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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Asia

Asia

Malaysia

Island reefs with turtles and blacktip reef sharks, and freediving around protected Tioman.

Forested headland and calm clear sea at Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia
Pulau Perhentian Kecil · Photo: KT Kaytee on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: Marine Parks of Malaysia information site (not the official Department of Fisheries site); Environmental pollution and ecotourism value in Perhentian marine park, ScienceDirect, 2024; Terengganu bans sale of all types of turtle eggs, Malay Mail, Nov 2021.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The US State Department rates Malaysia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (February 2026), with Level 2 for the islands and sea areas of eastern Sabah because of kidnapping risk. Smartraveller advises normal precautions overall. Sources: US State Department travel advisory, Malaysia · Smartraveller travel advice, Malaysia Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

FreedivingScubaSnorkellingWhale sharksMantas

Why Malaysia

Around the Perhentian Islands, snorkelling and diving bring turtles, blacktip reef sharks and reef fish. Tioman Island is a protected marine island for freediving-led reef days, with turtles, reef sharks and rays, and occasional mantas and whale sharks. On Tioman the season runs March to October, with May and September warm and less busy.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

Papua New GuineaIndonesiaTimor-LesteCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamIndiaBangladeshAustraliaSri LankaChinaPhilippinesMalaysiaBruneiPerhentian Islands, MalaysiaTioman Island, Malaysia

When to go

Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

The Perhentian Islands and Tioman are marine parks where fishing, touching coral, chasing animals and anchoring on reefs are not allowed. Turtles and their eggs are protected by law, and we never buy eggs. So we keep groups small, use moorings, stay off the busy snorkel spots, and never chase or touch turtles or sharks.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Malaysia

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Perhentian Islands

Exploring

Island snorkelling and diving with turtles, blacktip reef sharks and reef fish.

🤿 In the water: Turtles, Blacktip reef sharks, Reef fish

When: Jul-Sep. The best weather here runs from July to September, and the north east monsoon closes tourism from November to February. Turtles and blacktip reef sharks are supporting wildlife, and we never promise a sighting.

Rules and fees: The Perhentian Islands are part of a protected marine park, where turtles are protected by law. Visitors without a Malaysian ID card pay a conservation charge of RM 30 per adult and RM 15 for children aged 6 to 12 and seniors over 60. Guests with disabilities do not pay.

Tioman Island

Exploring

Freediving-led reef days around a protected marine island, with turtles, reef sharks and rays.

🤿 In the water: Turtles, Reef sharks, Rays, Barracuda, Mantas and whale sharks (rare and never chased)

When: Mar-Oct. The season runs March to October. May and September are warm and less busy.

Rules and fees: Tioman is a protected marine park. Visitors without a Malaysian ID card pay a conservation charge of RM 30 per adult and RM 15 for children aged 6 to 12 and seniors over 60, and guests with disabilities do not pay.

Animals

Animals recorded in Malaysia

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Huge spotted whale shark gliding through open blue waterWhale sharkRhincodon typusSeen in 54 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSchool of bumphead parrotfish swimming over coralBumphead parrotfishBolbometopon muricatumSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableDugong grazing on seagrass over a sandy seabedDugongDugong dugonSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhitetip reef sharks resting stacked in a reef creviceWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLarge school of chevron barracuda in deep blue waterChevron barracudaSphyraena qenieSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWall of grey reef sharks cruising in blue waterGrey reef sharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTwo blacktip reef sharks swimming over sunlit sand in turquoise waterBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlue-spotted ribbontail ray resting on sand, seen from aboveBlue-spotted ribbontail rayTaeniura lymmaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea waterScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredWhite-spotted eagle rays gliding over coral at Heron Island, Great Barrier ReefSpotted eagle ray (ocellated eagle ray)Aetobatus ocellatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBanded sea krait with yellow lip rising over dark sandBanded sea krait (yellow-lipped sea krait)Laticauda colubrinaSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBox jellyfish with square bell and long tentacles at nightBox jellyfishChironex fleckeri and other box jellyfish (Cubozoa)Seen in 6 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedPale reef stonefish resting between anemones in KwajaleinReef stonefishSynanceia verrucosaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWell camouflaged scorpionfish on dark sand in Lembeh StraitScorpionfishScorpaenopsis speciesSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasVaries by speciesTitan triggerfish swimming over a reef slope in blue waterTitan triggerfishBalistoides viridescensSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPicasso triggerfish with painted pattern over sand in the MaldivesPicasso triggerfish (lagoon triggerfish)Rhinecanthus aculeatusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClown triggerfish with big white spots over reef in the Coral SeaClown triggerfishBalistoides conspicillumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDay octopus beside a coral head on a sandy Red Sea reefDay octopusOctopus cyaneaSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMimic octopus with banded arms spread over dark sandMimic octopusThaumoctopus mimicusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreater blue-ringed octopus showing bright blue rings on white sand in Raja AmpatBlue-ringed octopusesHapalochlaena spp.Seen in 5 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernIrrawaddy dolphin rising from the water, showing its round headIrrawaddy dolphinOrcaella brevirostrisSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePelagic thresher shark with long whip tail at Kimud Shoal, MalapascuaPelagic thresherAlopias pelagicusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBargibant's pygmy seahorse camouflaged among pink gorgonian polypsBargibant's pygmy seahorseHippocampus bargibantiSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSchool of bigeye trevally swirling near the seabed at AmedBigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatusSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBroadclub cuttlefish hovering with arms raised over reefBroadclub cuttlefishAscarosepion latimanusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasData DeficientHumphead wrasse swimming over a coral reef in Raja AmpatHumphead wrasse (Napoleon wrasse)Cheilinus undulatusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSpotted garden eels rising from sand, black spots clearly visibleSpotted garden eelHeteroconger hassiSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue-spotted maskray resting on a sandy seabed beside a shellBlue-spotted stingrayNeotrygon kuhlii complexSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasVaries by speciesGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernEstuary seahorse with textured orange skin on dark sandCommon (estuary) seahorseHippocampus kudaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasVulnerableZebra shark resting on sandy reef floor, spotted body and ridgesZebra sharkStegostoma tigrinumSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBluestreak cleaner wrasse with black stripe and blue tailBluestreak cleaner wrasseLabroides dimidiatusSeen in 51 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdult pink Chinese white dolphin swimming beside a grey calf in Pearl River estuary waterChinese white dolphinSousa chinensisSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePod of bottlenose dolphins swimming over a Red Sea coral reefIndo-Pacific bottlenose dolphinTursiops aduncusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableOlive ridley turtles nesting on Playa Ostional, Costa RicaOlive ridley turtleLepidochelys olivaceaSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSilky shark swimming near the surface in blue waterSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePink whipray and a blacktip reef shark in Moʻorea's lagoon, mountains behindPink whiprayPateobatis faiSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBull shark swimming in clear blue water off Quintana Roo, MexicoBull sharkCarcharhinus leucasSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlacktip shark swimming in green water in the GalápagosBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatusSeen in 49 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSpinetail devil ray gliding in blue water off Crete with small fishSpinetail devil rayMobula mobularSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredFinless porpoiseNeophocaena phocaenoidesSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlack-faced spoonbill in Taiwan, TW, iNaturalist research-grade observationBlack-faced spoonbillPlatalea minorSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLives on landVulnerablePale seahorse with a long snout holding a blade of green weed against a dark backgroundThree-spot seahorseHippocampus trimaculatusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic bluefin tuna leaping out of choppy water, recorded in Hovedstaden, DenmarkAtlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSilver-cheeked toadfish resting just above sandy seabed, with its pale belly and dark-spotted backSilver-cheeked toadfishLagocephalus sceleratusSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBowmouth guitarfish seen from above, swimming over the seabed in hazy blue water, with a long shark-like tailBowmouth guitarfishRhina ancylostomaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredGiant trevally swimming close to a coral head, with small reef fish in blue water behind itGiant trevallyCaranx ignobilisSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFrigatebird perched on a branch with its bill raised, wings open against a blue skyChristmas Island frigatebirdFregata andrewsiSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMilk sharkRhizoprionodon acutusSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSaltwater crocodile resting on a muddy bank beside mangrove rootsSaltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat frigatebird in flight, with long angled wings and a forked tailGreat frigatebirdFregata minorSeen in 44 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forkedLesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-tailed shearwater resting on the open seaShort-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSwinhoe's storm-petrel flying low over a grey sea, seen at a distanceSwinhoe's storm-petrelHydrobates monorhisSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedOriental darter lifting its head and bill out of the water with a catchOriental darterAnhinga melanogasterSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLittle cormorant perched among mangrove branches with its wings spreadLittle cormorantMicrocarbo nigerSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpottail sharkCarcharhinus sorrahSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedBottlenose wedgefish swimming close past a reef, white spots along its backBottlenose wedgefishRhynchobatus australiaeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredCoach whipray gliding over seagrass in the Red Sea, long tail trailing behindCoach whipray (reticulate whipray)Himantura uarnakSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBroad cowtail ray resting on pale sand in shallow water, seen head-on with its tail behindBroad cowtail rayPastinachus aterSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBrownbanded bamboo shark swimming low over a rubbly reef flatBrownbanded bamboo sharkChiloscyllium punctatumSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened
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