Go to content 
Diving in Perhentian: Guide + Our experience with Medusa Divers
If you're planning a trip to Malaysia, you'll surely want to know that... Perhentian Islands They're on your list (and if they're not, they should be!). We've already told you about them in our guide to traveling to the Perhentian Islands These islands are a paradise, but if there is something that makes them truly special, it is what happens underwater.
Many people come looking only for relaxation and turquoise beaches, but we assure you that diving in Perhentian It's the ultimate experience to fall in love with the islands.
In this article we tell you everything you need to know: Best dive sites, what marine life you'll see, how the courses work and our experience with Medusa Divers, The trusted center we recommend. And hey, if you decide to go through us, 🎁🪼We've got you a little gift in the form of a discount!
Why dive in the Perhentian IslandsIsland life in its purest form
If there's one thing that made us fall in love with diving in Perhentian, it's that It's comfortable, easy, and familiar.Forget giant ships, early mornings, and cumbersome logistics. In Perhentian, the experience is... total island lifeYou hop on the boat barefoot straight from the sand, sail for just 10 or 15 minutes, and then you're diving! The dive sites are very close (below we'll tell you which ones were our favorites).
In addition, the water is always around 29°C or 30°C, paradise if, like me, you hate squeezing into a thick wetsuit. And, of course, marine lifeIn Perhentian you will enjoy seeing countless tropical fish, turtles, rays…
⚠️ This is for you! Detailed itineraries to explore Malaysia in 15 days or a more complete one of Malaysia and Singapore in 21 days
The best thing about everything being so close is that you don't "waste" the whole morning. Between getting ready, heading out, and diving, barely two hours pass. This is Ideal if you're traveling with friends or family who don't dive.You choose the pace, one dive a day or several, whatever best suits your trip.
When is the best time to dive in the Perhentian Islands?
The islands practically close during the monsoon season (November to January) due to the strong waves and rain, and the visibility is not good for diving. May to September This is when the best conditions occur, although you can visit the Perhentian Islands from February to October.
Medusa DiversOur trusted Spanish school
A friend recommended we dive with Medusa DiversAnd after a few dives in paradise, we were absolutely delighted! Just like everyone who passes through the center seems to be, You just have to Take a look at their Google reviews to see that we are not the only ones who recommend them.
Medusa Divers is the personal project of Anna and MikeleThey met in 2023 on the islands themselves. What was supposed to be a "passing through" trip for Anna ended up becoming a Dive Master course and eight months living in paradise with Mikele, who was getting her instructor certification.
That connection led to the birth of Medusa at the end of that season. They began operating at full capacity in 2024 and, without intending to, they were fully booked every month. Since then, the team has grown into the small family of 5 they are today: Saho, Maria, Zareef, Mikele and Anna.
In 2026 they took the definitive step by opening their own physical diving center in KampungIt's the ideal place if you're looking to dive in the Perhentian Islands and…
- Feel at home, good atmosphere and good vibes.
- Take courses or fun dives in your languagewhether it be Spanish, Catalan, Basque, English, French or Malay.
Courses and Fun Dives: For all levels (children included!)
Before showing you the best dive sites and what marine life you can see in the Perhentian IslandsLet us tell you what You can take courses or learn how to get started in diving.
- Diving for children (Bubblemaker): Are you traveling as a family? Children as young as 8 can have their first underwater experience.
- Christening: Perfect for a first taste of it for a couple of hours. Ideal if you want to experience it before committing to a course.
- Open Water Diver: A 2 or 3 day course to be able to dive to 18 meters. The maximum is 4 people. in a small group You will learn a lot more and feel very confident.
- Advanced Open Water: The next step is to go down to 30 meters and explore shipwrecks or do night dives.
In addition to these basics, you can use them for Rescue or different specialties. on the web You have the details, and if not, you can send them an email.
In our case, since we already had the title, we did fun dives, we are going to diving in Perhentian for the pure pleasure of diving and enjoy everything it has to offer.
🎁 Discount for our readers!
The Medusa girls have given us an exclusive 5% discount in your dives or courses. How to get it? It's super easy, you just have to tell them you're from viajeroslowcosteros or Alba and Pau when you write to them to make a reservation.
What to see diving in the Perhentian Islands
In addition to countless tropical fish These are some of the most incredible animals you can seeWe had encounters with all of them!
- Turtles: Greens and carHey, they're the queens of the island and they're super chill.
- Sharks: Especially the one from Puntas Negras (very shy) and the curious one bamboo shark, which usually hides under rocks during the day.
- Bumphead Parrotfish: Seeing a group of these giants grazing on coral reefs is an almost prehistoric experience.
- Stripes and Macro: Blue-spotted stripes watching from the sand and nudibranchs of a thousand colors for lovers of the small.
If after diving you're still hungry for more, there are also some amazing spots to explore. Snorkel independently at the best beaches in Perhentian.
Our favorite dive spots
To show you how many places you can dive in, we've included a complete map and more information about our four favorites.
- Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea): The most famous spot. A rocky pinnacle surrounded by schools of snapper and barracuda. It's the best place to see biodiversity and, with luck, a whale shark.
- San Choi (The Wrecks): Three sunken ships lie 18 meters deep. It's incredible to see how marine life has colonized the metal. There are thousands of fusiliers and bamboo sharks beneath the hull.
- Terumbu Tiga (The Three Brothers): Three large rock formations with passageways, crevices, and vibrant soft corals.
- D'Lagoon: Lots of blue-spotted stripes and clownfish (Nemo) among the anemones. We loved it!
Information practice and contact
We know that when you're planning a trip to these islands, diving is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some key tips to help everything run smoothly, based on our own experience there:
Where to stay and eat?
If you're going to dive in the Perhentian Islands with Medusa Divers, You can stay in either Kecil or Besar y In less than 10 minutes by taxi boat you will be at the diving center.
- To save you the trouble of searching, here's our list of budget hotels in Perhentian.
- And for after your dives, check out these places where to eat on the islandOr ask Medusa Divers for recommendations; they'll surely tell you their favorites.
Logistics and Transportation
Remember that to get to the islands you have to take a boat from Kuala BesutIt's a journey of just half an hour. We explain everything step by step in our guide about How to get to the Perhentian Islands.
Also, don't travel without good insurance.For exploring Malaysia and diving, we recommend the Iati Backpacker.
Reserve your place with a 5% discount
As we told you, Places at Medusa Divers fill up fast because the groups are very small.If you already have your dates set, don't leave it until the last minute.
To get the 5% discountWrite to them through your preferred channel and tell them you're coming from us.
- WhatsApp: + 34666646982
- Instagram: @medusadivers
- Email: medusadivers.info@gmail.com
We hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you enjoy the experience as much as we do. Traveling to the Perhentian Islands is a dream, but we assure you that Immersing yourself in its waters will that you'll fall completely in love with this corner of Malaysia. If you're up for it... diving in Perhentian With the Medusa girls, tell us about it in the comments!
