SCUBA.COM.SGScuba Diving in Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei
Scuba diving starts here: find SSI dive centres and courses, compare dive sites from Tioman to Sipadan, and plan your first or next dive.
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158 SSI centres across 24 areas in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
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Scuba diving in Singapore
Singapore's own dive sites sit in the Southern Islands, a short boat ride from the city. Most local centres train in pools and run their open-water dives and trips across the Causeway to Johor, Tioman and further afield.
Scuba diving in Malaysia
Malaysia offers some of Southeast Asia's best diving: the marine-park islands of the east coast, and the walls and muck sites of Sabah, which dive year-round.
Diving in Brunei
Brunei's diving is centred on the coast near Bandar Seri Begawan, where boats from Muara and Serasa reach wreck dives and offshore reefs. It is a quiet, uncrowded destination close to Sabah and Labuan.
What is scuba diving?
Scuba diving means exploring underwater while breathing from a tank of compressed air through a regulator — “scuba” stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Unlike snorkelling at the surface, it lets you stay underwater for the length of a tank, swim alongside turtles and reef fish, and explore coral gardens, walls and wrecks.
How to start scuba diving
- Try it first. SSI Try Scuba (from age 8) is a short session in a pool or calm, shallow water with an SSI professional — no experience needed.
- Get certified. SSI Open Water Diver (from age 10) combines online learning, pool sessions and four open-water dives. Afterwards you can scuba dive with a buddy to 18 m, anywhere in the world, for life.
- Keep learning. SSI Advanced Open Water Diver and specialties such as Enriched Air Nitrox and Perfect Buoyancy open up deeper sites, wrecks and longer dives.
In Singapore, most centres teach the pool sessions locally and take students to Malaysia for their open-water dives. See all SSI scuba courses.
Where to dive
Singapore’s own reefs, such as Pulau Hantu, reward patient divers with seahorses and nudibranchs. Across the Causeway, Tioman, Redang and the Perhentian Islands offer warm, clear water and turtles from March to October, while Sabah’s Sipadan and Mabul rank among the world’s great dive sites. Families can start with our guide to diving with kids.
Is it safe?
Diving has a strong safety record when it is learnt properly. Train with a certified instructor, dive within the depth and conditions of your training, always dive with a buddy, ascend slowly, and wait at least 12–18 hours before flying. Every scuba course begins with a medical questionnaire, and some conditions need a doctor’s approval first.
Browse by type
One directory for every kind of diving business.
- Dive centresCentres that run scuba courses, guided dives and dive trips.
- Dive schoolsTraining-focused operators teaching recreational and professional scuba courses.
- Freediving centresCentres teaching SSI Freediving programmes and running freediving sessions.
- Mermaid & snorkel centresSSI centres teaching mermaid swimming and snorkelling.
- Swim schoolsSSI-affiliated swim schools teaching children and adults to swim.
Dive destinations
By the SCUBA.COM.SG editorial team · Published by 360 Watersports SMB, an SSI service centre · Last reviewed October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is scuba diving?
Scuba diving is underwater diving with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba): a tank of compressed air and a regulator, so you can breathe and explore underwater for an extended time. Recreational divers typically go to 18 m after their first certification and to 30 m with further training.
How do I start scuba diving?
Most people begin with SSI Try Scuba (from age 8) in a pool to see if they enjoy it, then take the SSI Open Water Diver course (from age 10): digital learning, pool sessions and four open-water dives. You can then dive with a buddy to 18 m anywhere in the world.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to scuba dive?
You need basic water confidence rather than speed. For SSI Open Water Diver you stay afloat for 10 minutes and swim 200 m (or 300 m with mask, fins and snorkel), with no time limit and any stroke.
Is scuba diving safe?
Diving has a good safety record when you train with a certified instructor, dive within your training limits, never dive alone and follow safe ascent and flying-after-diving guidelines. Every student completes a medical questionnaire before training.
Where can I dive near Singapore?
Singapore's own dive sites are around the Southern Islands, such as Pulau Hantu. For clearer water, most Singapore divers head to Malaysia: Pulau Sibu and Pulau Aur off Johor, Tioman, Redang and the Perhentians, or Sipadan and Mabul in Sabah.
When is the best time to dive in Malaysia?
The east-coast islands (Tioman, Redang, Perhentian) are generally dived from about March to October. Sabah's Kota Kinabalu, Sipadan and Mabul can be dived year-round, and Langkawi is best from around November to April.
How long does it take to get certified?
The SSI Open Water Diver course usually takes three to four days, with the theory done online beforehand. The certification lasts for life.
How are the dive centres on SCUBA.COM.SG checked?
Every centre is an SSI-affiliated business, and listings are checked against official SSI records and each centre's SSI profile. See our How we verify listings page.