The 7 Scuba Diving Trips in Malaysia Worth the Boat Ride

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

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

Meet at Chowrasta Market for a morning walk, breakfast, and ingredient lessons before cooking with Penang Chiak instructors such as Amy, Mok, Santi, or Jenny. Prepare dishes such as Char Kway Teow, Kueh Pie Tee, Choon Piah, Masala Chicken, and Nyonya specialties in a private class. Pickup may be arranged.

“This was hands down one of the best cooking classes I’ve ever done and a true highlight of my trip to Malaysia. We chose the morning class in Penang, which included a market tour, and it was exciting, informative, and incredibly immersive from the very start. Mok and SiRead more”

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

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

Join PADI-certified guides for three underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, with full equipment, park fees, boat transport, lunch, and water included. The small-group format limits numbers to 12, with a guide ratio of up to 1:5. Guides Alex and Jack have led outings praised for warm water, clear conditions, fish, and coral.

“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

Learn scuba skills over three boat-based days in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, departing from Kota Kinabalu at 9:00 am. You receive equipment, RAID course materials, park fees, lunch, and water. Instructors including Yadi, Didi, Basir, Amir, and Alex are praised for patient teaching and careful attention to buoyancy and safety.

“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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4.RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

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

Meet your instructor at Jesselton Point, learn basic scuba skills, and explore a reef in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll use full equipment, receive lunch on a tropical island, and stay with a professional instructor throughout. Small groups, multilingual staff, and guides such as Aamir and Esther make this a friendly first underwater adventure.

“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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5.Kota Kinabalu Leisure Scuba Diving Trip (3 Dives)

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

Meet your PADI instructor at Jesselton Point at 8:45 AM for three boat-based scuba sessions at separate sites in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The trip includes equipment, tanks, lunch, water, permits, conservation fees, and transfers. It suits certified divers who want easy access to deeper reef areas near Kota Kinabalu.

“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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6.RAID Try-Dive in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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

Meet Borneo Dream’s crew at Kota Kinabalu’s DBKK Jetty for a RAID Try-Dive with two guided underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. You’ll learn basic skills, visit coral reefs to 12 meters, eat lunch on Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Sapi, and may spot clown fish or turtles. Amil is one instructor associated with the experience.

“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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7.Enjoy 3 Fun Dives in Kota Kinabalu | Certified Divers

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 7 reviews · 7 hours · from $112

Meet Borneo Dream at 8:45am for three guided scuba sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll explore depths from 5 to 30 meters, enjoy an island lunch, and travel aboard a well-equipped catamaran. English, Malay, and Chinese instruction is available, with guides such as Alex, Didi, and Eugene associated with past trips.

“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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