Malaysia in April with family

[Lasenza]

Hi,

I need some advice with regards to diving in Malaysia in April next year. I have been diving on the Perhentians (5 weeks) and Tioman Island (1 week) about 15 years ago (those times when I had no kids). Now I would like to come back with my kids (12, 10) next year.

The elder one is already qualified (30 dives), the younger one would like to do his license. I'm a DM with 600 dives and my husband is AOWD with 100 dives.

We will fly into Malaysia from Switzerland and have 18 days in total (including arrival and departure day). Since it has been soo long since I was last in Malaysia I am looking for advice on where to go. We could get a good flight into KL and travel from there either to the Perhentians or fly into Singapur and go to Tioman.

We are thinking about going to one island only, but could also imagine 2 different islands or even combining diving & sightseeing. However, we will be travelling with our own diving equipment, so doing some sightseeing might not be the best option...

What we are looking for:
-diving for beginners (up to 12m), ideally housereef, good snorkeling
-visibility should not be less than 10m, ideally more
-accomodation does not need to be luxurious, but we are no backpackers anymore
-no party area, not too overcrowded

I was also thinking about Borneo (where I have not been before) to see Orang utans and combine it with diving there, but the extra travelling from West Malaysia to Borneo is putting us off. Has anyone been in that area and could suggest a good combo?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Silvie

 

[ScubaBackpacker]

Hi,

I need some advice with regards to diving in Malaysia in April next year. I have been diving on the Perhentians (5 weeks) and Tioman Island (1 week) about 15 years ago (those times when I had no kids). Now I would like to come back with my kids (12, 10) next year.

The elder one is already qualified (30 dives), the younger one would like to do his license. I'm a DM with 600 dives and my husband is AOWD with 100 dives.

We will fly into Malaysia from Switzerland and have 18 days in total (including arrival and departure day). Since it has been soo long since I was last in Malaysia I am looking for advice on where to go. We could get a good flight into KL and travel from there either to the Perhentians or fly into Singapur and go to Tioman.

We are thinking about going to one island only, but could also imagine 2 different islands or even combining diving & sightseeing. However, we will be travelling with our own diving equipment, so doing some sightseeing might not be the best option...

What we are looking for:
-diving for beginners (up to 12m), ideally housereef, good snorkeling
-visibility should not be less than 10m, ideally more
-accomodation does not need to be luxurious, but we are no backpackers anymore
-no party area, not too overcrowded

I was also thinking about Borneo (where I have not been before) to see Orang utans and combine it with diving there, but the extra travelling from West Malaysia to Borneo is putting us off. Has anyone been in that area and could suggest a good combo?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Silvie

I just returned from about 3 weeks traveling in Malaysian Borneo, where I combined diving around Semporna with terrestrial wildlife viewing. I flew into Kota Kinabalu and started overland from there. I think with your age kids they would find the combination of land and sea interesting: rehab facilities for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, and Kinabatangan river, perhaps with Danum valley ecolodge depending on your resources. I'm not sure about diving around Semporna with young kids, however. My kids didn't start diving until 18 and 20 so can't advise about that. Believe april/may best diving conditions for 19 or so islands around Semporna, however, so may be already booked with dive reservations. See the Sipadan thread. There is diving around Kota Kinabalu, but I didn't do any.

 

[Lasenza]

Hi Scubabackpacker - thanks for your response! However I was looking for a recommendation on where to dive with beginners in Malaysia with decent views;-)

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

Kota Belud is where you want to go! Check out Bigfins divers. It's super gorgeous there, pristine Coral reef and beach.

 

[Anna1990]

We did a combo diving/Borneo trip in September last year. We spent 4 days 3 nights in Redang doing some diving then flew back to KL and on to Sandakan to go to the Orangutan sanctuary and Kinabatangan river for another 4 days 3 nights. The travel was really not too bad, yes you spend a day getting from diving to nature but its not a difficult trip - just a boat, plane then short car ride to get from Redang to Sandakan.

I've never dived Borneo but I always thought it was less suitable for beginners than the East Coast of the Peninsular like Redang and Perhentians. Redang has a house reef, not sure if visibility on the house reef is a guaranteed 10m (especially in shoulder season) but it's perfectly ok and you have some great sights further out which are really enjoyable for the beginner/intermediate divers - our trip was me and my husband with about 50 dives and 4 friends who were on their first dive trip. As you've got longer you could even add on some Borneo diving at the end of your trip.

We stayed at Coral Redand Island Resort and dived with Divers Den who I only have good things to say about. The instructors with Divers Den are great and they are experienced with diving with young people.

Edit: meant to add - if you decide to go to Perhentians avoid staying on long beach on the small island (Perhentian Kecil) - it's expensive, full of backpackers and very noisy. Go for somewhere nice on the big island is my recommendation.

 

[Dinorax]

Edit: meant to add - if you decide to go to Perhentians avoid staying on long beach on the small island (Perhentian Kecil) - it's expensive, full of backpackers and very noisy. Go for somewhere nice on the big island is my recommendation.

I'd second this. Perhentian Kecil's (small island) long beach has a bigger night life and famous for backpackers or solo travelers/divers, however, it is cheaper as compare to other places hence the backpacking crowd. Imagine the competition between almost 10 dive centers along the same beach. The other side of Perhentian Kecil would be quieter with similar pricing.

Group/family travelers would frequent Perhentian Besar (big island) where bigger resorts with "private" beach are situated. Priced slightly higher but heard its a great relaxing quiet place, especially groups with seniors or younger kids.