On Redang you do not pick a dive shop and then a hotel — you pick a resort, and dive with its dive centre as part of an all-inclusive dive package. So choosing your dive base is really choosing your whole trip: the centre’s reputation, yes, but also the beach, the budget and whether there is anything for non-divers in your group to do. Below are the resorts that run their own dive centre, ranked the way we would rank them for a diver — with indicative dive-package costs where we have them.
The dive bases, compared
The two we would send a diver to first are marked — but the right base depends on your budget and who you are travelling with.
Redang Pelangi Resort
Top dive baseLong Beach · Mid-Range
The diver’s pick. Its dive centre is the resort’s calling card — experienced divers regularly rate it among the best on the island — at a mid-range price. Best for certified divers and anyone wanting to learn properly.
Snorkel package from ~RM 450 pp; a dive package adds roughly RM 300
Read our full reviewCoral Redang Island Resort
Top dive baseLong Beach · Mid-Range· has a pool
The best of both: a well-regarded dive centre and one of the few Long Beach resorts with a pool, at mid-range value. Ideal if some of your group dive and others want a pool to relax by.
Dive package from ~RM 805 pp (snorkel package from ~RM 590)
Read our full reviewLaguna Redang Island Resort
Long Beach · Premium· has a pool
A PADI dive centre at the island’s largest, most family-ready resort, with a pool and kids pool. The easy choice if divers are travelling with non-diving family who want facilities.
Read our full reviewThe Taaras Beach & Spa Resort
Teluk Dalam · Luxury· has a pool
A dive centre on a secluded private bay, at the island’s one true 5-star. For divers who want seclusion, a spa and comfort over value, and do not mind paying a premium.
Read our full reviewRedang Beach Resort
Long Beach · Mid-Range
A dive centre at a sociable, good-value mid-range resort in the middle of Long Beach. Suits divers who also want a livelier evening scene and a group-friendly base.
Read our full reviewRedang Bay Resort
Long Beach · Budget· has a pool
A dive centre at the lively budget resort, with shore dives even non-certified visitors can try. The cheapest dive base, popular with student groups — basic rooms, plenty laid on.
Shore dive for non-certified divers around RM 190
Read our full reviewDive-package prices are indicative per-person figures seen on resort and booking sites (checked June 2026) — always confirm the current rate with the resort dive centre. We don’t earn a commission on any link here.
How to choose your dive base
You are a certified diver
Prioritise the dive operation over the rooms. Redang Pelangi has the centre divers rave about; Coral Redang pairs a solid centre with a pool. Both are mid-range and dive-led.
You want to learn to dive
Pick a resort with a strong teaching centre and calm house reef for your confined-water sessions. Pelangi and Coral both run try-dives and Open Water courses; so does Laguna if you want more facilities.
Divers travelling with non-divers
Choose a resort with a pool and plenty to do for the people not diving. Coral Redang (mid-range) and Laguna (premium) both have a dive centre and a pool; Redang Bay does too on a budget.
On the tightest budget
Redang Bay is the cheapest dive base, with shore dives and dorm beds for groups. You trade polish and quiet for the price, but the dive centre and pool are there.
What the diving itself costs
Beyond the package, the rough numbers are the same wherever you dive: a try-dive around RM 250–350, a PADI Open Water course roughly RM 1,000–1,500, and fun dives for certified divers around RM 90–150 per dive plus gear. Our diving guide covers the sites, the marine life and learning to dive; the packages guide explains how dive and snorkel packages compare.
Frequently asked questions
Which Redang resort has the best dive centre?
Redang Pelangi is the one experienced divers most often single out — its dive centre is the resort’s calling card and is regularly rated among the best on the island, at a mid-range price. Coral Redang is the strong runner-up and adds a swimming pool. That said, every mainstream resort runs a competent dive centre, so the right base depends as much on budget, beach and who you are travelling with as on the centre alone.
Do I have to stay at a dive resort to dive Redang?
In practice, yes — Redang is sold as all-inclusive packages, and the dives are run by your resort’s own dive centre as part of a dive package. You pick a resort whose dive operation you like, then book its dive package (which swaps the snorkelling trips for a set number of scuba dives). You do not arrange dives with a separate, unaffiliated operator the way you might elsewhere.
How much more is a dive package than a snorkelling package?
It varies by resort, but a dive package is typically a few hundred ringgit more per person than the equivalent snorkelling package — for example, Redang Pelangi’s dive package adds roughly RM 300, and Coral Redang’s dive package runs from about RM 805 against a snorkel package from about RM 590. Certified divers take the dive package; couples often mix, with one diving and one snorkelling at the same resort. Always confirm the current rate.
Can a complete beginner dive at these resorts?
Yes — the resort dive centres run PADI Discover Scuba try-dives (indicatively around RM 250–350) for first-timers and full Open Water certification courses (roughly RM 1,000–1,500 over a few days). Redang’s calm, clear in-season water makes it a pleasant place to learn. If you are unsure, do a try-dive before committing to a course. See our diving guide for the costs and the sites.
Weighing up where to stay?
Compare all the resorts, or see how the packages work.