Where to Dive
The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak offer exciting and beautiful dive sites. The latter's proximity to the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea attracts a wider range of marine life and pelagic species among its world class reefs. Visibility is also better.
Pulau Payar which is one of the 99 islands in the Langkawi group is the first marine park to be established off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is endowed with many endangered species which dwell in the park's sanctuary.
Local
dive centres in Langkawi offer excursions to the Marine Park of the Segantang
islands located halfway between Pulau Langkawi and Penang where marine
fauna characteristic of the Indian Ocean can be viewed. Teluk Nipah and
Coral Beach in Pangkor have vast coral reefs which attract some larger
marine species.
The islands off the east coast of Johor teem with marine life. Pulau Tinggi in particular has a beautiful array of butterfly and angel fish and groupers which make it a photographer's paradise. Pulau Rawa and Pulau Tengah are famed for their white coral reefs.
The sea off Lanjut, 20km from Kuala Rompin in Johor offers two shipwreck sites, including that of a World War 11 Japanese frigate which can be found off Pulau Berhala.
|
Diving Destinations |
|
| Kedah | Pulau
Payar, Pulau Segantang, Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Kaca Pulau Lembu |
| Perak | Pulau Pangkor |
| Johor | Pulau
Rawa, Pulau Besar, Pulau Hujung, Pulau Aur, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Tengah, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Berhala |
| Terengganu | Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, Pulau Tenggol, Pulau Kapas |
| Pahang | Pulau Tioman |
| Sabah | Pulau
Mabul, Pulau Tiga, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Pulau Layang-Layang, Labuan Pulau Rusukan Kecil, Pulau Rusukan Besar, Pulau Kura, Pulau Papan |
| Sarawak | Pulau Talang Besar, Pulau Talang Kecil |
Terengganu's
Pulau Redang is the largest of the cluster of islands in the Redang Marine
Park and offers some of the world's most mature coral gardens. Located
50km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, the trip takes about 2 hours by
boat from Merang.
The Pulau Tioman archipelago off Pahang features some of the prettiest soft corals in the area. The Magicienne Rock is a submerged reef north of Tioman where giant manta rays have been sighted.
Beginners will find the islands of the east coast more accessible and easier to dive. The various coastal villages also provide relaxation after a day's diving.
