There aren't many choices for you out there if you are just looking at Peninsula . So just choose whichever one you feel like going to, based on whatever factors you decide it on - budget, convenience, distance, duty free, feeling lucky, etc.

There are all pretty much the same. Different divers have different preference, one could like macro diving perhentian, while another like the cheap booze in tioman, or another had seen whaleshark in tenggol, or another happen to encounter 40m visibility in lang tengah. Just some examples.

Only difference is East Coast is subjected to monsoon season.

Firstly, if you are interested in diving, you should be doing some research of your own already. So asking such a question will actually do get you such an answer. If you ask stupid questions anywhere else on the T&L subforum, you do get stupid answers. Just try japan thread and see lol.

Clear waters? Better wish on all your wishing stars for the most luck. Otherwise just go to Maldives. If you diving is always 40m visibility, think again. In langkawi and lumut, you probably can’t even see your hand sometimes.

Booze, massage and diving. Best to go Thailand. If tioman isn’t to your liking because of the roads, then most of the other islands aren’t suitable either. Fly to Thailand then.

Please note that this is not Garage Sales/Trade Zone.

I would say Laguna, but I'm bias so ignore me hehehe.

And the big dive boats, and dive crew who does everything for you. Hahaha.

Not sure if they still do RM200 for 4 boat dives now.

The last I went in 2014 or 2015 it still remained at that price. It has been for a number of years ever since I got my diving license.
4 boat dives for RM200, 6 for RM300 and 8 for RM400 and so on so on. Excluding rental equipment.

Hence, for many years Laguna was my only choice even though the full board packages were slightly more expensive than the other hotels, the food was good (better last time), cheap dives, comfy rooms, and big boattt. Hardly can find many dive boats where you can giant strike, other than LOBs in Malaysia.

Ooh! Good to know. Yes, still very reasonable I would say. Considering everything has gone up as well.

Ooh. Not too bad RM1,400 for 10 dives, it includes food and all too I'm sure. It was around RM800 when I dived with Kaleebso almost 10 years ago. Amazing food but I felt it was too crowded for my liking. Still pretty good experience if you haven't tried LOB before.

Buoyancy comes with practice
Unless you are a fish/sotong. But you'll get better with more dives. Don't worry about that. Relax, long slow breathes, and ideally not too much weights.

Once you figured out how many weights you need, you'll be more comfortable with your buoyancy. I feel OW courses generally give students more weights than what they may need.

Jeles you live in Philippines

As you progress in your diving hobby, just keep in mind that Malaysia is one of the cheapest place to dive, especially around the East Coast. So it's really hard to compare with oversea prices.

I personally prefer one-piece wetsuit as I find a separate top too difficult to remove after a dive. I use a sharkskin full suit with fleece inside and it's good enough for tropical waters. But if you are used to wearing you Sharkskin top and have no issues with it, then just save cost and just get the bottom.

Or he can be like us and book the next flight back from Miri hahaha.

Let's see who will admit

That's half way across the globe lol. Adding in flights will make it triple (or more?) the price of a dive here hahaha.

Oh when you dive frequently, you would probably have a few sets of wetsuits anyways. Hahaha.

AXA is now Generali and yes they do cover leisure scuba diving still
Up to 30m according to their policy wording.

https://www.generali.com.my/travel-personal...ravel-insurance

Still alive and kicking
Hope you're doing great too!

September is fine. Any islands along the East Coast should still be open. Weather can sometimes be really good, some days a little bad, but shouldn't be too bad compared to Oct/Nov.

Look for some dive groups that organise trips overseas. Depending on their customer base, they may have trips to R4 that may suit your travel dates/budget.

If not, then I guess google will be your best friend. Most people who dive in R4 go for LOBs cause that's the easiest to move around dive sites. You could also wait till MIDE in June to see if there'll be any booths promoting R4.

I did land based and was staying at Waiwo Dive Resort, but the only reason was because my friend was organising it, price was right for me and hence the opportunity to tag along. Dive sites were far away and the boats were not that fast, so it took at least 2 hours to get to most dive sites on a small speed boat. But this was also almost 10 years ago, so things may have changed now. Would definitely go for LOB experience next trip.

R4 is a must dive for every diver, have fun!