Diving Overview
Straddling the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea, Malaysia sits in the heart of the Coral Triangle. Sipadan Island alone is home to over 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species. From world-class wall diving and barracuda tornados to pristine muck diving at Mabul, Malaysia delivers unforgettable underwater experiences.
Water Temperature
Visibility
Dive Depth
Best SeasonPopular Dive Spots
Sipadan
Mabul
Kapalai
Lankayan
Tioman
Perhentian
Redang
Layang Layang
Lang Tengah
Mataking
Best Diving Months
East Coast Season (Apr-Sep)Excellent
Sabah (Sipadan) (Year-round)Excellent
Monsoon Season (Nov-Feb)Moderate
Marine Biodiversity
3,000+ fish species
600+ coral species
Green & hawksbill turtles
Barracuda & jackfish tornados
Hammerhead sharks (seasonal)
Local Transport
Domestic flights (AirAsia, MAS)
Ferries & speedboats
Buses & long-distance coaches
Grab ride-hailing
Rental cars
Boat transfers to islands
Getting There
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) - Main international gateway
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) - For Sabah dive sites
Tawau Airport (TWU) - Closest to Sipadan & Mabul
Kuala Terengganu Airport (TGG) - For Perhentian, Redang, Lang Tengah
Emergency Services
Diving Emergency
+60-89-785-101
(Semporna Navy Recompression Chamber)
+60-88-251-326
(Kota Kinabalu Hyperbaric Chamber)
+61-8-8212-9242
(DAN Asia-Pacific 24/7)
+1-319-448-3483
(DiveAssure 24/7)
Tourist Hotline
1-300-88-5050
(Tourism Malaysia Hotline)
+60-3-2149-6590
(Tourist Police)
+60-19-939-2121
(Sabah Tourism Board Emergency)