Malaysia has been the home for local divers for many years however only in the last 20 years or so, since the discovery of Sipadan island off the east coast of Sabah, it has become a top Asian diving destination. Malaysia offers a vast array of scuba diving locations ranging from vertical walls to fringing coral atolls to wreck dives and even macro and muck diving.

Malaysia is over 800km long, has a mountainous centre with spectacular limestone outcrops, a long neck and tapering tail. East Malaysia comprises the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah. In recent years, it is this wonderful environment that is driving the Malaysian tourism industry. To the divers, it is the idyllic pearl-like drops of coral islands in the South China Sea off Sabah & Sarawak that are the great attractions. The diving at Sipadan, Kapalai and Layang Layang conjure thoughts of swirling schools of barracuda and jacks to divers the world over. However the Malay peninsular has plenty of its own underwater gems to explore including Redang and Tioman.

We have covered most of the dive areas of Thailand however there are some other excellent spots that fall into this category. Further north of The Similans lie a number of world class dive sites in Thai waters. Namely Koh Bon, Koh Surin, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Great visibility and big pelagics can be found here. Further south of Phuket are a couple of quieter and less developed dive sites that are also worthy of a mention. If you know of any we have missed out please let us know and we will add them.

Koh Lipe is the only inhabited island in the Butang group in the Tarutao National Park, deep south Thailand. The protected archipelago is made up of at least 45 islands, Koh Tarutao being the largest and the Butang group lies west of this. Diving here is realtively unspoilt and can be rewarding with at least seven discovered submerged pinnacles and a multitude of other dive spots in the area including 8 Mile Rock ; a pinnacle covered in soft coral dropping to nearly 50 metres deep and Hin Chabang with its wonderful soft coral. All regular Andaman marine inhabitants can be found here including those big pelagics that we all yearn to see.

Khao Lak is located on the Andaman coast around 100km north of Phuket and is widely considered to be the gateway to the Similans. The dive operators in Khao Lak offer speedboat trips and can get you to the Similans in around an hour and twenty minutes. Diving from here is a little more expensive here but it does offer the convenience of getting to and from premier dive sites without the hassle and extra expense of booking a liveaboard trip.

The town itself has largely recovered from the 2004 tsunami and is a pleasent place for a relaxing holiday with several good beaches, plenty of resorts and a number of fine restaurants.

The tiny island of Koh Phi Phi has been a backpacker destination for years, not surprising then that it is also a great diving destination. Being centrally located it serves as a great base to explore local dive sites and those further afield at Phuket, Krabi and Lanta. With crystal clear waters, fringing reefs, local islands and a laid back beach atmosphere Koh Phi Phi truly is a paradise. We are unsure about the current infrastructure on the island since the December 26th tsunami hit. Local authorities are doing all they can to rebuild the island to its former beauty.

Phuket can be considered the dive hub of the Andaman. With countless number of dive operators offering daytrips and liveaboards to pretty much every dive spot in the area and beyond you really are spoilt for choice. With an international airport, more accommodation than you can shake a stick at and nightlife that never stops Phuket is the place to be. Choose between the local dive sites, further afield to Koh Phi Phi, a liveaboard to the Similans, or even the Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks, its all available from Phuket.

Although Koh Lanta is still in Krabi province it is far enough away to have its own section. Some of the best dive sites in Thailand can be reached from Lanta. With something for everyone from the outer rocks and islands for the experienced diver to calm gentle fringing reefs for the avid snorkeller. The island also offers pristine white sand beaches, lush tropical rainforrests and cascading waterfalls.

Krabi offers more than just spectacular scenery above the surface, go below and you'll find an abundance of marine life awaits. Although some dive sites have suffered recent tsunami damage the deeper waters remain relatively intact. Krabi can serve as a good base to explore the smaller local offshore islands or go further afield to Koh Phi Phi. Most of the local dive operators are located at Ao Nang, a coastal resort around 30 minutes drive from Krabi town.

Koh Samui doesn't have the quality of diving found further north at Koh Tao but it does provide a base to get there or explore some of the more unspoilt dive sites in the area. With trips out to the National Park or the liveaboard option to the remote southern islands Samui is the island or choice. Accommodation ranges from beach bungalow to five star resort.

Koh Tao is more than 21 square kilometers and is located around 70km east off the coastline between the Thai provinces of Surat Thani and Chumphon. It is easily accessible by boat from Chumphon on the mainland and Koh Pha-ngan to the south. High speed catamaran services ply the waters nowdays making the transfer swift and efficient unlike the overnight slow boat of days gone by. The name means Turtle Island in Thai because in the past the waters surrounding it were rich in hawksbill and green sea turtles, though a lot rarer nowdays they still can be spotted while diving around the island's many dive sites. Over the last ten years or so the tropical beauty and abundant marine life of Koh Tao has increased its popularity and it is now the premier spot in the country for learning to dive.

Chumphon province is one of the lesser known diving spots of Thailand. With around 50 islands to choose from there is no limit to what you may find under the surface. With an abundance of marine life, caves and swimthroughs on offer the area can also boast relatively unspoilt diving as it has not been hit by the mass tourism and development that you'll find in Pattaya and Phuket. Although you won't get as good visibility as you can on the Andaman side, if dived at the right time of year, Chumphon can be extremely rewarding both to the novice and experienced diver.

More info on Chumphon can be found here: Chumphon

About the Dive Site
This area is also known as Shek Ngau Chau. The site consists of a large cluster of rocks near the middle of Mirs Bay. Some of the reef dries at low tide adding to the diversity of marine life that can be found there. It is one of the best dive sites in Hong Kong if you like coral and a large variety of sea life. Large fish frequent this area, including sharks. Nudibranchs and featherstars are common. The normal dive practice is to swim along the long deep gullies that make up the reef.

An easterly wind usually makes this site difficult to dive and visibility deteriorates rapidly.

Hazards & Warnings
The normal warnings for diving in Hong Kong apply to this area.

This area is fairly isolated so special consideration needs to be given to weather conditions.

Sections of the reef can have a lot of line and net fishermen trying their luck if the weather is good.

There is a lot of old lines and nets in this area so care needs to be taken to avoid entanglement.

This area is prone to large swells that may be larger than the water movement visible from the surface.

There have been numerous reports of reasonable sized sharks being sighted in this area. Normal shark precautions should always be applied when diving in this area.

The area is prone to quick weather changes, so it is important that some sort of diver recall procedure is agreed on before starting dives here.

A diver marker and/or emergency diver "safety sausage" is necessary since tidal flow may separate divers from boats.

Getting to Breaker Reef
You need a large private boat to reach this dive site. The closest convenient pier is either at Hebe Haven (Pak Sha Wan) or Sai Kung.

It is important to understand that this area is very exposed. Any easterly wind will normally stir up this area making it rough for boats to get there and even worse for divers trying to enjoy the area.

This area is considered very remote and close to the Hong Kong/Chinese border/territorial waters.

Aberdeen's strait (between Ap Lei Chau and Hong Kong Island)

About the Dive Site
This site involves waters between 8-18 meters and is extremely varied. The strait hugs the Hong Kong Island landmass and is defined by the Ap Lei Chau island. At the Western end of the strait you what amounts to a major shipping lane and a heavily trafficked sea lane.

The site varies simply because there is a decent amount of area to drop anchor and dive; dependant on diver experience and equipment available. The underwater topography here offers multiple plateau's that offer decent dive locations at varying depths.

To locate and successfully navigate dive sites in this area of Hong Kong it is recommended that intermediate to advanced divers equipped with underwater diagnostic equipment to gauge and define the underwater environment prior to diving.

That being said, the dive sites here can offer diverse and sometimes hard to find aquatic life. Minimal hard corals and minor fish schools can be found in warmer months.

Sadly parts of this strait are somewhat polluted to varying levels. You will not find many fishing nets or other such hazards, but residual long term pollution is obvious. By the same token; how often do you have the opportunity to get an underwater photo of a diver on an upright, intact porcelain toilet?

This dive location, though certainly not the premiere dive location in Hong Kong is recommended for intermediate to advanced divers who plan on diving Hong Kong waters. For any diver seeking to understand the varying underwater ecology of Hong Kong, this is essential diving.

Hazards & Warnings
The normal warnings for diving in Hong Kong apply to this area.

This area is subject to tides and current flows coming from as far away as the Kowloon landmass and based on the prevailing winds and tides.

Furthermore, be advised that if you are diving on the Western end of the strait; that you are diving very near a major international shipping lane.

Hong Kong is slightly different to most of the other dive sites in Asia. The visibility often isn't as good, the water is cooler and there is less to see. That said it doesn't mean that Hong Kong should be overlooked as a dive destination as it still holds a few treats of its own.

There are many factors that influence diving in Hong Kong.

The area is basically sub-tropical. This means that some sort of thermal protection may be required when diving here. In the winter months a semi-dry or dry suit is probably the best type of exposure protection to have. A 3-5mm wet suit should be sufficient to make the diving comfortable during the warmer months.

Hong Kong is surrounded by sea. The approximate sea surface area is 1650 sq km, and dotted with some 200 islands. The rocky reefs and coral comunities of Hong Kong shelter a diverse and exquisite range of fish and marine fauna. Over 300 species of reef fish and 80 species of corals (hard & soft) have so far been recorded.

Underwater visibility in Hong Kong does vary and is subject to prevailing wind and tide conditions. Depths also vary from shallow 5-10m dives, to deep 20-30m dives. There are a variety of artificial reefs and offshore islands to dive on. Small coral communities can also be found along the eastern coastline, which make ideal snorkeling spots.

Most public beaches in Hong Kong have shark nets to protect the swimmers from sharks. Once the sea surface temperature rises to above 23C large sharks start to patrol the local waters. There have been attacks on swimmers and spearfishing divers. Most of these attacks have occured around Clearwater Bay. But shark sightings have been reported all around the SAR. It is a good idea to check on shark sightings before diving in Hong Kong. Several groups of divers here use Shark Pods for protection during the so called shark season. Note that there has been some effort in trying to get permission to dive within the shark nets. So far all private applications have been turned down. If you are a member of the Hong Kong Underwater Association you can apply to dive inside some of the shark nets but even this is discouraged by the beach life-guards.

Hong Kong has several marine animals that need to avoided. The most dangerous include sea snakes (rare), cone shells (common) and blue ring octopus (some). Other animals to try and keep clear of are the lions mane jellyfish, white sea nettle and sea urchans.

Other matters to consider are the weather - sometimes unpredictable, and the tidal currents. The latter consideration required so that you do not finish up in surfacing in Chinese waters and having to explain yourself to the Chinese Water Police or Navy. In addition you should always dive with a 'safety sausage' or surfacing buoy and use it when you are unsure where you are surfacing. Be mindful of currents especially when diving near Hong Kong's busy shipping lanes.

General Information

Most divers in Hong Kong tend to join or associate with one or more of the many diving clubs or associations located here. The two major ones are listed at the bottom of this page.

These groups either have their own boats or arrange them along with limited transportation to and from a pick-up point. It is also normal for them to provide tanks and sometimes weights at a fee. This service normally operates during the whole diving season. Some clubs run diving trips and activities all year round. You really need to contact the club or association to check.

Private car access to the Sai Kung Country Park is by Permit only. Drivers need to go to the Permit Office located inside the Pak Tam Chung Visitors Center next the barrier. All permits must be prearranged and can only be collected during times the visitors center is open (9:00am to 4:30pm, 7 days a week).

There is no cost or fee, but you basically need to know someone that lives inside the park, or rent/own property there yourself to qualify for a permit. These permits are zoned to areas and do not allow you to travel on Water Authority roads around the High Island Reservoir. There are random Police checks done inside the park to ensure permits are in order, these are usually roadblocks and normally late at night.

Moving about on land

Driving in Hong Kong can be an experience in itself. Parking is another problem and, even in remote places, is illegal in all areas except those designated as car parking areas. The traffic police tend to target private cars and will issue multi fixed penalty tickets to all cars illegally parked. This includes vehicles clearly not causing any obstruction or danger to anyone or anything.

If you do not have access to a car or can arrange a lift with another diver then getting to a diving site or pickup point can be difficult. There is a very comprehensive public transport system but this is designed to move people not divers with gear. Taxies are not always that enthusiastic about transporting wet diving bags and diving cylinders. Being polite and looking pathetic has been known to help if the situation looks hopeless. The public buses, well lets say that there is a lot of room for improvement. However, politeness, persistence and a little extra money will usually encourage a minibus driver to allow you to get you and your equipment to and from a diving site.

An alternative to this is to hire a small private van. This is particularly cost effective if there is a small group of divers visiting an area at the same time. You may need someone fluent in Cantonese to help with the arrangements. Some names and contact numbers have been included at the bottom of this page, but this list is no way extensive and some of this information may outdate quickly.

Moving about on the water

Small boats or walla-wallas can be hired from many of the public piers in Hong Kong and from all of the typhoon shelters. These boats vary in size and can hold between four and eight divers comfortably. These boats are normally used by the locals for fishing and are hired by the half and/or whole day. The operators will also ferry divers to nearby dive locations. The normal practice is to see the boat first, ask the price if it is suitable and then bargain. Remember that unless you are doing a shore dive you will have to climb back onto the boat after the dive. Make sure that the freeboard is not too high.

Hong Kong has a network of public ferries (Hong Kong Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company) that ply between most of the major outlying islands. These ferries will take divers with gear but normally make sure that you pay a luggage surcharge. You should arrange to get to the ferry pier at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure to arrange this. Ferry schedules will be added here shortly, please check back soon.

There is also a network of Kaido ferries that overlap most of the public ferry destinations and many more less popular places. Schedules are fairly fixed and surcharges will normally apply for diving gear and tanks.

If you are going out with a large group or join one of the Hong Kong scuba diving clubs listed below, you will usually go out on a larger chartered boat that the club hires for the day. The price can range from $100-$400 HKD (about $12.50 - $50 USD) per person for the day, so be sure to check the arrangements ahead of time.

Cambodia is largely unknown as a scuba diving destination however it can offer some pleasant surprises in its waters. With such a short coastline and one major resort town it stands to reason that all of Cambodia's diving is done from Sihanoukville. There are a number diving areas from inner islands to outer islands, reefs and rocky outcrops. Underwater terrain and marine life is comparable to the Gulf of Thailand but with the distinct advantage of not having previously been dived thousands of times. Local operators are still discovering new dive sites and the waters of Cambodia are true virgin scuba territory.

Situated a couple of hour's drive south of Manila and slightly north of Anilao is the peaceful town of Nasugbu. Facing the South China Sea, the area has plenty of good diving and bearing in mind its proximity to the capital, is very quiet.

Fortune Island
This privately owned resort a few kms out to sea is the most famous in the area. There are three dives worthy of mention.

Blue Holes has a fantastic array of marine life. Made up of three sink holes which taper to an open cavern, you can expect to find large groupers, sweetlips, parrotfish, angelfish and damselfish in abundance. And that's just the start. The array of corals is exceptional, with gorgonians, barrel sponges and anemones everywhere. You may also be lucky enough to see Hawksbill turtles and several species of pelagic fish.

Years ago, an old freighter went down off the island and it lies in 20m of water. The box sections still remain and they are a photographer's dream. Be careful of the large scorpionfish and lionfish that live here.

Bat Cave is worth a visit to experience a cuttlefish breeding ground. There are actually bats that hang around in this semi-submerged cavern!

Sumo Bank
Situated about an hour by boat from Nasagbu, this dive is certainly worth making. Coral, both soft and hard, is abundant and various species of shark frequent the area. The dive is for the experienced only.

Pink Wall
Diving here is good, although visability can vary. This drop-off, starting at 8m, is festooned with pink corals. The area is teeming with small tropical fish and the occasional turtle.

Fuego Point
This site marks the spot where a galleon sank. Although it is not the best in the area, you will find many small tropical fish. Tuna and shark also patrol the area.

The above is just a snapshot of what Nasugbu has to offer. You will be able to discover many other interesting dives by enquiring locally. The area is definitely worth visiting to get away from the more busy parts in the south of Luzon.

With Luzon to the north and Mindoro to the west, this circular island is famous world-wide for its annual Moriones festival in April. The diving here and further afield in the remoter areas of the Sibuyan Sea can be spectacular.

There are wrecks, walls and reefs to suit all tastes and opportunities for photography are excellent. A large percentage of this area is still largely unexplored and to reach the best sites, you will have to arrange dive safaris from either Puerto Galera or Boracay.

Marinduque Island
Directly around the island itself, there are a number of sites worth mentioning. Natanco, to the north, has good walls and drift diving. Corals and gorgonians are abundant. Closeby, is the wreck of a Japanese torpedo boat. It rests in 36-40m of water and a number of features remain intact, including a multi-barrelled gun. This dive is not for beginners.

Off the west coast, is Balthazar with a cave at 20m that is worth exploring, but be careful of the stonefish. Nearby, nightdiving is good. To the south is Elephante Island, a private resort with good walls, coral formations and fish life. Currents can get strong here and depths reach 40m. Conditions for photography are good. To the east, is Torrijos with plenty of canyons and fissures to explore and where the fish life is prolific. You can expect to encounter barracuda, grouper, tuna and shoals of tropical fish.

Maestre de Campo Island
Situated to the southwest of Marinduque, this small island has some good sites, one a wall on the west coast and another the wreck of the MV Mactan, a ferry boat, off the east coast. The wreck is in good condition on a sandy slope that descends to 35m. It is home to a variety of fish, including grouper, barracuda, lionfish and plenty of tropical species. Off the south coast, you will find more interesting Japanese wrecks and the remains of some WW2 planes.

Banton Island
Slightly further southeast, Banton offers some great diving in pristine conditions. On the west coast, you will discover an amazing array of coral and fish life. Large pelagics, including shark and rays can be seen here. Dolphins are also common. You will find a world-class wall on the east side, but as conditions can become unpredictable, it's best to visit this exposed area between February and May. There are other truely spectacular sites around this small island that make it well worth the effort of getting to.

Sibuyan Sea
The outlying areas to the south and east of Marinduque are fairly unexplored, but those lucky and adverturous enough to have ventured there report some tremendous diving. Puerto Galera is the best place from which to organise trips to these frontier areas.

Considered to be the gateway to the south, Davao province is located at the south of Mindanao Island. It is the home of the infamous durian fruit and its capital is ranked as one of the largest in the world, by land area. It is serviced by an international airport.

Whilst there is little to mention in the way of diving around Mindanao as a whole, this specific area is worth checking out. Most of the sites are located around Samal and Talikud Islands in the Davao Gulf, east of the capital. There are also a couple further south off the tip of General Santos.

There are a multitude of individual sites around the islands, many of which are very similar, so we have focused on the main ones, with mention being made of the others.

Situated off the northern tip of Panay Island in the Visayas, Boracay has long been renowned for its superb beaches and relaxed atmosphere. The diving's not bad also.

There are some 15 sites around the island with a well established infrastructure for beginers and the more experienced alike. The island is one of the best places in the Phillipines on which to learn the sport and you will find courses that will suit the novice to the Divemaster. In the following sections, we have concentrated on the main sites, adding short descriptions of others in their vicinity. Dive operators here can also organise trips to more inaccessable locations in the Sibuyan Sea and surrounding areas.

If you're looking for great beaches, a relaxing time, some nightlife and good diving, Boracay fits the bill anywhere in the world.

Leyte is situated in the Eastern Visayas and measures some 180km in length by 65km in width. It lies to the northeast of Cebu and the north of Bohol.

All the diving here is concentrated at the southern part of the island and can effectively be split into three main areas - around and off the coast of Limasawa Island, Pananon Island and Libagon.

All the above areas offer good diving, but southern Leyte is best known for the chances to come across whale sharks that migrate through these waters. The best time to see them is from November to the end of May.

The area is still being discovered and as a result, facilities are not as well developed as other parts of the Philippines, but they are improving all the time.

Leyte is also steeped in military and naval history. It was the island onto which General Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore uttering the immortal words "I have returned". What was left of the Japanese fleet was destroyed around the island, but wreck diving is not possible due to the depths and uncertain locations of the warships.