Malaysia Scuba Diving: Our 15 Best

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

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

Meet at Chowrasta Market for a guided walk with Mok, Simon, Santi, or Jenny, depending on your class. Shop for local produce and spices, enjoy a Penang breakfast, then cook several regional dishes with a patient instructor. Morning sessions include the market visit and breakfast, while private classes can be tailored to your group.

“Amy, Mok, Simonienz and the team were very knowledgeable, engaging and were clearly very well connected into Penang’s food scene. Good experience at the market and when cooking and eating the food we made!”

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

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

Join Borneo Dream Travel Tours for three guided underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, with full equipment, boat transfers, park fees, lunch, and drinking water included. PADI-certified guides such as Alex and Jack lead small groups of up to 12 people. The day begins at 9:00 am from Jesselton Point Jetty and ends back at the same meeting point.

“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 Travel. You complete online study before meeting instructors such as Yadi, Basir, Amir, Alex, or Didi. The course includes equipment, park fees, boat transfers, three lunches, water, and certification training for eligible swimmers aged 10 and up.

“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

Join a multilingual crew from Semporna for a seven-hour speedboat trip through Tun Sakaran Marine Park. Hike Bohey Dulang for wide sea views, then swim or snorkel at Mantabuan and Sibuan. Choose two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions with an instructor, and expect changing stops based on tides and weather.

“I have to say it’s the most amazing tour I’ve ever joined.”

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

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

Set out from Semporna by speedboat for three island stops, clear water, coral reefs and beach time. Choose three snorkeling sessions or two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions plus snorkeling. Multilingual instructors provide safety guidance, gear, lunch and water. Bring cash for the MYR15 Pandanan and MYR10 Mataking fees.

“wunderschöne tour auf die drei Inseln,viel snoorkeln,einfach Traum”

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6.RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

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

Meet your crew at Jesselton Point, learn basic scuba skills, and spend time underwater with a licensed instructor in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The six-hour outing includes equipment, lunch on a tropical island, drinks, boat transfers, and low group ratios. Guides may include Aamir or Esther.

“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 Jesselton Point at 8:45 AM for three guided scuba descents in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. A PADI instructor leads each site, with tanks, equipment, permits, bottled water, boat transport, and an Asian or Malaysian lunch included. Expect a small group of up to 16 people and a return around 3:30 to 4:00 PM.

“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

Start at 9:00am near Jesselton Point for a RAID try scuba session in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Your instructor gives a briefing, teaches shallow-water skills, then leads a reef session and a boat session after lunch. Alex is one instructor named by past participants. Groups are capped at 12, with no more than four students per instructor.

“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

Train with Go Aquatic in Kota Kinabalu over three days. Study theory from 10:00 AM to 3:45 PM, then complete four supervised sea sessions near Sapi Island, with no more than four students per instructor. Equipment, bottled water, island lunch, fees, and certification are included after you pass the exam.

“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

Spend about six and a half hours learning basic scuba skills in Semporna with a licensed instructor, even if you have no prior experience. You’ll make two underwater sessions, visit Pulau Mabul and Mataking Island, then enjoy snorkeling. Equipment, food, drinks, taxes, and underwater photography are included, with groups capped at 10.

“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

Spend two days building your scuba skills with Go Aquatic in Kota Kinabalu. You’ll complete a refresher session plus five specialty courses, guided by instructors such as Zarul, Jenson, On Jai, or Din. Small groups, equipment, lunch, and boat transfers are included, while hotel transport and towels are not.

“My son did his PADI open water dive course aged 15. Instructor Zorro was excellent.”

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

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

Spend about six and a half hours traveling from Semporna to Mabul and Kapalai by speedboat. You get swim stops, reef viewing, snorkeling or two introductory scuba sessions, a water-village visit, lunch, gear, and an instructor in Chinese, English, or Malay. Bring cash for the MYR 50 Mabul entrance fee.

“The Mabul resort was beautiful and the sea life was amazing!”

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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 of beginner scuba in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. A licensed PADI instructor teaches you the basics, then leads one morning shore session and one afternoon boat session near Sapi Island. Equipment, permits, lunch, and bottled water are included, but hotel transfers are not.

“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

Learn basic scuba skills with a qualified RAID instructor, then spend the day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. You will complete two guided underwater sessions, including one to 12 meters, with lunch on Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi. Small groups, boat transfers, gear, refreshments, and instruction are included.

“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 scuba sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You will travel by catamaran from central Kota Kinabalu, explore warm South China Sea reefs at depths of 5 to 30 meters, and stop for lunch on an island. Guides including Alex, Didi, and Eugene have received especially strong praise.

“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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