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In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about THE BEST place to go snorkeling in Langkawi. Before you read on – there have been some BIG changes recently which affect how to go Snorkeling in Langkawi in 2026 – please READ this guide CAREFULLY.
The Perdana Marine Park, located in the Northwest of Langkawi Island, is an innovative and ethical sea life conservation project. The Perdana Eco-marine park has a sea life education center, 3 salt water pools with various fish and aquatic species, a children’s water play park and much more.
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How do you go snorkeling in Langkawi?
If you are planning to go snorkeling in Langkawi there are TWO main options for you:
- You can go snorkeling at the Perdana Marine Park (Located in Langkawi).
- You can either take a Snorkeling trip to Pulau Payar (located around 35km south or Langkawi)
You will often see a cheaper Langkawi island hopping tour advertised. But this is not a good way to go snorkeling in Langkawi – the island hopping trip does not visit any good snorkeling spots. So the main options are Pulau Payar and the Perdana Marine Park. AND as of 2022 there are strict government restrictions on the number of people that can visit Pulau Payer each day. The company Langkawi Coral is no longer able to operate – therefore cheap tours to Pulau Payer are no longer available from Langkawi.
SUMMARY The best place to go snorkeling in Langkawi
| Perdana Marine Park | Pulau Payar |
| Great value for moneyRM100 adults and RM70 children | ExpensiveRM450 adults and RM250 children |
| Artificial salt pools with rock features | Natural reef – impressive but contributes to reef loss |
| Consistently good visibility | Visibility may vary |
| Great in any weather | Not recommended in stormy weather |
| Other experiences on offer (sea scooter, scuba diving for low prices) | Can do Scuba diving for around RM600 |
| Great facilities and amenities | Facilities and amenities variable |
What is the Perdana Marine Park?
In our view, the Perdana Marine Park is the best place to go snorkeling in Langkawi. The Perdana Marine Park ethical ocean Eco Park with artificial saltwater pools containing a wide variety of fish and other aquatic species. The Perdana Marine Park are committed to education, conservation and preservation:
- Education: Helping people learn about the beauty and importance of the natural ecosystems in the tropical oceans – especially through their education center
- Conservation: Conserving a range of species in a safe, spacious and protective environment
- Preservation: Protecting and preserving coral reef by providing an alternative way for people to experience and engage with ocean biodiversity
Each of the pools are relatively large and vary in depth. The shallowest pool is home to baby black tip reef sharks. It is possible to swim in this pool and see the sharks! This is probably more scary than it sounds – in reality, the sharks tend to be more scared of humans than humans are of them! It is possible to snorkel in each of the pools. The largest species at the Perdana Marine Park is the Giant Grouper weighing an impressive 60kg.
Where is the Perdana Marine Park located?
The Perdana Marine Park is located in the north west of Langkawi near the cable cars, Skytrex and the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls.
How do you get to the Perdana Marine Park?
Langkawi does not have a public transport system. Therefore the two main ways to get around Langkawi are by taxi or car rental. If you are planning to travel around Langkawi by taxi we recommend using the grab Taxi app. Most taxi journeys around Langkawi should cost between 5 ringgits 70 ringgits depending on the distance. Alternatively, you can rent cars in Langkawi starting at around 50 ringgits per day for a small older car. For a larger newer car expect to pay between 70 and 100 ringgit per day. There are many car rental companies operating at the ferry terminal in Langkawi. There is a large car park located at the marine park and it is free-to-use.
How do you book tickets to the Perdana Marine Park in Langkawi?
You can book your tickets on the Klook website. They offer a range of packages so you can add experiences like scuba diving to your ticket.
How much does it cost to go snorkeling in Langkawi?
A visit to the Perdana Marine Park is the cheapest way to go snorkeling in Langkawi. At present the entry ticket prices for the Perdana Marine Park are:
- Non-Malaysian adults RM100 and RM70 children (3 – 12 years old).
- Non-Malaysian adults RM80 and RM50 children (3 – 12 years old) and senior citizens (65 and above).
- Lockers cost RM30 (digital system, use credit on your wristband)
There are additional prices for some of the activities at the Perdana Marine Park. It costs an amazing RM60 guided dive (this is the cheapest diving we have ever seen in the world).
It also costs a very reasonable RM35 to try out the sea scooters (1 battery which lasts for around 30 minutes). This is a very fun way to explore the stunning pools. It is pretty simple and intuitive to learn, a short demo and you can just hold your breath and go.
Why is the Perdana Marine Park THE BEST place to go snorkeling in langkawi?
There are many reasons that we recommend the Perdana Marine Park as THE BEST place for snorkeling in Langkawi.
Open all year around whatever the weather
The Perdana Marine Park is a great way to go snorkeling in Langkawi because it is open throughout the year – whatever the weather and whatever the season. The advantage of visiting the Perdana Marine Park during stormy weather is that it will be more quiet and also clouds form a natural protection from the intense South East Asian sun. Bad weather should not detract from the visibility or experience.
Great underwater visibility
If you’re hoping to go snorkeling in Langkawi, one of the main problems if you try snorkeling in the ocean is the poor visibility. This obviously varies depending on the season and the exact location. However it is not unusual to find visibility of less than half a meter in the waters surrounding Langkawi.
In contrast, the Perdana Marine Park reliably has excellent visibility in its pools throughout the year. The normal visibility in the Saltwater pools at the Perdana Marine Park is around 10 metres. This enables you to see, experience and enjoy a wide range of fish, sea life and features at the bottom of the pools.
Large range of fish and aquatic species
One of the most impressive things about snorkeling in Langkawi is the amazing biodiversity of the tropical Waters. If you go snorkeling at the Perdana Marine Park, you can expect to see a wide variety of fish and aquatic organisms.
The salt water pools at the Perdana Marine Park have a wide range of fish including but not limited to clownfish (cute fish in finding Nemo), eals, albino Grouper fish, Giant Grouper fish, moorish idol fish, black tip reef sharks and much much more.
Snorkeling in Langkawi at the Perdana Marine Park is safe – as long as you respect the environment and follow the safety rules. If you’re planning to go snorkeling in Langkawi at the Perdana marine park – there is also a SHARK pool.
They have BABY black tip reef sharks in the shark pool. You can swim in the shark pool. They sharks tend to be afraid of people so generally keep a distance.
Ideal depth for snorkeling
The ideal depth to go snorkeling is around 2-5m. And this is the depth of the salt water pools at the Perdana Marine Park. When you snorkel in water between 2 and 5m deep, you can’t enjoy great visibility from the surface and fish will feel safe to swim below you if you’re at the surface. If you enjoy driving down to the bottom of the pool, 2-5m provides a nice challenge without too much pressure. We were particularly impressed with the use of features to make the bottom of the pools more interesting. For example in the 5m saltwater pool there is a shipwreck to explore at the bottom of the pool.
Other activities available at the Perdana Marine Park
Another reason to go snorkeling in Langkawi at the Perdana Marine Park is the range of other activities available. For example, it is impressively cheap to do a 20 – 30 minute guided scuba dive (RM60). This is a fantastic experience and uniquely cheap for a diving experience.
This is a great way to introduce yourself to the wonderful world of scuba diving under the care and supervision of a skilled and experienced instructor. Our favorite activity at the Perdana Marine Park was the sea scooter. A scooter is a fun device that you hold onto and buzz through the water. The sea scooter is pretty easy to learn.
The stuff at the park will be able to give you a demonstration and safety briefing and then just hold your breath and go. The sea scooter really does make you feel like you are flying. There really is so much more to Perdana than just snorkeling in Langkawi.
ALSO they have a kids fun pool (Eco kids swirl) with nets, slides and squirty water features. They also plan to have Sea Trek diving helmets – WATCH THIS SPACE.
Preserving natural coral reef
Another reason that we think the Perdana Marine Park is the best option for snorkeling in Langkawi is that it is eco-friendly. As an artificial pool, the conditions are controlled and monitored to ensure the wellbeing of the fish in the park. Sadly beautiful natural coral reefs are being destroyed by excessive tourism. In fact, Malaysia has recently put stringent restrictions in place to safeguard the coral and sea life on Pulau Payer. Only a limited number for people can visit each day. The main tour operator – Langkawi Coral no longer offers trips to Pulau Payer.
Great facilities and amenities
The Perdana Marine Park has the benefit of fantastic facilities and amenities. They have lockers (RM30 for a day), showers, toilets and changing rooms. Top up the credit on your wristband to purchase food and drinks. At the Perdana Marine Park you can also use snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel and fins) for FREE.
At the Perdana Marine Park there is also an indoor Sea Life Education and conservation Centre. Guides are available to help explain and facilitate learning. The Perdana Marine Park also has a fully equipped fitness suite offering classes and fitness sessions. Contact the Perdana Marine Park for more details.
You can buy food and drinks and rent lockers using the credit on your wristband. This can be topped up at the ticket office at the main entrance or at the Dive Centre inside the Marine Park.
Can you buy food and drinks at the Perdana Marine Park?
Yes you can buy a fantastic range of food and drinks at the Perdana Marine Park. In fact, in our opinion the food and drinks available at the Perdana Marine Park are some of the best theme park food options we have seen.
They have a surprisingly good range of food, at very reasonable prices. This includes healthy choices like Japanese style fish bowls.
Summary – What is the best place to go snorkeling in Langkawi?
In summary, we think that the Perdana Marine Park is the best place to go snorkeling in Langkawi for many reasons. The Perdana Marine Park is a fantastic experience. You can see a wide range of fish and sea life at the Perdana Marine Park, experience the fish in an environment that is interesting and similar to the natural environment. We also love the commitment to conservation, preservation and education at the Perdana Marine Park. AND you can do so much more than snorkeling in Langkawi at the Perdana Marine Park.
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Where are the best places to stay in Langkawi?
There are some EPIC things to do in Langkawi. If you are planning to go snorkeling in Langkawi you will also need to find a great place to stay.
The Four Seasons Resort
If you are looking for something exquisite and luxurious don’t let the Four Seasons Resort located on the stunning north east coast of Langkawi The Four Seasons Resort is arguably the most prestigious resort on Langkawi. It is the perfect place for a special occasion or celebration. It also have incredible Villas with private swimming pools.
Ambong Private Pool Villas
If you love Villas with private swimming pools and you’re looking for something more affordable don’t miss the amazing Ambong Pool Villas located in the tranquil southwest corner of Langkawi. They have some amazing deals at this stunning property making this place EXCELLENT value for money.
Ritz-Carlton
Also you may be interested to know that Langkawi has its own Ritz-Carlton. Although Ritz-Carlton is normally associated with Cosmopolitan glitz and glam, the Ritz-Carlton in Langkawi does Paradise in style. We absolutely love the Seaview at the properties and you can also stay in Villas with private swimming pools here.
Shell out (GREAT value for money)
If you are travelling on a budget and want an amazing hotel in a great location don’t miss the Shell Out Resort located right in the heart of Cenang Bay. This hotel offers amazing facilities, amenities and a great location for extremely competitive prices.
The Datai Resort
AND finally don’t miss the incredible Datai resort in Langkawi. This exclusive Resort is nestled in the wild jungle of the Northwest corner of Langkawi. Surrounded by tropical foliage and stunning scenery this Resort combines wild nature with superlative luxury. If you don’t believe us just check out the pictures on Agoda.
Wherever you choose to stay we hope you have an amazing time snorkeling in Langkawi
Where next?
Don’t miss the awesome SPLASH OUT waterpark in Langkawi AND don’t miss our guide on THE BEST places to go snorkelling in Malaysia
