Looking for a nice island off the beaten path for diving

Hi everyone! I’ve been in Malaysia for a month now and still have two more to go. I started traveling with friends, but I’ll be solo for the next month and a half. We did a pretty classic route: Perhentians, Cameron Highlands (which I found pointless), Tioman, and Kinabatangan in Borneo. Now I’m thinking of heading to Redang Island—Langkawi is also an option, but it doesn’t appeal to me as much. Any feedback on these two spots? Especially Redang? Any thoughts on the diving there? So far, I haven’t had much luck with diving—at the Perhentians, it was pretty disastrous with water at 31°C 😵😫 I’d love to find a nice island where I can meet people (locals and travelers) because going from a group of six to solo at the end is going to feel weird. So I’m open to all tips and opinions. Also, I’d love to hear about Langkawi, and if anyone knows of an island that’s a bit more off the beaten path, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance, and happy travels to you all!

Hi there,

I find Langkawi pretty average if you already know Thailand. It really depends on what you're looking for. If you want to party, why not? But why not just go straight to Thailand, which offers better value for less money?

There aren’t really any unknown islands in Malaysia—let’s stop dreaming about being the traveler who discovers some hidden spot with no one around, especially in Southeast Asia. Around Semporna, it’s gorgeous, but it’s touristy. For diving, it’s great and super easy to organize. The islands near KK are okay, but they’re already not as good.

I just remember a small group of chalets on a beach only accessible by boat north of KK in Sabah. It’s relaxing for a day, but after that, you start going in circles (there’s not much to do besides lazing around).

Have you been to Penang? I think the people there are really cool, and the vibe is nice. There are a few things to see too.

Selamat jalan.

Thanks so much for the reply, but I have to admit we didn’t quite understand each other. I’m talking about Malaysia—so why mention Thailand? And when I say an island off the beaten path, obviously I’m not looking for some secluded paradise with no tourists—I know that doesn’t exist. I’m just looking for alternatives to places that are too crowded, like the Perhentians. Penang—thanks for the tip, I’ll look into it. This forum is a goldmine for great tips you won’t find anywhere else, so I’m giving it a shot! 😊 Thanks for taking the time to reply—it’s really appreciated!!

Not far from Malaysia, there’s the Bunaken archipelago on the island of Sulawesi. A quick hop by plane. I didn’t really enjoy Langkawi and Penang, but I was held back by my knees.

Thanks so much for your reply! I love Indonesia—I’ve been there twice already, and it won’t be the last time. I was in Sulawesi two years ago, and I got my Advanced Open Water (level 2) diving certification in Bunaken, actually 😊 Thanks again, and fair winds to you

I’m talking about Malaysia, so why are you mentioning Thailand? And when I talk about an island off the beaten path, obviously I’m not looking for some secluded paradise with no tourists—I know that doesn’t exist. I’m just looking for alternatives to places that are too crowded, like the Perhentians. Penang—thanks for the tip, I’ll look into it.

Because Langkawi is close to the Thai border, you can see Ko Tarutao from the north of the island, and the landscapes are the same.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, there aren’t really any spots left like an island with almost no one. You can still find a few less-visited states like Perlis or Kelantan, but if they’re not visited much, it’s also because there isn’t much there.

Selamat jalan.