There are a wealth of world-class diving opportunities in Malaysia, including destinations teeming with huge schools of fish, spectacular coral reefs and amazing macro-life. There are areas famed for encounters with hammerhead sharks for the priviliged few, and places that are home to dozens of turtles and other big marine creatures such as bumphead parrotfish, barracuda, jacks, and reef sharks.
Liveaboard safaris in Malaysia offer you a different perspective from that of a resort stay. In Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, you can join a cruise around the world-famous big-fish paradise of Sipadan Island, or visit the finest pristine reefs far offshore in the South China Sea at Layang Layang. The premier dive sites of Peninsular Malaysia are located on the east coast around Tioman Island, and you can join a short cruise to dive here on tours operating out of Singapore.
In addition to its underwater marvels, Malaysia can boast a range of other tourist attractions that will transform your liveaboard trip into the vacation of a lifetime: jungle wildlife tours, mountain climbing and trekking, bird watching, river rafting, kayaking, and numerous islands blessed with white sandy beaches and clear blue water.
Malaysia is not a country with an over-abundance of liveaboard options. However, those that do operate in this country all offer something unique. Additionally, you will not have to tolerate too many other boats around the same dive site, as can happen in the more popular destinations in Asia. Check out your Malaysian liveaboard options here for:
Entry permits restrict resort divers near this location to just occasional visits to Sipadan during their stay. Those who choose a liveaboard however, get to dive there most days of their cruise. A liveaboard tour here is therefore a popular choice for advanced divers who want to maximise their time at the most famous sites like Barracuda Point, The Drop-Off and South Point. [More details on these dive sites: Mabul, Sipadan].
On a Sipadan liveaboard you may also get the chance to dive at some of the interesting and uncrowded sites around Semporna. While choosing a liveaboard over a resort here means sacrificing some comfort and luxury, for many scuba divers the benefits are definitely worth it.
Tours of 7 nights are recommended for you to get a full taste of the area. Sipadan liveaboards appeal to divers who are no longer beginners (new park rules state all divers must hold at least an advanced license) and who are determined to maximise their time diving at Pulau Sipadan.
> [More details: Sipadan Island Trips]If time or travel plans do not permit travelling to Sabah, there are some great short dive trip options on the Malaysian peninsula which still allow you to get your liveaboard diving 'fix'. In fact these cruises normally operate out of Singapore and venture into Malaysian or Indonesian waters. The Malaysian trips usually focus on the dive sites around the popular resort island of Pulau Tioman. These safaris occasionally operate routes off the east coast that venture to other nearby locations in the South China Sea.
These trips are aimed mostly, but not exclusively, at scuba divers based in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and usually operate at weekends, although occasionally longer too. They are among the least expensive in the world.
> [More details: Peninsular Malaysia - Tioman Trips]The Malaysian climate is equatorial, meaning it is often hot and humid and regularly experiences impressive rainfall. You can expect temperatures around 26 to 30°C except in the highland regions when it can drop down to 18°C. Sudden thunderstorms and torrential rain are commonplace but often disappear and dry up as quickly as they arrived. Annual rainfall is around 250 cm.
November to February is generally the rainy season on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. The west coast of the peninsula is wetter from May to October. The Malaysia diving season is year round, meaning there are options in the country every month of the year. For more details, check out our Malaysia dive sites page.
Malaysia is among South East Asia's best connected destinations. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is directly accessible from most countries in Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and Europe. Kota Kinabalu airport is the 2nd busiest in Malaysia and has direct flights from many Asian countries. Neighbouring countries like Singapore and Thailand also allow for convenient flight routes from outside Asia. All foreign tourist visitors now entering Malaysia are required to complete a digital arrival card before their arrival, known as Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Visitors can complete the form up to 3 days before arrival.
You can check which ports the various Malaysian liveaboard boats use in the 'Departure Schedule & Prices' section of each boat web page. You will also receive full details from us during the booking process.
We recommend you take out insurance to cover scuba and travel activities, including trip cancellation. See our insurance programme for a competitive quotation:
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It's also possible to dive in Sipadan by staying at the island, if you prefer: Sipadan resorts.
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