Scuba Diving at Payar Island, Malaysia
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A Colourful Marine Park near Langkawi
November 2025
About 30 kilometres south of Langkawi, Payar Island is part of a protected marine park made up of four islands. The largest is Pulau Payar, joined by Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang. Together, they form the Payar Island Marine Park, a sanctuary for coral reefs and marine life in the northern Strait of Malacca.
None of the islands are inhabited, and strict regulations help protect the reef. Only registered tour operators can bring divers and snorkellers here, keeping visitor numbers low and the ecosystem healthy. The park now limits visits to just 100 people per week. It’s also closed every Tuesday and Wednesday, and from March to May each year, to give the reefs time to recover.
The islands are known for their calm conditions and colourful coral gardens filled with life. One of the most popular dive sites, Coral Garden, features soft corals in shades of pink, orange and green. Among the coral you can spot schools of reef fish, fascinating nudibranchs and the occasional seahorse. For anyone based in Langkawi, scuba diving at Payar Island is an easy and worthwhile day trip.
Getting There & Where I Stayed
For this trip, I flew with Batik Air from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Langkawi for a long weekend. Flights were pricier than usual from Subang Airport, most likely because it was the Langkawi Ironman weekend. The flight took just under an hour. Langkawi is always a great choice for a quick getaway, with its relaxed pace, beaches, and duty-free prices that make a cold beer cheaper than bottled water.
You can read more about Langkawi on my Diving at Langkawi page.
Accommodation in Langkawi
For accommodation, I stayed somewhere new due to limited availability and was pleasantly surprised. I booked Cenang Rooms with Pool by Virgo Star Resort, just 15 minutes from the airport. My room was spacious, comfortable, and right beside the pool, with a huge bed and plenty of space to relax. It is a great base when staying in Langkawi, just outside the main strip but close to the beach, duty-free shops, spas, and good restaurants.
Booking the Scuba Trip
On my last visit, I had booked a land tour with Langkawi Trip and stayed in touch with the owner. We talked about diving, and he mentioned that if I returned, he could arrange a trip to Payar Island. My earlier dive near Langkawi in February had tricky conditions, with poor visibility and strong currents. This time, with their help, I booked a dedicated scuba diving trip to Payar Island, and it was a completely different experience.
Diving with Scuba Club Langkawi
The next morning, I took a 25-minute Grab ride from Cenang to Kuah Jetty, arriving at 8:30 am as requested. Langkawi Trip had arranged my diving with Scuba Club Langkawi, based right by the waterfront in Kuah. I was welcomed by the friendly team, completed the usual paperwork, and got fitted for rental gear. Our small dive group shared the day with a separate boat of snorkellers, keeping things relaxed and well organised.
A Professional and Passionate Dive Team
Scuba Club Langkawi is known for its professional yet personal approach to diving. The team’s focus on safety and enjoyment stands out, and their instructors are both experienced and enthusiastic about showing off the best of Langkawi’s underwater world. Whether you are new to diving or an experienced diver looking for something different, they create a calm, easy-going environment that makes the day enjoyable from start to finish.
The Boat Journey and First Dive
Before departure, the crew explained that sea conditions can change once you reach open water. Luckily, the crossing was calm with blue skies and glossy seas. The journey took around 45 minutes before we arrived at Coral Garden, our first site. Conditions were ideal, with light current and around ten metres of visibility. I had my macro camera setup ready and managed to capture some great shots of colourful nudibranchs and other small marine life. We also spotted a young seahorse that was a little camera-shy, so I gave it space and moved on. It was a relaxed 65-minute dive with a maximum depth of 21 metres.
Second Dive at Pulau Kaca
After a surface break and lunch onboard, we set up for the second dive near Pulau Kaca. Visibility was a little lower but still great for macro diving. We found more nudibranchs and shrimp, along with a huge cannonball jellyfish that drifted gracefully by. Turtles are often seen here, though not on our dive. Staying closer to the island where the water was clearer, we logged a 75-minute dive at around 18 metres. It was another brilliant underwater session, and I was glad to have my macro setup ready.
Heading Back to Kuah After a Great Day Out
The journey back to Kuah was calm and easy, with that familiar post-dive quiet as everyone relaxed. The dive crew kept spirits high and made the trip back just as enjoyable as the dives. As we walked along the dock, we even spotted a few mudskippers darting around below. It was a fun little end to the day.
I can happily recommend Scuba Club Langkawi to anyone planning to dive around Langkawi or explore Payar Island. The team is professional, welcoming and genuinely passionate about what they do. It was a well-organised, enjoyable day trip, and we were back by 3pm, just in time for a shower, a quick camera rinse, and a cold beer to finish the day.
Payar Island Dive Gallery
A few highlights from my dives at Payar Island. These shots were taken with my macro camera setup and show some of the fascinating small marine life found around the reefs, including nudibranchs and other colourful critters that make this marine park so special.
