MV White Manta

White Manta has moved to Indonesia, and until further notice will not be offering diving trips in Malaysia. Please contact use for comparable alternatives.

Arguably the best diving boat at the Tioman Islands of Malaysia is MV White Manta. This purpose-built liveaboard ship was designed by divers, for divers, and was launched in 2011. At 37m long and 7.5m wide, White Manta is possibly the largest, & therefore most stable, Pulau Tioman liveaboard diving boats. No more than 20 lucky guests join each trip, and this includes non-divers, who receive a discount.

MV White Manta offers its guests excellent comfort & luxury at very competitive prices. The trips are extremely well organized, ensuring that nothing goes wrong. The air-conditioned cabins & communal areas are clean and well furnished, making the ship like a floating hotel.

There are four levels of cabins on trips into Malaysia, including doubles, twins, triples and quad-bunk cabins. Up to 20 lucky passengers join each trip, and there are opportunities to grab a last-minute discount for any trips which are not full in the final few days before departure. However, due the excellent value, professional organization & service, trips fill up quickly so it’s often a good idea to book early, rather than leave it to the last minute.

The 2D/2N cruises start and finish in Singapore, but sail through the night quite a distance northeast into the Malaysian islands of the South China Sea. There are five dives on the first full day, including a night dive. The second day allows time for a morning dive, before returning to Singapore, and arriving in the evening.

Finally, enjoying a diving cruise in such comfortable conditions, guests often opt to advance or expand their certification by taking part in a diving course. There is a large selection of courses available on White Manta, all taught by PADI professionals. This includes Nitrox Enriched Air, and White Manta claims to have one of the most advanced and up to date mixing systems on board.

Prices & Schedule

The below itinerary is an example, but some trips see variations. The decision to make any changes is only made to firstly guarantee the safety of all on board, and secondly maximize their enjoyment. Factors which cause changes in the itinerary include sea and weather conditions, recent special marine life sightings, and the certification level and diving experience of those on board.

*These trips are often advertised elsewhere as 3D/2N, but considering that the duration is just over 48 hours, we prefer to show them as 2D/2N.