Diving in Malaysia: Sipadan & Perhentians

Best season: Perhentians: Mar–Oct · Sipadan: year-round (best Apr–Dec)
Water temp: 27–30 °C
Visibility: 10–30 m
Difficulty: Easy (Perhentians) · Moderate (Sipadan)
Beginners: Perhentians yes; Sipadan with experience
Open Water: ~MYR 1,200–1,600

Perhentian Islands (East Coast, Peninsular Malaysia)

Two small islands, Perhentian Besar (Big) and Perhentian Kecil (Small), in a marine park off the state of Terengganu. They're known for white-sand beaches, clear turquoise water and a relaxed backpacker atmosphere.

Great for learning: calm, shallow sites, plenty of dive centres, and good prices
Common sightings: turtles, blacktip reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, cuttlefish, moray eels, nudibranchs
Popular sites: Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea), Shark Point, the Sugar Wreck (a sunken cargo ship at about 18 m)
Snorkeling with turtles and baby sharks right off the beaches

Season: the islands effectively close from about November to February due to the northeast monsoon. Most resorts and dive centres shut and boats stop running. The diving season is roughly March to October, with the best conditions in the middle months.

Nearby Redang and Tioman islands offer similar diving with a slightly more resort-style feel.

Sipadan (Sabah, Borneo)

Sipadan is a tiny oceanic island that rises from 600 m of water, surrounded by dramatic walls. Jacques Cousteau famously praised it, and it's regularly ranked among the world's best dive sites.

Barracuda Point: tornadoes of chevron barracuda and bigeye trevally
Turtle Tomb and turtles everywhere: green and hawksbill turtles on almost every dive
Whitetip and grey reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish schools, occasional hammerheads
Drop Off, South Point, Hanging Gardens: vertical walls with sea fans and soft corals

Permits

Diving on Sipadan is limited by a daily permit system, allocated among licensed operators. Permits often need to be booked well in advance, and most operators require you to stay and dive with them for several days to get one permit day. There's no overnight accommodation on the island itself. Divers stay on nearby Mabul, Kapalai or in Semporna.

Level

Currents at Sipadan can be strong, sites are deep walls, and many dives start by descending into the blue. Advanced certification and some experience are recommended, and some operators require it. New divers can dive the nearby islands, Mabul and Kapalai, which are world-class for muck and macro (frogfish, mandarinfish, flamboyant cuttlefish) with easy conditions.

Other Malaysian diving

Layang Layang: a remote atoll with hammerheads (spring), for experienced divers.
Lankayan, Mataking, Pom Pom: quieter islands near Sabah.
Tioman: accessible from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, good for courses.

Typical prices (2026)

Open Water in the Perhentians: about MYR 1,200–1,600 (roughly US$270–360)
Fun dives in the Perhentians: about MYR 90–130 per dive, plus marine park fees
Semporna/Mabul packages including Sipadan: expect US$150–250+ per diving day on packages with accommodation
Sipadan permit fees are charged separately by operators

Practical tips

Plan Perhentian trips outside the monsoon closure
Book Sipadan permits early, especially for peak months
Check current travel advice for eastern Sabah, which has had periodic security advisories
Carry cash. The Perhentians have limited ATMs

Sample itineraries

Perhentians for new divers (7–10 days, April–September)

Fly to Kota Bharu, take a taxi to Kuala Besut and a speedboat to the islands. Complete your Open Water course (3–4 days), then do fun dives at Tokong Laut and the Sugar Wreck, and snorkel with turtles at Turtle Point.

Sipadan and Mabul (6–8 days, experienced divers)

Fly to Tawau via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, transfer to Semporna, and stay on Mabul or in Semporna. Spend two or three days muck diving around Mabul and Kapalai while you wait for your Sipadan permit day, and plan 3–4 dives on Sipadan itself.

Getting there

Perhentians: via Kota Bharu airport, then road (about 1 hour) and boat (about 30–45 minutes) from Kuala Besut.
Sipadan: fly to Tawau, drive about 1–1.5 hours to Semporna, then boat to the islands.

Frequently asked questions

Can beginners dive at Sipadan?

Sipadan's deep walls and currents are better suited to experienced divers, and many operators require Advanced certification. Beginners can enjoy the easy macro diving at nearby Mabul and Kapalai.

When are the Perhentian Islands closed?

Most operations close from about November to February because of the northeast monsoon. The best diving is roughly March to October.