Best Water Sports in Malaysia

1. Scuba diving: One of the most popular water sports in Malaysia and rightly so, because of the beautiful clear waters of the Andaman Sea that surrounds the country. It contains some of the best scuba diving spots in the world, with pleasant currents and vast expenses of well-preserved corals and other fascinating marine creatures.

Malaysia Borneo in the Sabah District is considered one of the best places to go scuba diving when you are in the country. There are other fantastic dive sites as well where you can get diving equipment for rent and have trained professionals show you the ropes as you embark on this wonderful adventure.

Location: Sipadan and Mabul, Redang Island, Tioman Island, the WWII wrecks of Kuching, Perhentian Island, etc.

Checkout: Scuba Diving Malaysia

2. Parasailing: Parasailing is amongst some of the most favourite water sports in Malaysia,where you have the chance to soar above the beautiful waters of the ocean. The activity consists of getting tethered to a motorboat that pulls you through the water, as you soar in the sky with the help of a parachute that is attached to you.

It is a high-intensity adventure activity that doesn’t require any special training, and hence can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Malaysia is also the perfect place for this activity, because of the beautiful coastal landscape that you can explore via parasailing.

Location: Bukit Kokol, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Bukit Jugra, Ranau, etc.

3. Wakeboarding: One of the most highly recommended water sports in Malaysia is wakeboarding, which is both easy and thrilling. With a little practice, you too can participate in this sport, which is conducted widely in Malaysia and the surrounding islands.

The best part about wakeboarding is the adrenaline rush you get as you get pulled over the surface of the water by a motorboat, while you try to balance yourself and do stunts. You can get a professional to train you before you start, or simply practice surfing near the coast to get a hang of the activity.

Location: Seri Kembangan, Cenang Beach, Nor Bani, etc.

4. Jet skiing: Another fun activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and all levels of expertise is jet skiing. Almost all popular beaches and islands in Malaysia have the provision for jet skiing, where you can rent a jet ski and start zooming over the surface of the water.

There are dedicated jet ski routes as well that takes you to some of the quainter islands and through beautiful outgrowths in the water. You can also ski on the open waters, which is a thrilling experience in itself.

Location: Langkawi, Port Dickson, Singa Besar Island, Beras Basah Island, etc.

Also Explore: Jet Ski Island Hopping Tour in Malaysia

5. Surfing: One of the best water sports in Malaysia that you can enjoy includes surfing. The coastal country has several popular surfing spots, where you can ride the waves which are the perfect height and intensity for a rewarding surfing session.

All the popular surfing spots in Malaysia have surfboard rental agencies from where you can hire the perfect equipment to suit your needs. A lot of places in Malaysia also offer crash courses in surfing, in case you have always wanted to try the sport but never got the chance.

Location: Cherating (Pahang), Terengganu, Johor, Sabah, etc.

Recommended Read: Snorkeling Tours in Malaysia

6. Kayaking: One of the most peaceful and relaxing water sports to enjoy in Malaysia is kayaking. Kayaking or canoeing is a single-person boat made of wood that you can navigate with a paddle. The thick mangrove forests, the thin lagoons, the beautiful islands, and the coastal terrain of Malaysia are best explored on a kayak.

Kayaks are easy to use, even if you haven’t ridden or driven one before. You can also have guides take you to the right spots, travel in groups, and explore the beautiful waters in and around Malaysia in the best way possible

Location: Langkawi, Semadang, Sungai Tembeling, Sungai Kiulu, Pulau Redang, etc.

Suggested For You: Langkawi Mangrove River Kayaking

1. Putrajaya Maritime Centre: This beautiful and sprawling lakeside complex is one of the best places to enjoy a range of water sports in Malaysia. Apart from some of the most popular water sports in the country including surfing, skiing, scuba diving, and kayaking, you can also rent a yacht or a boat and find unique and interesting ways to explore the coast. You can also relax on the peaceful beach, swim in the indoor pool at the centre and get trained for specialised sports such as parasailing, wakeboarding, jet skiing and much more.

Highlights: 
- Learning programme for water sports are offered here.
- You can indulge in activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, yachting, kayaking, etc. 
- Personal trainers and guides can help you get used to the activity
- Amenities at the centre include an indoor pool, karaoke, a cafe, etc. 

2. Langkawi Island, Kedah: One of the best places for water sports in Malaysiais the beautiful Langkawi Island. The entire island is home to several beautiful beaches where you can enjoy popular water sports such as jet-skiing, yachting, scuba diving, snorkelling, boating, kayaking, waterboarding, wakeboarding, and much more. It is the ultimate go-to destination for adventure lovers who want to experience the famous landscape of Langkawi like never before. 

Highlights: 
- You can enjoy water sports such as swimming, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, etc.
- The island also organised yacht tours, boat rentals and kayaking.
- Special sports like wakeboarding and water boarding are also offered. 

3. Singor River, Perak: Another incredible spot for water sports in Malaysia is the Singor River, which is the ultimate destination for one of the most thrilling water sports ever – white water rafting. The undulating river bed, the force of the currents, and the perfect weather conditions make it ideal to enjoy a thrilling ride on a raft, as you move along with the current and try to navigate your way downstream. During the tour, you can also get a chance to experience a one-of-a-kind tour of the surrounding nature. People travel to Singor River from all over the world to experience a ride on the frothy river.

Highlights: 
- White water rafting is the most popular water sports that is offered here. 
- You can tour the area through sightseeing, trekking, hiking, etc.

4. Langat River, Selangor: If you are looking for a chance to experience Malaysia water sports,but without the usual crowd of tourists, then you can head to the Langat River in Selangor. This lakeside location is perfect for experimenting with new adventures like wakeboarding and flyboarding. You can also take a swim or sunbathe on the pebbly beach. There are several cafes and restaurants here that can provide adequate refreshment after your activities as well.

Highlights: 
- This lakeside retreat offers a number of special water sports 
- Activities here include flyboarding, swimming, wakeboarding, etc.
- You can also indulge in beachside entertainment, sunbathing, food tours, etc.

5. Batu Burok Beach, Terengganu: Batu Burok is one of the best beaches in Malaysia, and also one of the best places to enjoy a few Malaysia water sports. This beach is best known for its jet skiing arenas, where you can rent a ski and zoom across the surface of the water. You can also try your hand at surfing, swimming, kayaking, banana boat rides, wakeboarding, parasailing, and much more here. This beach is the perfect place for adventure lovers who want to experience high-intensity water sports that are offered throughout the length of the beach.

Highlights:
- Bath Burok is one of the most popular beaches in Malaysia
- Water sports that you can enjoy here include jet skiing, swimming, kayaking, banana boat rides, parasailing, etc.
- It is also home to several beachside resorts that range from casual and budget-friendly, to luxurious and upscale 

6. Balok Beach, Pahang: One of the most recommended places for Malaysia water sportsis Pahang, which is home to the picturesque Balok Beach. Here, you can enjoy almost all kinds of water sports in the world, including jet skiing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing and even river rafting.

Some of the most unique options here include windsurfing, sailing, surfing, and wakeboarding. Parasailing as an activity is also offered on this beach by trained professionals. All in all, the sheer number of adventure options coupled with the natural beauty of the beach makes this the perfect destination to enjoy some water sports.

Highlights: 
- Balok Beach offers almost all kinds of water sports that you can imagine
- Examples include windsurfing, sailing, yacht rentals, jet skiing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, white water rafting, etc.
- Trained professionals and guides are available to train you before the activity
- It is also known for its natural beauty

Recommended Read: Malaysia Beaches

7. Tanjung Resar, Jabor: Tanjung Resar offers guests the opportunity to enjoy some of the best Malaysian water sportsin the most beautiful and urban setting. With easy access to the city, this beachy destination has several rental agencies, training centres and adventure organizers who can make arrangements for you to experience almost all kinds of water sports. Worth mentioning is the provision to go scuba diving or snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the ocean. You can also check out the more regular adventures such as jet skiing and parasailing.

Highlights: 
- This beach is easily accessible from the city 
- It is one of the more popular spots for scuba diving and snorkelling
- Other activities here include swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing, boat rentals, jet skiing, etc.

8. Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park, Sarawak: Most people travel to Malaysia and South-East Asia to experience life-changing snorkelling or scuba diving experience. If that is what you want as well, then there is no place better than the Miri Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park.

This National Park, most of which is in the sea, is home to one of the largest populations of corals that have been preserved with the utmost care so that you can enjoy them during a thrilling session underwater. Professional instructors are available to help you go deep-sea diving and if you want a more relaxing experience, you can always snorkel near the coast. 

Highlights: 
- The National Park is a protected area in the ocean which you can explore 
- It has one of the most well-protected coral reefs in the world 
- You can explore this magical reef via scuba diving and snorkelling
-Other activities you can enjoy here are kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, etc.

Explore More: Places to visit in Malaysia

1. Sipadan and Mabul: Along with some of the most fantastic reef walls in Malaysia, these islands also have a large population of marine creatures like sharks, rays, turtles, pelagic, schooling fish, and other colourful creatures that you can see whole diving here.

2. Sibuan Island: If you want to explore the unique and one-of-a-kind ecosystem and marine popular of Malaysia, you can go scuba diving in the Sibuan Island where you can swim amongst mandarin fish, several exciting species of cephalopods and crustaceans and nudibranch.

3. Redang Island: Redang Island offers the perfect weather conditions and waters to go scuba diving in. During the experience, you can check out some of the most beautiful creatures of the sea including colourful coral reefs, barracudas, sharks, manta rays, tuna and you might even spot a whale or two.

4. Tioman Island: The white-sand beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the Tioman islands is the perfect place to indulge in a bit of scuba diving. You can spot creatures such as lionfish, rays, jacks, mackerels and barracudas in the water, along with some beautiful reef walls.

5. Lang Tengah Island: Another beautiful spot for scuba diving is this island in Malaysia which is home to one of the largest and most well-protected populations of marine animals. Some creatures that you can look out for include leopard sharks, jacks, and other colourful fish that swim in groups.

Also Read: Things to do in Malaysia

1. Langkawi Island: One of the reasons why Langkawi island is so popular is because of the many water sports that visitors can enjoy here. You can kayak through the mangrove forests of Langkawi, admire the beautiful wildlife as you go scuba diving or snorkelling, have an adventurous time jet skiing and so much more when you are here.

2. The Perhentian Islands: This is the go-to destination in Malaysia for those who want to explore the tropical ecosystem of this country. If you want to check scuba diving off your bucket list, this is the place to be. With several beautiful beaches, diving schools and diving sites, these islands provide the perfect environment for the first dive of your life.

3. Sipadan Island: You will find some of the clearest waters you have ever seen in your life around this island. This makes it the ultimate hub for exciting water sports such as diving, jet-skiing, swimming, kayaking and much more.

4. Mantanani Island: If you want to have the adventure of your life, you can head to Mantanani Island, where you can swim amongst a shipwreck, jet ski across the surface of the Andaman Sea, indulge in a bit of jet skiing and parasailing and even go diving amongst the coral reefs.

You May Also Like: Theme Parks in Malaysia

Yes, Malaysia is one of the most famous places in South-East Asia and the world for water sports. This is because of the massive number of beaches and islands that are a part of this country, which are defined by their soft, white sand and crystal clear waters, coupled with the perfect tropical temperatures which make water sports possible.

Also Explore: Malaysia Hiking

Malaysia is known for several things including its incredible natural beauty, the many islands that exist around the country, the tropical beaches that are ideal for a tropical vacation, and many other things. The capital city of Kuala Lumpur is also an economic and cultural hotspot, with people from all over the world settling in the city to create a unique mixture of culture that is quintessentially Malaysian. You can also find some of the best food in South-East Asia here.

Also Explore: Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur