Borneo Divers Mamutik, Kota Kinabalu

Easily reached via a quick boat trip from Kota Kinabalu, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park offers some of the best beginners diving in the region. Calm conditions, good visibility, and short boat rides make getting scuba certified here a laid-back experience. And, while the reefs aren't world-famous, they do play host to a wide variety of colourful coral, plenty of tropical reef fish, and the occasional sea turtle cruising the shallows. But, the real stars of the show in this protected marine area are the biggest fish in the sea - whale sharks. Each year during February, March and April, these massive filter feeders migrate through the park's waters and are often spotted swimming slowly on the surface as they feast on plankton.

Some of the marine park’s best diving can be found around Pulau Sulug and Pulau Mamutik. These islands feature sloping coral gardens and scattered rubble, making them a haven for macro finds and underwater photography, yet easygoing enough for first-time divers to enjoy.

Other diving near Kota Kinabalu

While the vast majority of this region's diving is done in the marine park, there are a variety of other day trips that can be arranged from Kota Kinabalu. Just minutes outside the park, twin submerged reefs named the Edgell Patches offer some outstanding muck diving. Slightly further afield, diving areas like Dinawan Island, Mantanani Island, and Pulau Mengalum offer pretty reefs, fewer divers, and of course plenty of pint-sized wildlife. Labuan Island, known as the wreck diving capital of Malaysia, can also be reached from Kota Kinabalu, making this a great destination for wreck and deep speciality courses as well. 

If you don't mind a long day on the water, most dive shops in Kota Kinabalu can also arrange trips to Pulau Tiga. This stunning tropical island is covered in dense jungle and is famous as the site of the TV-reality show ‘Survivor’. But, below the waves, it offers some of Sabah's best reef diving, far from the tourist crowds at easier to access sites.