Miri Scuba Diving

For anyone interested in scuba diving in Miri, two dive operators are located here. Miri is known as a resort city located north of Sarawak, adjacent to Brunei, and on the island of Borneo.

Scuba diving in Miri is a niche activity, as only a few people are aware that it is possible to dive here. As for me, this article highlights that you can dive in Miri, as some beautiful dive sites are found around here.

The dive sites are part of the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park. Dive sites here range from around 7 to 30 meters deep, and you can find over 800 species of hard and soft corals. Marine life is abundant with various coral fish, midwater fish, and, on occasion, larger fish.

On a dive trip to Miri in May 2017, I had the opportunity to dive at three spots with Coco Dive. They will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the on-site dive centre, which is located at Marina Bay Jetty in Miri.

You are led to the dive boat after signing the appropriate documents and gearing up. It takes about 20-30 minutes from the marina to go out into the open sea. The boats are medium-sized and come with a roof.

Initially, we were supposed to dive at the Siwah Reef dive site, but we had to change our site due to strong currents. At the following site, the waters were much calmer and upon descending, we were greeted by decent visibility of around 7-10 meters.

What do the dive sites in Miri look like? I am in the photo, taken with a basic action camera.

The corals were thriving with rich marine life, while colours stood out at a depth of about 17 meters. Nudibranches were easily spotted apart from the common coral fish. A very mild current in our direction made the dive much more accessible.

After our first dive, the surface interval was spent en route to the following site, which was approximately 15 minutes away, plus the time we took to gear up, listen to the dive brief, and check our equipment, among other tasks. Once everyone was cleared to dive, we quickly got into the water for the next dive.

A school of Jacks, which contributes to the rich undersea life in Miri.

Diving in Miri, Sarawak: A Hidden Gem Beneath the Surface

Dive Recap: Batu Belias & Eve’s Garden

On my second dive of the day at Batu Belias, the visibility was around 10 meters—not bad by local standards. Midway through the dive, I was lucky enough to encounter a lone Bumphead Parrotfish hammering away at the hard corals. It was massive—easily around 1.5 meters long. I tried to get a bit closer for a better look, but as expected, it swam off gracefully.

The final dive of the day took place at Eve’s Garden, a relatively shallow site known for its vibrant coral gardens and macro life. It’s perfect for spotting small critters and snapping some close-up photos. Keep your eyes peeled—spotted blue rays sometimes glide by, and it’s not uncommon to see a Moray Eel peeking out from the reef.

Miri Scuba Diving Overview

If you’re a first-time visitor, it’s worth noting that Miri is more than just a gateway to Sarawak’s national parks like Mulu and Niah—it’s also an underrated scuba diving destination.

Why Dive in Miri?

Home to over 40 dive sites, including coral gardens, shipwrecks, and macro havens.
All dive spots are boat dives, located 20–60 minutes offshore.
Ideal for both macro lovers and general divers.
Visibility ranges from 5 to 20 meters, depending on the season and weather.
Dives are best between March and September for optimal conditions.

Popular Dive Sites in Miri

Eve’s Garden – Ideal for beginners and macro photography enthusiasts.
Belias Reef – A colourful and lively reef system.
Anemone Garden – Teeming with clownfish and soft corals.
Macro Sites – Nudibranchs, shrimp, frogfish, and more for critter chasers.
Pelagic Zones – Spot schools of jacks, barracudas, and even the occasional whale shark if you’re lucky.

For those just starting, Miri also offers DSD (Discover Scuba Diving) programs, where you’ll receive a quick lesson in a pool before heading out to sea for a supervised dive.

The Borneo Dive Network team is heading for a dive in Miri. Photo from www.tripadvisor.com.

Borneo Dive Network

The newest dive operator in Miri is Borneo Dive Network, which is part of a travel agent based in Miri. They are also a dive school, offering PADI courses for anyone interested in learning scuba diving.

Apart from that, they do leisure dives to over 30 dive sites in Miri. I have yet to experience diving with Borneo Dive Network, but hopefully, I will have the opportunity to do so and provide a more comprehensive review.

Borneo Dive Network Address
Lot 1084, First Floor, Jalan Merpati,
Miri 98000, Malaysia
Phone: +60 85 417 751
BDN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BorneoDiveNetwork/

diving-in-miri-sarawak Miri Scuba Diving

One of the divers spots a school of fish passing by in Miri.

Best Time for Miri Scuba Diving

The best time to dive in Miri is from April to October, weather permitting. You can dive during the other months, but the weather poses an issue, especially during the rainy season and choppy seas.

However, there have been reports of divers going in November and December and having excellent dives with great visibility. This is pure luck, as some may say. I usually dive around May, which has been great.

That’s me diving in Miri, just had to include this underwater selfie.

Other Than Diving in Miri

For anyone planning to visit Miri, numerous hotels and resorts are available. For those on a budget, guesthouses and backpacker lodges are also available. I wrote an article on the many things to do in Miri, especially for first-time visitors.

Miri offers an exciting exploration experience as a resort city for those who love old cities. The old part of Miri town is worth visiting, especially for the markets, temples, and local coffee shops.

For the modern-day traveller, Miri offers exciting and modern shopping malls with cafes, fast food chains and cinemas. For divers, if you’re looking for a new place to dive and experience, Miri is one of the latest diving destinations in Malaysia. The dives here are peaceful, and most of the time, there is usually one boat going out to sea.

The fascinating underwater landscape of Miri. This is just one of them.

This means it is not high-traffic like other dive sites in Malaysia. I am sure you have experienced diving in peak areas, where you see multiple dive boats at a single dive site. You will see many groups of divers versus marine life when you descend below.

Luconia Shoals Diving

One of the places in Miri that I would like to dive into is the Luconia Shoals. This dive site is reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Malaysia, yet it is also one of the most challenging places to reach.

Luconia Shoals requires a live-on-board boat, as the distance is over 100 kilometres from Miri, out in the South China Sea. Having seen photos of this fantastic dive site, it is my mission to dive here, and hopefully, one day.

Scuba diving in Miri is highly recommended for any diver.

Conclusion

For those planning to explore the largest state in Malaysia, here is a list of dive sites in Sarawak for you to consider. If you are a wreck diver, plenty of wrecks are found in Miri and Kuching.

Scuba diving in Miri is growing at a slow pace, and for now, it is considered a beautiful place to dive, especially if you are looking for a peaceful dive without many other divers in the water at the same time. I also recommend you experience it fast before it becomes commercial.

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