
Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 84 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu worth booking?
Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu is a 72-hour experience in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from $413 per person. It scores 91 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 5/5 rating across 84 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 91 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (84)
- Duration
- 72 hours
- From
- $413 per person
Since most of the planet is covered in water, why not explore it? The RAID Open Water Diver Course is open to all those fit, healthy and able to swim (Please get in touch with us for clarification) from the age of 10 years and upwards. Those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. The course takes 3 days on our boats. Collecting and returning to DBKK Jetty each day. There is online pre-study for this course that is completed before your course starts. Just let us know :-) Before the course, we will require you to provide your full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, height, weight, and shoe size, as well as any special dietary requirements.
What you get
About this experience
Since most of the planet is covered in water, why not explore it? The RAID Open Water Diver Course is open to all those fit, healthy and able to swim (Please get in touch with us for clarification) from the age of 10 years and upwards. Those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. The course takes 3 days on our boats. Collecting and returning to DBKK Jetty each day. There is online pre-study for this course that is completed before your course starts. Just let us know :-) Before the course, we will require you to provide your full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, height, weight, and shoe size, as well as any special dietary requirements.
What's included
Included
- RAID Materials
- Full diving equipment
- Dive Permit and Park Fees
- Boat transfers - We offer two great boats. Both are 33ft x 9ft wide Trimaran.
- Lunch (3) and drinking water
- Small groups and a fantastic time
Not included
- Anything not specifically mentioned above
- Travel Insurance for unforeseen circumstances/force majeure.
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Kota Kinabalu
Meet at 08:45hrs at DBKK Jetty in Kota Kinabalu. It is within easy walking distance of the city centre. Meet our Crew in front of the ‘DBKK Jetty Counter’ poster on the jetty building. Please wait there, our crew will find you! Please do not be late. If you are going to be late, call +60178118149.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Meet at 08:45hrs at DBKK Jetty in Kota Kinabalu. It is within easy walking distance of the city centre. Meet our Crew in front of the ‘DBKK Jetty Counter’ poster on the jetty building. Please wait there, our crew will find you! Please do not be late. If you are going to be late, call +60178118149.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- cmn, ms, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Borneo Dream Travel Tours Sdn Bhd
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos



Traveler reviews
84 verified traveler reviews for Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great experience
Had a brilliant instructor called Didi teaching me and my brother extremely quickly whilst teaching us the perfect technique and style aswell as how to cope and deal with the underwater environment
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind words and 5-star review! We're delighted to hear you and your brother had such a great experience with Didi. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments to him. We hope to welcome you both back to Borneo Dream for more underwater adventures!
via Tripadvisor
7 star experience and best place to learn
I done the advanced opens water course and I had the best instructor ever. Alex was so knowledgeable, very prepared for each dive, helped me improved my buoyancya en overall skils big time. I have no words to thank him and the entire team was really friendly and professional. Definitely will book again with them
Response from the operator: Hi Liviu! 🤩 Thank you very much for your booking and for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really glad to hear that you had a great experience doing the course with Alex. He is indeed very knowledgeable, and it’s always wonderful to see his students enjoy and benefit from his teaching. I will certainly pass your kind words on to him, as I’m sure he will be very happy to hear this. On behalf of our team, we sincerely appreciate you choosing us for your diving course. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope the experience has left you with great memories and valuable skills. We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future for more diving adventures with us. 🌊🐠🥳 Regards, Thecla.
via Tripadvisor
Great experience learning to dive with them
Thank you Didi (Yadi) and Team for a Great Open water course! Superfriendly team and good material. My 12-year old son and I felt very save all the time and had good fun in the course. Would recommend this team and course to anyone!
Response from the operator: Hi Pia, Thank you very much for your kind feedback. 🤩 We’re truly delighted to hear that you and your son, Max, had such a great experience completing the Open Water course with us. It means a lot to know that you both enjoyed your time and learning journey in Borneo. We also sincerely appreciate your willingness to recommend our course to others. Your support and trust are greatly valued, and it’s wonderful for us to have been part of such a memorable experience for you and Max. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming both of you back again soon for some more enjoyable leisure diving adventures with us in the future. 🥳✨ Regards, Thecla.
via Tripadvisor
OW 20 review
Amazing diving course! My instructor Didi was absolutely fantastic—super patient, professional, and made me feel completely safe throughout. Highly recommend! 🤿👍
Response from the operator: Hi, thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your RAID Open Water 20 course and felt safe and supported with Didi as your instructor. 🤿 It is fantastic that his patience and professionalism made your experience so positive. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more diving adventures soon! 🌊✨ Regards, Priscilla
via Tripadvisor
Perfect course with our instructor Yadi!
We just completed the Open Water 20 course with Yadi as our instructor, and the experience was fantastic. Yadi was very patient with us and explained everything perfectly. We learned a lot and had a great time—we can't wait to go diving again. We also met Alex, another instructor who accompanied us daily on the boat; he was very attentive and kind! We are thrilled to have chosen Borneo Dream Travel and Tours and to have had Yadi as our instructor :)
Response from the operator: Hi Maite, thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience on the RAID Open Water 20 course with Yadi. 🤿 It’s lovely to know you felt well supported and enjoyed learning so much, and Alex will be happy to hear your kind words too. Thank you for choosing Borneo Dream Travel & Tours. We hope to dive with you again very soon! 🌊✨ Regards, Priscilla
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 72 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $413 to $435
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 29
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by Borneo Dream Travel Tours Sdn Bhd, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 83.5 and 2 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Borneo Dream Travel Tours Sdn Bhd runsWhy this scores 91
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kota Kinabalu.
How much does Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu cost?
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Prices start at $413 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kota Kinabalu usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu take?
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Plan for about 72 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kota Kinabalu is not rushed.
Is Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 91 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 84 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Kota Kinabalu, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 72-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu?
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Around 29 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kota Kinabalu can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kota Kinabalu and add a light layer if any part of the 72-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kota Kinabalu within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Kota Kinabalu?
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On Outty we rank every Kota Kinabalu experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Guided Snorkeling Day Trip, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Kota Kinabalu?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu?
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Included: RAID Materials; Full diving equipment; Dive Permit and Park Fees; Boat transfers - We offer two great boats. Both are 33ft x 9ft wide Trimaran; and Lunch (3) and drinking water. Not included: Anything not specifically mentioned above; and Travel Insurance for unforeseen circumstances/force majeure. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu?
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Meet at 08:45hrs at DBKK Jetty in Kota Kinabalu. It is within easy walking distance of the city centre. Meet our Crew in front of the ‘DBKK Jetty Counter’ poster on the jetty building. Please wait there. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu offered in?
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It is offered in Chinese, Malay and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 18 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
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