Kota Kinabalu is one of the easiest places in Malaysia to learn to dive. The reefs of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park are a short boat ride from the city, sites run from 5 to 25 metres with little current, and the water sits around 28 to 30°C for most of the year. Borneo Dream puts typical visibility at 5 to 15 metres, which is fine for training but not Sipadan. This is where you get certified cheaply and close to an airport, then go somewhere bigger later.

We read the course and price pages of seven operators on 1 October 2026. Every price below is what the operator publishes itself. Where a page contradicts itself, we say so.

How to compare dive courses in KK

The seven operators, with their published prices, are listed after this guide.

Check the certifying agency. Most KK schools teach PADI. Like Scuba teaches SSI and Borneo Dream teaches RAID. All three Open Water cards are recognised by dive centres worldwide. PADI and SSI certify you to 18 metres; RAID's Open Water 20, as the name says, to 20 metres. If you already have a PADI eLearning code, stay with a PADI school.

Check what the price includes. Almost every school includes boat transfers from the city, full equipment, lunch on the island, learning materials and the certification fee. The line that varies is the Sabah Parks fees. The official Fee Schedule 2023 sets the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park entrance fee at RM8 for Malaysian adults (RM5 for ages 13 to 17, free for 12 and under, seniors and OKU) and RM25 for international adults. A separate scuba diving fee of RM50 (Malaysian) or RM100 (international) applies on top. Scuba Junkie, SeaTango, Go Aquatic and Like Scuba say these are inside their price; Borneo Dream adds diving permits during booking.

Check the Malaysian rate. Only SeaTango publishes separate MyKad and international prices for its courses. Go Aquatic says a Malaysian rate exists but does not print it. Ask.

Check the group size. Several schools price per person at a minimum of two. If you are learning alone, expect a supplement.

Know the medical form. PADI and SSI both ask you to complete a medical questionnaire before any in-water training. A "yes" to any question means a doctor's sign-off first. The minimum age for Open Water is 10 (ages 10 to 14 qualify as Junior Open Water Divers, limited to 12 metres).

Before you book: the bit nobody prices in

Leave a day before your flight. The Divers Alert Network recommends at least 12 hours before flying after a single dive and 18 hours after several dives or several days of diving. Most Open Water courses end with two or three ocean dives on the last day, so a morning flight the next day is borderline. Downbelow and Borneo Dream both print the 18-hour rule on their own pages.

Do the theory first. PADI and SSI both run the classroom part online. Finishing it at home is what lets a school compress the course into two or three days.

Budget for the extras. Dive computer rental (RM60 a day at Downbelow), a dive photographer, hotel transfers and the Advanced course are all add-ons.

How to pick

  • Lowest price for Malaysians: SeaTango's RM1,150, if you can bring a second person.
  • Learning alone or want a small group: Like Scuba caps classes at four students per instructor, or pays RM1,900 for a private course.
  • Want a full dive resort feel on an island: Downbelow (Gaya) or Borneo Divers (Mamutik).
  • Planning to keep diving after the course: Scuba Junkie's fun-dive packages run to the end of December 2026.

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*Cover image: Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.*