A list of the best rated scuba dive sites in Malaysia.

Barracuda Point

Divers consider the dive site Barracuda Point as one of the best in the world. The aquatic life that can be seen is huge. Some of the more interesting are schools of hawksbill turtles and greenback turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally, pelagic species such as eagle rays, manta rays, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks can be seen here. Near the wall at ten meters deep are grey reef sharks, which are always patrolling the perimeter here, waiting for lunch. The di...

Sugar Wreck, MV Unistar

Little is really known about the MV Union Star 17 wreck by most of the dive shops on the Perhentian islands - shocking when you consider that it only sank some 10 years ago. The one thing that they all agree on was that she was a cargo ship carrying Sugar when she sank - hence the local name 'Sugar Wreck'. After a little research I was able to establish that the ship was registered in Free Town, South Africa. She ran aground on a sand bank near Pantai Sri Tujuh in November 2000 while on her way...

Turtle Cavern, Turtle Tomb

An unforgettable experience is a dive through the mysterious cave system of the Turtle Tomb, just off Sipadan Island. Find your way to the TurtleTomb; a myriad of passageways lead through the reef some 20m below the surface. This is nothing for the fainthearted as the dead ends are many on the way to the tomb nearly 200m from the entrance where turtle skulls and bones litter the bottom. Warning signs clearly indicate the danger beyond the entrance and those going into the cave need to be fully e...

Sandakan

Sandakan is the second largest town in Sabah and serves as a getaway for many touristic trips. You can visit the orangutans at Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, take a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River where you can see many birds and wild elephants or visit the Gomantong Caves. Turtle Islands Park consisting of Pulau Selingan, Pulau Gulisan and Pulau Bakkungan Kecil are world famous because they are used for turtles to lay their eggs. Strict rules regarding turtles apply on Selingan as it i...

Tiga

Pulau Tiga Park consists out of the three islands Pulau Tiga, Pulau Kalampunian Damit and Pulau Kalampunian Besar and was awarded the status of National Park in 1978. It can be reached from Kota Kinabalu in an hour boat ride and sits in the middle of Kimanis Bay. Tiga Island has a few resorts, a rest house, a tourist office and many well marked trails that bring you to all interesting sights, mud baths and views. It was formed by an earthquake followed by a volcanic eruption on the 21st of Sept...

Layang Layang

Layang Layang belongs to a chain of islands, islets, coral reefs and atolls named the Spratlys, sitting between Malaysia and Vietnam at three hundred kilometers northwest of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Layang Layang, also named Swallow's Reef or Dusun meaning Place of Swallows, is the name of an oceanic atoll created by connecting thirteen reefs in the form of a ring. Scuba diving is fantastic here as nutrient waters are pushed upwards from 2000 meters deep, creating an enormous amount of life and...

Lang Tengah

Pulau Lang Tengah is a small island often overlooked by the more popular and more crowded islands Redang and the Perhentians. Besides a few excellent resorts at Pasir Air and Pasir Mat Hassan, it is an uninhabited island offering nice quiet walks amidst birds and white pristine beaches. The island's name translates from Bahasa in English as Eagle Middle Island, which might once be named because of its many birds. This tropical island can be reached by ferry from Merang and is a nice alternat...

Mak Cantik

Mak Cantik is a shallow dive site that has beautiful coral gardens full of reef fish and anemones with resident clown fish. Small fish like anthias and damsel fish dart in and out of the coral. Pufferfish and porcupine fish shelter under coral ledges. Currents can be strong here which attracts schools of trevally and barracuda. Visibility is 10m-30m.Titan Triggerfish can be aggressive when protecting their territory. ...

Lima, Big Mount

Pulau Lima located 20m boat ride east of Redang Island has several areas worth diving but the best spot is called "Big Mount" and lies 80m off the island's northern tip. It is a submerged sea mount that drops down to beyond 30m. The presence of strong currents attracts larger pelagic like barracuda and trevally. Whale sharks and manta rays are sometimes seen here, usually in the early months of the season. When visibility is good this is an excellent dive site with all the usual ma...

Mandarin Valley

Mandarin Valley is a gently sloping coral reef that descends down to 20m. At the bottom of the reef cuttlefish are often seen near an old fishing boat wreck. On the hard coral reef moray eels and scorpionfish can be found plus some small reef fish. Frogfish and leafy scorpionfish can be seen here, both excellently camouflaged amongst coral and sponge. Pipe fish are present as on most Kapalai reefs and seahorses can often be spotted. Nudibranchs are numerous. Occasionally reef sharks come into th...