| Malaysia is fast becoming one of the leading dive destinations of the world with one of the richest marine environments in the Indo-Pacific Basin. The incredible bio-diversity of marine life, coupled with beautiful islands, white sandy beaches and clear warm waters, keeps divers coming back for more.
From schooling Hammerhead Sharks, to huge schools of barracudas and various species of turtles to the bizarre Frogfish and Ghost Pipefish, there is always something to fascinate the diver.
In Malaysia, the coral reef eco-system supports more that 50 generas of coral and more that 200 species of fish. It is not an exaggeration to say that almost every time a marine bio-diversity survey is conducted in Malaysia’s tropical seas, the species list increases!
Dive centers in Malaysia are well equipped and are certified by all the internationally recognized dive agencies like PADI, SSI and SSAC for maintaining their standards of safety and professionalism. Naturally, all scuba diving courses in Malaysian waters are also endorsed by these certifying agencies.
Some of the courses available include the ‘Open Water Course’ for beginners, all the way through to ‘Diving Instructor Course’ and ‘Re-breather Course’. After completing your scuba course, get outfitted with the latest scuba equipment as all international brands are available from dive centers in Malaysia.
Almost all the islands in Malaysia cater to divers of all levels of experience - be it easy, shallow drift-diving, to advanced wreck-diving or technical diving. Operators that offer technical diving are well equipped with portable emergency oxygen kits, special tank refilling equipment and other necessary facilities.
Top dive sites around Malaysia include diverse underwater geography such as sloping reefs, coral blocks, wall dives, deep dives, drift dives and wreck dives.
Dive operators, like any others around the world, will insist on seeing your certification for the type of diving you wish to do and to undergo a checkout dive. To advance your skills in scuba diving, dive centers offer further scuba courses at competitive and affordable rates.
The Still Unexplored Sea
Malaysia’s tropical forests and seas are the ancient homes to a staggering diversity of animal and plant life that has evolved over countless millions of years. A dip below the warm sea’s surface guarantees you an astounding experience with a concentration of vibrant and exotic marine life rarely rivalled anywhere else.
Malaysia’s spectacular tropical reefs boast an additional attraction – it is one of the few places on earth where macro organisms and large pelagics overlap so broadly in the same waters. Only a handful of diving sites in the world can offer both these sights in one diving holiday.
Comprising Peninsular Malaysia in the west and the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, Malaysia rests on the continental shelf of South-east Asia, the two halves separated by the South China Sea.
The west coast of Peninsula Malaysia is separated from Indonesia’s island of Sumatra by the Straits of Malacca. Along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the diversity of marine life around the waters of Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Payar are quite different from those off the eastern coast of the Peninsular Malaysia, in the South China Sea. Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Lang Tengah, Pulau Redang, Pulau Kapas, Pulau Tenggol and Pulau Tioman all lie a short boat ride off the Peninsula’s coast in the South China Sea and feature good coral growth and abundant fish life.
Surrounded by the nutrient-rich South China Sea and the Sulawesi Sea, the state of Sabah plums to true oceanic depths of 600m–1000m, different from the shallower waters of Peninsular Malaysia’s islands.
Located some 300km from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’s capital, Layang-Layang Island is blessed with the best water visibility, from 20m–50m.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Islands, just off Sabah’s capital of Kota Kinabalu, are popular for training and easy dives. On the other end of the spectrum, you should be an advanced diver to fully savor Sipadan Island. Lankayan, Mabul and Kapalai are famous for their ‘muck dives’ (diving in the coral rubble and sandy patches looking for macro animals).
Pulau Talang and Turtle Rock off Sarawak feature reef diving, and further away from the mainland, divers can do some very good wreck diving on the Katori Maru (a World War II Japanese troop carrier).
Malaysia is located in the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, which is the heart of the worlds’ richest marine biodiversity area, where scientists believe the marine life of the Pacific Ocean evolved.
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The country consists of Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo. The two regions are 403mi apart, separated by the South China Sea.Several mountain ranges run along the spine of the peninsula, Mt Kinabalu in Sabah being one of the highest peaks in South-East Asia.There is a wide, fertile plain on the west coast, and a narrow coastal plain on the east. Sabah and Sarawak are covered by dense jungles and have large river systems. 
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