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In this article we will reveal some of the best and worst places to go snorkeling in Malaysia in 2026.
Malaysia has some of the best snorkeling in the world. If you get to some of the best snorkeling spots in Malaysia at the right time of year, you can experience crystal clear waters, rich biodiversity and colorful coral reefs. In this article we will tell you everything you need to know to plan a trip to some of these amazing snorkeling spots. What time of year to go, where to stay, how much it costs and what to expect.
There are a few places around Malaysia where the snorkeling is quite disappointing. Some of the snorkeling spots in Malaysia have murky water, bleached coral and can either be overcrowded or overpriced.
Map of the best places for snorkeling in Malaysia
Summary of the best places for snorkeling in Malaysia
| Location | Summary | Rough prices |
| Redang island | Excellent biodiversity and calm clear water. Not much budget accommodation available. | RM100 – RM150 |
| Perhentian islands | Beautiful clear calm waters, excellent biodiversity. Great range of accommodation, nice peaceful island. | RM100 |
| Tioman island | Beautiful jungle hill island. Lots of great snorkeling sites. Remote and not developed. | RM60 – RM120 |
| Semporna | Visit several islands and snorkeling points. Not a nice town. Visit a beautiful viewpoint. | RM120 – RM200 |
| Mabul | Clear calm waters and excellent biodiversity. Not much budget accommodation available. | RM50 |
How do you book the cheapest snorkeling trips in malaysia?
The best way to get a cheap snorkeling trip in Malaysia is to organize your trip at the destination. Pre-booked snorkeling tours are likely to be more expensive because you will be paying a commission. However, if you book your trip when you arrive at the destination you will be able to shop around and get a great local deal. Also, we recommend arranging a shared snorkeling trip. It is possible to book private snorkeling trips. However private snorkeling trips are a lot more expensive because you need to pay for the whole cost of the boat. If you get a shared snorkeling trip it will be much cheaper.
TOP TIP: If you are looking for a cheap snorkeling trip in Malaysia – consider the price of accommodation when you work out your budget.
What things are included in a good snorkeling trip?
Snorkeling trips vary in terms of what they include. A good snorkeling trip will include:
- Life jackets
- snorkel, mask and fins
- Lunch
- Drinking water
- Several snorkeling sites
It is always worth checking exactly what is included when you book your snorkeling trip. We recommend booking your snorkeling trip at least one or two days in advance.
1 Redang island
Redang Island is the largest island in the Redang Marine park, located on the east coast of peninsula Malaysia. This Paradise island has a well-earned reputation for incredible biodiversity, crystal clear waters and beautiful coral reefs. It has been estimated that over 400 species of reef fish live in the waters across the Redang archipelago. Trying to decide between Redang and the Perhentians? They are both awesome. The Perhentians have a slightly more chilled hippy vibe and offer a better range of cheap accommodation. If you are keen to see sea turtles there are more at Redang.
What can you see in the waters at Redang island?
Barracuda, clownfish, hump head parrot fish, groupers, stingrays, green turtles and much more.
How do you get to Redang island?
You can take a ferry from Merang Jetty to Redang island for RM55 and the journey takes around 45 minutes. Redang island also has a small airport so it is possible to fly from Kuala Lumpur with SKS airlines.
When is the best time of year to go snorkeling on Redang island?
The best time to visit Redang is during the dry season from March – September
How much does a snorkeling trip cost on Redang island?
Snorkeling day trips cost RM100 – RM150
What are the best places to stay on Redang island?
The Taaras is one of the nicest resorts on Redang and they can also hook you up with a snorkelling trip. AND the Redang Pelangi resort also offers packages that include accommodation and snorkeling.
2 Perhentians (Kecil island)
The Perentian islands are amazing for snorkeling. The Perhentian islands are a set of small islands off the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. From Pulau Kecil you can organize snorkeling trips which visit several snorkeling sites around the island. The waters are crystal clear and packed with fish. These trips are fun, beautiful and affordable. We also love the variety of ocean landscapes that you can experience in a single trip. You are likely to visit several locations with different depths and a variety of marine animals.
What can you see in the waters at the Perhentian islands?
Hump head parrot fish, green turtles, black tip reef sharks, clown fish and much much more.
How do you get to the Perhentian islands?
You need to take a boat from Kuala Besut for RM35 (roughly £7 or $10)
When is the best time of year to go snorkeling in the Perhentian islands?
Visit the Perhentian islands in the dry season from March – November
How much does a snorkeling trip cost in the Perhentian islands?
You can book snorkeling trips on the Perhentian islands for around RM100 including 5 snorkeling sites
What are the best places to stay in the Perhentian islands?
D Rock Garden Resort also includes packages with accommodation and snorkeling trips.
3 Tioman island
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on how to organise a Tioman island snorkeling trip
Tioman Island is a beautiful mountainous island located off the southeast coast of peninsula Malaysia. The steep jungle hills and turquoise waters give this an iconic paradise aesthetic. There are lots of great snorkeling spots around Tioman island. The waters are generally very clear with visibility ranging from 10m – 30m. You can arrange snorkeling trips from Tekek Bay, Juara Bay or through most resorts on the island. There is some great snorkeling around Pulau Tulai and Malang Rock. Snorkeling trips may only include the boat transfer – so you may need to sort your own lunch and rent snorkel, mask and fins (around RM10).
What can you see in the waters at Tioman island?
Black tip reef shark, barracuda, clown fish, sailfish, angel fish, batfish, butterfly fish, stingrays and much more.
How do you get to Tioman island?
You can fly from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman on SKS airways. Alternatively travel overland to Mersing and take a ferry. You can find tickets starting for around RM50 and up (prices depend on the company). Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on how to get to Tioman.
When is the best time of year to go snorkeling on Tioman island?
The best time to visit Tioman is during the dry season from May – September
How much does a snorkeling trip cost on Tioman island?
A snorkeling trip in Tioman should cost in the range of RM60 – RM120 per person depending on your location, the number of snorkeling stops and the operator.
What are the best places to stay on Tioman island?
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on the best places to stay on Tioman island
The Japamala is very impressive but BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment. The Tioman Dive Resort is cheaper, really nice and can organise snorkelling and diving trips for you.
4 Semporna (Tun Sakaran Marine Park)
In Semporna you can book an island hopping snorkeling trip to the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The island hopping trips often take you to several islands and snorkeling spots. Trips may include Pom Pom island, Timba Timba island and the impressive viewpoint on Bohey Dulang island (for the viewpoint children under 12 years old are not allowed – so not a great option for families).
Semporna is located in Sabah, East Malaysia. It is worth being aware that Semporna is not a particularly nice town. However the snorkeling and diving in this region is excellent.
What can you see in the waters at Semporna?
You can see beautiful colorful reef. Barracuda, starfish, wrasse, surgeonfish, anemone fish, angel fish, butterfly fish and many more.
How do you get to Semporna?
The nearest airport to Semporna is Tawau. The bus journey from Tawau to Semporna is around 1-2 hours. Alternatively you can take a bus from Sandakan to Semporna (this takes around 6-7 hours).
When is the best time of year to go snorkeling in Semporna?
The best months to go snorkeling in Semporna are March – May and September – October
How much does a snorkeling trip cost at Semporna?
RM120 – RM200 per person
What are the best places to stay in Semporna?
HERE are the best places to stay – Island Backpackers OR Ang Lee Holiday Stay OR Room123
5 Mabul island
If you’re planning to visit Semporna – we recommend visiting Mabul island. This is a great spot for snorkeling and diving. Mabul island has lots of hotels and resorts with overwater bungalows. Around the island there are some great snorkeling spots; they have a couple of shipwrecks, some beautiful coral and an underwater cliff called lobster wall. The water is very clear and calm around Mabul island. Not far from Mabul you can visit Sipadan island, which has a reputation for some of the best diving in the world. Permits are pretty expensive for Sipadan.
What can you see in the waters at Mabul?
The biodiversity around Mabul is genuinely impressive. You can see beautiful colorful reef, starfish, frog fish, clownfish, angel fish, barracuda and much more. There are also lobsters and mantis shrimp here too. There is a very good chance of seeing sea turtles in the water at Marbul.
How do you get to Mabul?
From Semporna you will need to take a boat to get to Marbul. We recommend arranging an inclusive package that includes transfer, accommodation and food. Mabul Backpackers Hostel is the cheapest option.
When is the best time of year to go snorkeling in Mabul?
The best months to go snorkeling in Mabul are March – May and September – October
How much does a snorkeling trip cost in Mabul?
If you stay at Marbul Backpackers it costs RM50 for a snorkeling trip (roughly 1 hour)
What are the best places to stay in Mabul?
We recommend staying at the Mabul Backpackers Hostel
Where are the worst places for snorkeling in Malaysia?
We don’t like to be negative but we wanted to share some of the worst places for snorkeling in Malaysia so you don’t waste time and money planning to visit
Langkawi and Penang
You can’t really snorkel in the waters around Penang. The water is murky all year round and there is a high chance of jellyfish. Langkawi is slightly better than Penang – but still not great for snorkeling. Langkawi does have an innovative marine park where you can snorkel in salt water pools and see some awesome fish. To find out more check out our FULL article on the Perdana Marine Park Langkawi.
Pulau Payar Marine Park
Pulau Payar is well known for snorkeling and has been a popular spot to see reef sharks. However, there are stringent restrictions on the number of visitors allowed each day and tours are very expensive. So if you want good snorkeling we recommend heading east to Redang or the Perhentians.
Kota Kinabalu (Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park)
You can do an island hopping / snorkeling trip from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. This is a nice and relatively cheap trip if you happen to be in Kota Kinabalu. But we would not recommend traveling for this specifically. The snorkeling on this trip is not particularly impressive and it is quite restricted (you need to stay in netted areas). The waters also seemed relatively shallow with lots of sea urchins to avoid. There are some beautiful beaches on this trip and you can see some nice fish. But this is definitely not the best snorkeling in Malaysia. Find out more about island hopping in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
Looking for more inspiration?
Don’t miss our guide to the BEST things to do in Malaysia.
