The 14 Best Diving Trips in Malaysia

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

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

Join PADI-certified guides such as Alex and Jack for three underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll use provided equipment, travel by trimaran from Jesselton Point, stop for a free restaurant lunch on a tropical island, and return to Kota Kinabalu the same day. This suits certified, moderately fit participants who want more time in the water and small-group guidance.

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

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

Learn scuba skills and work toward RAID Open Water 20 certification during three boat-based days in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Borneo Dream supplies equipment, permits, meals, water, study materials, and instruction. Instructors including Basir, Yadi, Amir, Alex, and Didi are known for patient, safety-focused teaching.

“Recently completed my RAID Open Water 20 certification with Borneo Dream Travel, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better instructors than Alex and Didi. Both were incredibly professional, patient, and made every dive feel safe, fun, anRead more”

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

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

From Semporna, you’ll spend about seven hours visiting Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, and Sibuan. Hike Bohey Dulang’s 600-meter trail for wide sea views, then snorkel or take two instructor-led 20-minute scuba sessions. Guides speak English, Chinese, and Malay, and lunch is served at a quiet island stop.

“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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4.Explore 3 Islands Tour Snorkel or Dive & Lunch

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

Meet your multilingual English, Chinese, or Malay-speaking crew at Semporna Jetty for a full day around Timba Timba, Mataking, and Pandanan. You can choose three snorkeling sessions or two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions plus snorkeling. Expect long speedboat rides, simple local lunch, reef time, and extra cash fees for two islands.

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

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5.RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

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

Meet your instructor at Jesselton Point at 8:45 a.m. for a six-hour RAID try-dive in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You will learn basic skills, practice in shallow water, make a short session, then explore an underwater reef with an instructor. Lunch, equipment, drinks, boat transfers, and fees 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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6.Kota Kinabalu Leisure Scuba Diving Trip (3 Dives)

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

Meet the Go Aquatic team at Jesselton Point for three boat-based scuba sessions at separate sites in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. A PADI instructor leads certified participants, with equipment, tanks, lunch, water, permits, and boat transport included. Expect an eight-hour day and a maximum group of 16.

“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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7.Join us for a RAID Try Dive in Kota Kinabalu

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

Meet your RAID instructor at Jesselton Point for a six-hour introduction to scuba in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll learn basic skills in shallow water, visit a reef, eat lunch, then take a boat to a second underwater site. Alex is one instructor named in guest feedback. Equipment, permits, water, and boat transport are included.

“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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8.(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. You’ll study in the morning, practice near Sapi Island, complete four open-water sessions, and take a final exam. The price includes equipment, island lunch, fees, and bottled water. An English-speaking instructor guides small groups of up to four students per instructor.

“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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9.TRY SCUBA (non diver)

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

Spend about six and a half hours learning scuba basics in Semporna with a licensed instructor. You will make two underwater sessions at Pulau Mabul and Mataking Island, then enjoy snorkeling, food, drinks, equipment, and underwater photos. Basir has led at least one outing, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“The trip was on time and logistics were well organized. The boat was catered for a small group, with one instructor per 4 adults maximum. Basir was the instructor for our scuba diving experience (2 people). His chill attitude and professionalisRead more”

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10.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 by speedboat from Semporna to Mabul and Kapalai. You get reef time, swimming, a visit to Mabul’s water village and resorts, lunch, equipment, and an instructor. Choose snorkeling or two short beginner scuba sessions. Bring cash for Mabul’s MYR 50 entrance fee.

“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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11.(2 Dives) Discover Scuba Diving Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $129

Meet the Go Aquatic crew at Jesselton Point for a beginner-friendly day beneath Kota Kinabalu’s coastal waters. A licensed PADI instructor teaches you the basics, fits your equipment, and leads two sessions near Sapi Island. Lunch, permits, equipment, and bottled water are included, but you must arrange your own transport to the jetty.

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

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12.RAID Try-Dive in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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

Spend seven hours learning scuba with a qualified Borneo Dream instructor, then enjoy two supervised underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. You will practice in a sheltered bay, reach about 12 meters on the second session, eat lunch on Pulau Mamutik or Sapi, and watch for clownfish, coral, and 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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13.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 National Park. Certified divers descend from 5 to 30 meters, with PADI instructors, quality gear, boat transfers, lunch, and fish ID materials included. Alex, Didi, and Eugene are among the named team members associated with this experience.

“It was a perfect day thanks to an excellent team ,well maintained equipment and especially Alex’s gentle and clear guidance as our Divemaster - exceeded every expectation, even the lunch stop!”

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14.3 Semporna Islands Tour with Snorkel or Diving Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $55Best value

Leave Semporna by speedboat for three island stops in the Celebes Sea. Choose three snorkeling sessions, or two 20-minute DSD sessions plus snorkeling. Expect safety guidance, shallow water, a packed lunch, gear, and a group of up to 10. Captain Tony and guide Saub have been praised for careful pacing when assigned.

“Great experience. Instructors were amazing. All the journey was great. We visited the 3 islands and had diving and snorkeling activities”

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