action, you’ll find quiet moments drifting above coral heads filled with millions of tiny reef fish.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang)
Marine life: Barracuda, mackerel, jacks, reef fish
Best time to dive: March–October
7. Salang Jetty, Tioman
Diving in Salang Jetty is for the critter hunters. By day, the broken pillars of the jetty are home to all sorts of creatures: nudibranchs, pipe worms, crabs, and schools of anchovies.
Come back at night, and it’s a whole other world. Thousands of shrimps and cuttlefish hover in the dark, and the water feels alive with movement!
If you’ve never done a night dive before, this is one of the best diving sites in Malaysia to try it.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang)
Marine life: Shrimp, cuttlefish, crabs, anchovies, nudibranchs
Best time to dive: March–October
8. Dogtooth Lair, Layang Layang
Layang Layang already feels like the edge of the map, and Dogtooth Lair adds to that wild, remote feeling.
Here, there are beautiful, intricate corals covering the ledges. You’ll see whitetip reef sharks gliding effortlessly below you, and rays hovering at the edge of the drop-off.
If you’re lucky, you might spot a mola mola or a hammerhead out in the blue. The cleaning stations here are fascinating: big fish just hanging in place while tiny cleaners go to work.
It’s a dive that mixes big thrills with quiet, intimate moments.
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Sharks, rays, mola mola, macro life
Best time to dive: March–August; If you want to spot hammerheads, visit between April and May
9. The Runway, Layang Layang
This site feels alive from the moment you hit the water. Steep walls and just beyond the reef’s edge, massive schools of jack. It’s hard not to just stop and watch them.
Everywhere you turn, something’s happening: tuna dart past, manta rays glide by, and surgeonfish shimmer in the sunlight. It’s the kind of dive that makes you want to stay down just a little bit longer.
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Jacks, tuna, manta rays, sharks, surgeonfish
Best time to dive: March–August
10. Gavin’s Playground, Mataking
Gavin’s Playground is one of the best diving spots in Mataking Island. If you love macro life, you’ll fall in love here. Gavin’s Playground is shallow, sunlit, and bursting with colour.
Everywhere you look, there’s a mandarin fish flashing its bright orange and blue fins.
And then there’s the supporting cast: ornate crabs, shy shrimp, and other tiny critters tucked into coral crevices. You can linger here for hours without ever getting bored.
Location: Eastern Malaysia (Sabah)
Marine life: Mandarin fish, macro critters, reef fish
Best time to dive: April–December
Things to Know Before You Go Diving in Malaysia
Diving in Eastern vs Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia is great for beginners and offers calmer conditions, but it’s seasonal: March to October is best. Diving in Sabah and Eastern Malaysia is all year round and tends to offer bigger marine life encounters.
If you want something closer to the city, diving in Kota Kinabalu and even scuba diving in Kota Kinabalu are great options, with Tunku Abdul Rahman Park offering surprisingly rich reefs just a short boat ride away.
Over on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, diving in Redang is hugely popular for its clear waters and vibrant coral gardens. Meanwhile, adventurous divers head to Sarawak and try diving in Miri, which is growing in popularity thanks to its wrecks and reefs.
And if you’re looking for smaller, critter-rich sites, nothing beats diving in Mabul, which is world-famous for macro life.
Permits and Planning
Some of the best diving sites in Malaysia, like Sipadan and Layang Layang, require permits. These are limited and can sell out quickly during peak season, so book early.
What You Need to Go Diving
If you’re already certified, you just need your dive log and card. Most dive operators provide all the gear you need. If you’re new, there are beginner courses and even try-dives that don’t require certification.
Here are a few more helpful resources:
- Best 10 Spots for White Water Rafting in Malaysia – TREVO Stories
- 8 Best Things To Do In Ipoh For Outdoor Lovers – TREVO Stories
- The Best Beach in Johor Bahru: Our Top 10 Picks – TREVO Stories
- 10 Best Affordable Nature Retreats in Malaysia (UNDER 250 MYR!) – TREVO Stories
FAQs on Diving Sites in Malaysia
Where is the best place to dive in Malaysia?
Diving in Sipadan is the best diving spot in Malaysia. Located off the coast of Borneo, it’s often ranked among the top dive sites in the world. Sheer coral walls, rich marine life, and sightings of turtles, reef sharks, barracuda, and jacks make it unforgettable.
Where is the best dive site in West Malaysia?
Payar Marine Park in the Langkawi archipelago. Perfect for beginners, thanks to calm waters and home to protected reefs full of life.
Can I dive in Langkawi?
Yes. Pulau Payar is a popular snorkeling and diving destination. As a marine park, it protects diverse corals and marine life.
Where can I see manta rays in Malaysia?
Tioman Island. Alongside manta rays, you can explore underwater caves and canyons filled with colorful fish, reef sharks, and moray eels.
Can a non-swimmer do scuba diving in Malaysia?
Yes. Introductory dive programs are designed for non-swimmers and are perfectly safe. But if you want to get certified, basic swimming skills are required.
Go diving with Trevo this long weekend
Malaysia Day long weekend is coming up! And it’s the perfect time to heed the ocean’s calling!
Trevo offers a wide selection of cars that suit your every need! Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family, we have the right car for you.
Get your dive gear on and let Trevo take you there!
