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Malaysia

Divesites
176
Centers
76
Courses & Events
35
Wildlife
31
© iStock/Cn0ra

Explore Malaysia

Malaysia, a Southeast Asian gem, provides divers with an unparalleled aquatic experience. Made up of two main regions—Peninsula Malaysia and West Malaysia—this paradise is celebrated for its cultural diversity and vibrant marine ecosystems. The country's underwater realm is as varied as its rich cultural tapestry, boasting an array of dive sites that cater to both novice and seasoned divers alike.

One of the highlights of diving in Malaysia is the extraordinary biodiversity found beneath the waves. From the colorful coral gardens of Sipadan Island, teeming with turtles and barracudas, to the mysterious wrecks of the South China Sea, each site presents unique encounters. Divers can explore the stunning wall dives of Layang-Layang, known for pelagic species and occasional hammerhead shark sightings. The variety of environments, including reefs, walls, and wrecks, ensures that every dive reveals something new and fascinating.

Malaysia's diving adventures extend beyond the vibrant marine life. The country features diverse diving styles, including shore dives, boat dives, and liveaboard adventures, allowing divers to tailor their experiences to their preferences. Seasonal variations also add a dynamic element—during certain times of the year, divers might witness rare phenomena like coral spawning or the migration of whale sharks. For those seeking adventure and discovery beneath the waves, Malaysia promises an unforgettable diving journey.

Power Plug Type
A, C, G, M
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
No tipping / Everybody / Tipping is not customary in Malaysia; restaurants often add a 10% service charge, eliminating the need to tip.
Currency
MYR
Dial Code
+60
Electricity
240 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+8 (MYT)

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Malaysia

Malaysia's rich marine biodiversity presents divers with a remarkable underwater experience. The vibrant coral reefs host a variety of reef fish, such as clownfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, which are commonly seen throughout the year. These colorful inhabitants create a mesmerizing spectacle for divers exploring the reefs around islands like Tioman and Redang.

Seasonal highlights include sightings of majestic green and hawksbill turtles, particularly prevalent during the nesting season from May to September. Additionally, divers may encounter blacktip reef sharks and occasionally the larger hammerhead sharks around Sipadan Island. Manta rays are a seasonal treat in some locations, typically spotted between April and November, adding to the allure of Malaysia's underwater treasures.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

4.5k Sightings
J
88
F
73
M
223
A
327
M
381
J
356
J
664
A
1.1k
S
663
O
301
N
126
D
142

Green Turtle

4.1k Sightings
J
99
F
119
M
307
A
363
M
500
J
410
J
542
A
659
S
445
O
399
N
97
D
121

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

3.9k Sightings
J
66
F
61
M
183
A
317
M
382
J
403
J
562
A
860
S
623
O
289
N
51
D
77

Hawksbill Turtle

2.9k Sightings
J
39
F
31
M
182
A
243
M
366
J
424
J
438
A
460
S
360
O
280
N
47
D
54

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

2.7k Sightings
J
20
F
47
M
119
A
174
M
277
J
381
J
537
A
588
S
376
O
144
N
11
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

16k Sightings
J
257
F
275
M
957
A
1.2k
M
1.6k
J
1.8k
J
2.3k
A
3.3k
S
2.3k
O
1.1k
N
304
D
334

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

11k Sightings
J
110
F
128
M
629
A
823
M
1.1k
J
1.2k
J
1.7k
A
2.4k
S
1.6k
O
952
N
233
D
218

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

10k Sightings
J
58
F
126
M
642
A
837
M
1.2k
J
1.2k
J
1.8k
A
2k
S
1.5k
O
794
N
119
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

9k Sightings
J
108
F
119
M
545
A
606
M
845
J
905
J
1.3k
A
2.1k
S
1.3k
O
763
N
182
D
174

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

7.1k Sightings
J
81
F
99
M
485
A
623
M
854
J
875
J
1.1k
A
1.4k
S
868
O
524
N
86
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

7k Sightings
J
31
F
85
M
342
A
688
M
906
J
826
J
1.2k
A
1.3k
S
986
O
414
N
53
D
66

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

6.7k Sightings
J
75
F
81
M
381
A
441
M
710
J
828
J
1k
A
1.4k
S
913
O
602
N
121
D
124

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

4.3k Sightings
J
63
F
47
M
234
A
376
M
510
J
441
J
714
A
854
S
565
O
338
N
93
D
102

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

3.9k Sightings
J
9
F
51
M
216
A
264
M
417
J
450
J
779
A
919
S
605
O
218
N
10
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

3.9k Sightings
J
28
F
52
M
208
A
371
M
432
J
453
J
659
A
837
S
529
O
232
N
33
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

3.8k Sightings
J
14
F
24
M
183
A
262
M
378
J
398
J
760
A
872
S
615
O
238
N
27
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

3.6k Sightings
J
9
F
49
M
188
A
230
M
388
J
445
J
699
A
815
S
545
O
199
N
16
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

3.2k Sightings
J
41
F
31
M
68
A
286
M
288
J
363
J
536
A
822
S
450
O
190
N
52
D
63

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

3k Sightings
J
22
F
42
M
108
A
199
M
257
J
330
J
561
A
771
S
451
O
186
N
34
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.9k Sightings
J
20
F
34
M
79
A
217
M
266
J
364
J
536
A
667
S
465
O
191
N
27
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

2.7k Sightings
J
53
F
84
M
103
A
164
M
208
J
280
J
408
A
697
S
354
O
159
N
95
D
111

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

2.5k Sightings
J
10
F
28
M
83
A
161
M
216
J
266
J
469
A
654
S
434
O
127
N
6
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

2.3k Sightings
J
18
F
29
M
80
A
164
M
269
J
274
J
464
A
551
S
261
O
146
N
15
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

1.8k Sightings
J
4
F
10
M
43
A
108
M
159
J
193
J
374
A
439
S
349
O
95
N
7
D
8

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.8k Sightings
J
13
F
20
M
178
A
192
M
178
J
254
J
334
A
339
S
136
O
99
N
13
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

1.8k Sightings
J
9
F
20
M
56
A
165
M
235
J
175
J
326
A
445
S
280
O
52
N
14
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

1.3k Sightings
J
19
F
12
M
50
A
121
M
176
J
163
J
182
A
327
S
141
O
86
N
32
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

Cuttlefish

1.2k Sightings
J
14
F
31
M
97
A
54
M
79
J
99
J
183
A
221
S
139
O
184
N
34
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

1k Sightings
J
6
F
31
M
28
A
86
M
83
J
103
J
210
A
283
S
126
O
51
N
14
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

921 Sightings
J
24
F
16
M
68
A
54
M
128
J
92
J
210
A
174
S
81
O
34
N
15
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

840 Sightings
J
8
F
6
M
23
A
97
M
134
J
98
J
125
A
181
S
82
O
45
N
14
D
27