Malaysia Peninsula Diving

Hi All,

Planning a trip to dive the Malaysian mainland in September and just after recommendations for the best sites and dive operators from those that have visited this part of the country.

Regards

Nigel

Hi Nigel

I dived the Perhentian Islands a couple of years ago and wrote up this quick guide

http://divehappy.com/malaysia/scuba-diving...-a-quick-guide/

I also wrote an article for Asian Diver about the islands, which is maybe less practical but more evocative of what you're likely to see.

http://divehappy.com/malaysia/scuba-diving...lands-malaysia/

I would definitely try to get to Palau Redang, near to Perhentians - you can even fly into the island direct. There was some great diving there - I'd love to go back.

Singapore based friends are very keen on diving Palau Tioman, though I've never been there - and if you have the time/money, head down to Kota Kinabalu to dive in the national park there, or Mantanani and Lankayan relatively nearby - AirAsia do cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to KK, and also to Tawau, the gateway to Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai.

Have fun!

Chris

I concur with Chris, Redang would top my list for Peninsula Malaysia. Redang has a more diverse range of sites,

1. Deeper with boulder sites in the north (Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Lang - saw Whale Shark here in 2004)

2. Macro sites (Stinger Reef, Holy Sands - Blue Ring Octopus, Frogfish, lots of nudis)

3. Reef scene (Terumbu Kili in the south)

I dive with adrin@gipsydivers.com - he runs a small dive shop, you get a more personalized service.

I concur with Chris, Redang would top my list for Peninsula Malaysia. Redang has a more diverse range of sites,

 

1. Deeper with boulder sites in the north (Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Lang - saw Whale Shark here in 2004)

2. Macro sites (Stinger Reef, Holy Sands - Blue Ring Octopus, Frogfish, lots of nudis)

3. Reef scene (Terumbu Kili in the south)

 

I dive with adrin@gipsydivers.com - he runs a small dive shop, you get a more personalized service.

The Perhentians are my recommendation as well, did my Open Water there back in the days. Very nice visibility and a good diversity in marine life. I stayed with Flora Bay Divers, my paradise for 5 days. I didn't like Tioman very much, but that was partly caused by the diveshop I went with. Not the most professional ones of the bunch. I cann't remember the name right now, I doubt if they still exist (we're talking 2001 here). Scuba-nout or something if I recall correctly. The diving itself was nice, not spectacular. On a brighter note, they have big lizzards on the island (approx. 2 meters or longer) that walk the island and the beaches, look like Comodo Dragons, but a little smaller.