Malaysia is a well-developed country with good infrastructure, a stable government and a decent economy. Though several areas of Malaysia have been popular with Asian divers for decades, two are especially popular among North American divers. Sipadan, a speck of dry land just off Borneo's northeastern shore, rises up from the depths and offers some out-of-this-world wall diving just a few fin-kicks offshore. The coral atoll Layang Layang offers electric open-ocean diving with lots of sharks and big schooling fish in the middle of the South China Sea.

Whether you're diving Sipadan or Layang Layang, make sure your dive travel specialist coordinates all ground transportation. There's little else to do but dive on Sipadan and Layang Layang, so plan ahead and figure other diversions into your itinerary.

Weather: Situated just north of the equator, there's little seasonal variation in the weather-it's always hot and sticky. It's dry from March through November, but expect frequent, heavy rains December through February.

Average Water Temp: Average Water Temp Expect constant water temperatures in the low to mid-80Fs.

Average Visibility: There's little current in the popular diving areas of Sipadan and Layang Layang, and visibility can range from 50 feet to well over 100 feet.

Travel Savvy: It takes a long time to get here, so pack accordingly-comfy clothes and lots of reading material for the flights. ... While it's always hot, remember that Malaysia is a Muslim country, so when in doubt, dress conservatively.