Scuba Kinabalu Dive Station

Located in the Oceanus Waterfront Mall in Kota Kinabalu, Scuba Kinabalu Dive Station serves as a gateway to the diverse marine ecosystems of Malaysian Borneo. The centre is positioned to provide easy access to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Parks (TARP), where coral reefs are a constant feature of the local seascape.

Whether you are looking to start your training or are a professional diver seeking advanced certifications, the station provides the necessary infrastructure for both recreational and career-oriented diving. Their reach extends from the local reef flats to the more remote waters around Mantanani Island.

The centre is affiliated with SSI and employs a team of certified instructors capable of delivering training in English, Malay, and Chinese. This multilingual approach ensures that technical instruction is clear and accessible to a wide range of divers.

The teaching programme is extensive, covering the entire spectrum of the SSI curriculum. This includes everything from initial entry-level courses to professional development such as Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and the Instructor Training Course.

The training catalogue is thorough, beginning with Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications. For those looking to refine their skills, the centre offers several SSI specialties including Perfect Buoyancy, Deep Diving, Navigation, Wreck, and Computer Diving.

Safety and rescue training are also core components of their offering, with courses such as Diver Stress & Rescue and React Right available. For professional divers, the station provides the path to career advancement through Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and Instructor Training Courses, including the Assistant Instructor Trainer Seminar (AITS).

The centre organises fun diving trips to several key areas, including Tunku Abdul Rahman Parks, Sepanggar Island, and Mantanani Island. For trips to Mantanani, return transportation from Kota Kinabalu is arranged to facilitate the journey to Kota Belud.

During island-based dive days, lunch is provided on the island to ensure you are well-fed between sessions. For those undertaking the SSI Night & Limited Visibility Diving Specialty, the programme includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the island.

Full equipment rental is available on-site for divers who do not wish to travel with their own kit. This includes all the necessary components for a complete dive setup.

For those looking to extend their bottom time or dive more conservatively, Enriched Air Nitrox is available. The centre also provides accommodation on a sharing basis for specific specialty courses, such as the Night & Limited Visibility Diving program.

The reefs around Kota Kinabalu are home to a wide array of reef fish, including snapper schools and various species of juvenile reef fish. You may also encounter larger residents such as the Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) or various scorpionfish.

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to investigate among the corals and rubble. The area is known for its diverse small life, including Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), Mandarinfish (Synchiropus), and Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti). Look closely for the flamboyant cutlefish, mimic octopus, and various species of shrimp and crabs, such as harlequin shrimps and boxer crabs.

Other interesting creatures to spot include the frogfish (Antennarius), ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), and several types of gobies. The sandy areas and reef edges also host octopus (Octopus vulgaris), blue-ringed octopus, and various species of seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), alongside snake eels and moray eel (Muraenidae).

Diving in this region involves navigating various island environments, from the sheltered reefs of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Parks to the more open waters around Mantanani Island.