1. Borneo
2. Peninsular East Coast
3. Peninsular West Coast
Oh yes lets not forget the disputed Spratley Islands of which Layang Layang is part of.
Where to dive in Malaysia depends on what time of year because of the monsoons.
April to September - dive the east coast and Borneo (and Layang Layang)
November to March - dive the west coast
BORNEO
KOTA KINABALU
My first ever dives in Malaysia were here back in February 1991 with a friend Lawrence (of Arabia ... ha ha) from Riyadh. We spent some time celebrating Chinese New Year with gusto and then proceeded to
climb Mt. Kinabalu, a two-day effort, but worth it.
I returned in February 1992 with my friend Kees and dived MID REEF and RON'S REEF, viz was only 2-3 metres and we lost the divemaster on the second dive.
PULAU SIPADAN
This is the ultimate (or was!). I dived here in 1992 with my mate Kees and made some very good friends on this trip. From Kota Kinabalu we took a very early morning flight (4.00am) to TAWAU, a 2 hour bus trip
to SEMPORNA, then a 2 hour boat trip before landing at SIPADAN, just in time for lunch. The trip gave us time to get to know the other people in our group with whom we would be diving for the rest of the week.
The diving is outrageously fantastic, incredible viz (30metres) and so much to see, I really must return to photograph the place as I was using video during that period.
From the end of 2004 the island will be cleared of all resorts and diving there will be limited to trips from neighbouring Mabul
EAST COAST
PULAU REDANG
Done 4 trips here so far, first in September 1992 with Terry, returning in August 1994 with Colin and Sarah, then in August 1998 on my own (well no buddies, but taught my daugher how to snorkel), and more recently in August 2004.
The '94 trip was a bit of a disaster I flooded both my Nik V's and my 20mm lens ... $$$
Planning to return in July 2009 with Yanni
Anyway the diving ... just click below for details on my trips
REDANG 1996
WEST COAST
To be honest I do not think there is really much point in diving this side as viz is generally poor, and probaly by the time it gets better you will be in Thailand!
PULAU PAYAR
I have dived at this island several times, twice from Langkawi, and once with a friend Jeff on his boat from Penang. Personally I prefer to travel from Penang on Jeff's boat.
Viz can be variable from 3-10 metres, depending upon the tide. There are some wrecks at PULAU KECA nearby however the fish life is fairly good as this is a marine park. Diving in front of the beach area is not too bad, plenty of small groupers around, anemone fish, gobies with shrimps and of course nudibranchs.
PULAU SONG SONG
This island is near Penang on the west coast of the peninsula. Unfortunately poor viz (1 metre) and lots of sea urchins made this a less attractive dive. My buddy Kees and I had to use a buddy-line in order not to lose each other.
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