The 15 Best Scuba Diving in Malaysia

1.Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 149 reviews · from $116Our pick

Meet Mok, Amy, Santi, Jenny, or Simon at Chowrasta Market for a morning food walk, breakfast, and a hands-on Penang cooking lesson. You may prepare Char Kway Teow, Kueh Pie Tee, Choon Piah, Masala Chicken, Nyonya dishes, or Indian food, depending on your booking.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 I was blown away by this cooking class. It didn’t just teach the food—it taught the culture behind it. The market tour covered so many aspects of Malaysian life, and the entire experience was packed with information in a way that felt natural, not overwhRead more”

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2.Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · from $105

Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with PADI-certified guides, three underwater sessions, boat transfers, full equipment, lunch, and drinking water included. The small-group format, with up to five participants per guide, gives experienced divers more time in the water.

“Alex and Jack were excellent guides! The water was warm, the weather was good, and we saw so many fish and corals!”

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3.Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 20 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $375

Spend three days learning scuba skills in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with Borneo Dream. The RAID Open Water 20 course includes online study, full equipment, boat transfers, lunch, and small groups. Instructors including Basir, Yadi, Didi, Alex, and Amir are praised for calm, careful teaching.

“We just completed the Open Water 20 course with Yadi as our instructor, and the experience was fantastic. Yadi was very patient with us and explained everything perfectly. We learned a lot and had a great time—we can't wait to go divinRead more”

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4.Semporna: Bohey 3 Islands Hike, Snorkel/Dive Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 50 reviews · 7 hours - 450 minutes · from $58

From Semporna, ride by speedboat to Bohey Dulang for a 600-meter hike, then swim or snorkel at Mantabuan and Sibuan. You can choose two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions with an instructor, enjoy lunch on a quiet island, and travel with Chinese, English, or Malay guidance.

“The mountain and the view absolutely breathtaking. Going up to the top was tiring but it’s worth it. The guys and really nice even tho they didn’t speak English except for a few words so the communication was really low. A part from that the second island was beautiful and the snorkeling point amazing. The best I had so far in Semporna”

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5.Semporna: Explore 3 Islands Tour Snorkel or Dive & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 44 reviews · 7 hours · from $57

Spend seven hours from Semporna visiting three islands, with clear-water snorkeling, shallow beginner scuba sessions, beach stops, and a homemade lunch. English, Chinese, and Malay instructors provide safety help and equipment. Bring cash for the MYR 25 in island fees, plus a change of clothes and motion-sickness medicine.

“Una auténtica maravilla los chicos son encantadores muy graciosos y muy profesionales la pasamos en grande nos reímos un montón, nos encantó ir y conocer las islas el paseo en lancha rápida esa sensación es increíble el buceo y el snorkel increíble los peses que hay el agua tan clara, recomendable 10/10”

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6.RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $110

Meet your instructor at Jesselton Point, learn basic scuba skills, then enjoy a short practice session and a proper reef outing in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Aamir and Esther have guided beginners on past trips. Lunch, equipment, drinks, and boat transfers are included.

“This was an amazing tour. Our group had 7 tourists on the boat. Five went on a snorkel tour. I and my companion went on the "beginner's scuba adventure." Our guide, Aamir (I probably have the spelling wrong), was fantastic. He was easy to unRead more”

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7.Kota Kinabalu Leisure Scuba Diving Trip (3 Dives)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $130

Meet the Go Aquatic team at 8:45 AM at Jesselton Point, then ride 15 minutes to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park for three guided scuba sessions at separate sites. A PADI instructor with more than 10 years of local experience leads the day. Lunch, equipment, permits, water, and boat transfers are included.

“A great day of diving! Our guide was great and gave us a lot of help. She pointed out a lot of different things in the water, turtles, squid, etc. Is a must do for divers who want to go off a boat on a tour. The diving is better off the boat than off the beach, you can get deeper into the reefs.”

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8.Join us for a RAID Try Dive in Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $110

Spend six hours learning basic scuba skills in shallow water before exploring a reef and making a second boat-based underwater session in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Meet at Jesselton Point, work with an instructor at a maximum 4:1 ratio, and return by about 4:00pm.

“It is a nice experience with Alex. My first time try diving and I feel safe under water with his help:)”

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9.(3 Days) PADI Open Water Diver Course Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $437

Learn scuba skills in Kota Kinabalu over three days. Study theory at Go Aquatic, then complete four practical sessions near Sapi Island with an instructor teaching no more than four students. Equipment, lunch, bottled water, fees, and certification are included.

“Booked with my younger brother who unfortunately got sick and couldn’t join. I was able to obtain the official OWD PADI license in 3 days diving in two reefs around Gaya Island in Kota Kinabalu. English Guide was super helpful and patient in making sure I learned all of the diving skills but also that I practiced all of the book concepts safely.”

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10.TRY SCUBA (non diver)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $122

Start at Semporna Jetty for a six-and-a-half-hour beginner scuba program with two guided sessions at Pulau Mabul and Mataking Island. Learn basic skills with a licensed instructor, enjoy snorkeling afterward, and receive equipment, meals, drinks, and underwater photos.

“I can absolutely recommend this beginner dive! I felt super safe even though I’m a person that tends to get nervous haha ;) Easily one of the best days of my life!!”

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11.PADI Advanced Open Water Course Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $407

Learn advanced scuba skills with Go Aquatic in Kota Kinabalu over two days. You’ll complete six boat-based sessions, choose five specialty skills, and study with a PADI instructor such as Zarul, Jenson, On Jai, Din, or Zorro. Small groups, equipment, lunch, and bottled water are included.

“Managed to acquire 2 certificates, one on normal open water diving, and one on advanced water diving. However, I couldn't have done it without my amazing instructor, Zarul. He was patient and careful in his teachings, and we easily undRead more”

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12.Semporna: Mabul and Kapalai Trip in Snorkel or Dive & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12 reviews · 6h 30m · from $57

From Semporna, you spend a full day around Mabul and Kapalai, with two water sessions, a Mabul water-village visit, lunch, and boat transfers. Choose snorkeling or two shallow beginner scuba sessions. Bring cash for the MYR 50 resort entry fee and prepare for changing sea conditions.

“It was my first time to diving, but could watch 2 turtles and lots of big fish! instructor was really kind and made me relaxed.”

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13.(2 Dives) Discover Scuba Diving Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $129

Meet the Go Aquatic crew at Jesselton Point for a full-day beginner scuba experience in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Learn the basics, complete two guided underwater sessions near Sapi Island, enjoy lunch, and see coral and marine life without arranging equipment or permits yourself.

“Wonderful day, great professional team, a lot of fun and beautiful see to discover. Many thanks for this memorable moment.”

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14.RAID Try-Dive in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 7 hours · from $112

Spend seven hours with Borneo Dream Travel & Tours on a small-group RAID try-dive near Kota Kinabalu. You’ll learn basic scuba skills, complete two supervised reef sessions to 12 meters, eat lunch on Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi, and may spot clownfish or turtles.

“We took our first scuba experience as family of 4 aged 52, 50, 18 and 16. We learnt a lot, had a great experience including the boat trip, our guide Amil, the scuba, lunch, time to relax. We would all recommend and will all be doing again soon!!”

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15.Enjoy 3 Fun Dives in Kota Kinabalu | Certified Divers

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 7 reviews · 7 hours · from $112

Join Borneo Dream for three guided underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. You’ll visit warm-water sites, spot clown fish and corals, eat lunch on an island, and receive equipment, safety briefings, boat transfers, and support in English, Malay, or Chinese.

“Vi skulle vente en time på, at vores båd ankom til havnen. Vi fik kun 2 ud af de 3 dyk som vi har betalt for grundet dårlige vejrforhold. Men var båden ankommet til tiden, havde vi formentligt kunne nå alle vores dyk. Vi er ikke blevet tilbudt nogen form for kompensation for hverken forsinkelse eller det dyk som vi ikke fik med. Instruktørerne er super søde og hjælpsomme - så de to dyk vi endte med at få var gode.”

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