Malaysia is a huge country divided into two; Malaysian Borneo to the east and Peninsula Malaysia to the west. The best of the diving is to be found around the islands of northern Borneo in the region of Sabah which offers a wealth of stunning scenery and wildlife experiences. To the west lies the atoll of Layang Layang, plunging 2000m into the South China Sea and where schooling hammerhead sharks perform mating rituals. To the north, whalesharks come into the seas around Lankayan Island to feed and to the east are three islands that together offer some of the best diving to be found anywhere, Kapalai, Mabul and Sipadan.

Mabul and Kapalai are famous for their critter and muck diving and Sipadan for its 1000 feet drop-off, labrynth of caves and the huge populations of turtles that breed there. To promote the conservation of Sipadan, it is no longer possible to stay on the island but the dive centres on Mabul and Kapalai access the Sipadan dive sites regularly. The number of divers visiting Sipadan is controlled on a rotational basis and a permit is needed to go there.