While scuba diving may not be the first thought that pops into your head when these big city destinations in South East Asia are mentioned, you may be surprised by their thriving diving communities and easy access to some of the world’s best diving spots from these cities.

You might find yourself in one of these destinations, whether it’s at the start or the end of a holiday, on business, or even on a stopover for a few days, make sure you think about taking some time to relax and enjoy some diving from these destinations;

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, which is affectionately known simply as KL, is the capital and biggest city in Malaysia with an estimated urban area population of more than 6 million people. It is a lively city famous for amazing cuisine, shopping and a skyline dominated by towering skyscrapers including the Petronas Towers. The PADI Dive Shops in Kuala Lumpur offer a gateway to some of the best diving in the region including the Sipadan, Mabul, Semporna, Tioman and the Perhentian Islands. KL is also known as a great location to stock up on scuba equipment or start your PADI course and training.

Find out about diving in Malaysia or locate a PADI Dive Shop in Kuala Lumpur.

Jakarta

This mega-city has the second biggest urban area population in the world, after Tokyo, with a stagging 26 million inhabitants. Located on the north-west coast of Java, it is the cultural and economic powerhouse of Indonesia. Many visitors are amazed by the incredible diving located from Jakarta including around Palau Seribu which is just an hour by boat. Jakarta is also a great location to begin your adventure to the countless dive locations that make up Indonesia and the surrounding countries. You can also pick up a great deal on many pieces of gear and equipment for your travels.

Learn more about diving in Indonesia or locate a PADI Dive Shop in Jakarta.

Bangkok

Famous around the world as a favorite travel destination due to its shopping, food and rich culture, Bangkok is a city everyone should visit at least once. It has an urban area population of around 8 million people and is situated on the northern tip of the Gulf of Thailand. This city has access to some of the most popular diving areas in the region through trips and connections to Pattaya, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui. It’s of course also a good spot to stock up on any needed diving supplies too.

Find out more about diving in Thailand or locate a PADI Dive Shop in Bangkok.

Singapore

This city state in an amazing mixture of cultures and inhabitants from all around the world, which makes it such a unique destination with an estimated urban area population of around 5 million people. Singapore is well-known for its shopping, cuisine, hotels as well as being the business hub of Asia. There is a well-established and growing community of passionate divers that call Singapore home. There are also a few local sites let you explore the underwater if you are limited with time or it’s a great hub to plan a longer dive trip in the surrounding countries. Singapore also has some excellent diving training facilities for PADI courses.

Discover more about diving in Singapore or locate a PADI Dive Shop in Singapore.

Next time you are in a big city destination, just remember that you might be surprised about the diving on offer and this may be closer than you realize!

To find out more about any major dive destinations visit the vacation spotlight section of padi.com or locate a PADI Dive Shop today.