About Us
Your Gateway to Malaysia’s Elite Diving Expeditions
WHO WE ARE
Your Gateway to Malaysia’s Elite Diving Expeditions
At Mawali Scuba Diving, we specialize in exclusive scuba diving expeditions to some of Malaysia’s most iconic and remote underwater frontiers including Sipadan and Layang Layang. With years of operational experience in Sabah’s top marine destinations, our team is dedicated to delivering world-class dive trips for discerning adventurers.
Whether you're chasing hammerhead sightings in Layang Layang or seeking vibrant coral walls in Sipadan, Mawali Diving is your trusted local partner for unforgettable underwater journeys.
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Layang Layang Malaysia’s premier destination for hammerhead shark encounters. Dive deep along sheer walls teeming with pelagics, pristine coral reefs, and dramatic underwater topography, all in a remote atoll far from the crowds.
Discover Sipadan, one of the world’s top 5 dive sites, renowned for its swirling barracuda vortex, abundant sea turtles, and breathtaking coral walls. With limited daily permits and crystal-clear waters, Sipadan offers an unforgettable dive experience for serious scuba enthusiasts.
Years of Experience
To be Southeast Asia’s leading boutique dive expedition company connecting divers to Malaysia’s most remote and pristine underwater frontiers, while preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.
Our mission is simple To provide safe, personalized, and awe-inspiring dive expeditions while championing marine conservation and responsible tourism across Borneo’s most precious reefs.
OUR VALUE
We’re committed to:
- Keeping group sizes small (maximum 6 divers)
- Offering seamless logistics from start to surface
- Ensuring high safety standards and certified guides
- Preserving delicate ecosystems through eco-conscious operations
Why Dive Layang Layang?
Located 300km off the coast of Sabah, Layang Layang is a diver’s dream. Accessible only via private charter flight or catamaran, this coral atoll offers an unmatched diving experience: towering vertical walls, pelagic action, and complete isolation from tourist traffic.
Your underwater adventure awaits, let's make a splash together
Your Gateway to Malaysia’s Elite Diving Expeditions
Led by Experts Who Call These Waters Home
Our expedition is guided by dive professionals who know Layang Layang like their own backyard because it once was.
Captain Jerry Reichart
Founder , Captain & PADI Course Director The Pioneer
Jerry’s journey into the deep began in 1992, when he first set sail from Hong Kong toward Borneo. That voyage would lead him to the island of Sipadan a place that would change the course of his life. Surrounded by pristine reefs and marine life he’d never seen before, Jerry fell headfirst into the world of scuba diving.
By 1997, he had opened Semporna’s very first land-based dive centre a bold move that would help shape the town into the dive capital it is today. Over the years, Jerry became the first PADI Course Director based in Semporna, training thousands of divers and instructors, and running Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) for more than 15 years.
After two decades in the dive industry, Jerry shifted course once more this time into yachting. But even at the helm of the Mawali, he never left the diving world behind. Today, he balances both roles: sailing as Captain while continuing to teach advanced diving, including deep and cave specialties for professionals looking to push their limits.
With over 30 years of experience underwater and offshore, Jerry remains a pioneer a rare blend of explorer, educator, and seafarer whose roots run deep in Sabah’s dive history.
Captain Joel Reichart
Captain & Cruise Director
Joel began sailing from the Port of Gold Coast at the age of 18, navigating the entire Great Barrier Reef alongside his father, Captain Jerry, during the pandemic. What started as a bonding voyage turned into something far more eight months at sea that eventually led him to Kota Kinabalu, where he began running harbour charters and exploring Borneo’s coastline.
Driven by a curious mind and a hunger for the unknown, Joel led an expedition to Layang Layang Island in April 2025 Where he was awarded the Token of “ Defender Of Swallow Reef “ by the Royal Malaysian Navy . It was there he fell in love with the untouched reefs, the thriving marine life, and the deep silence only the open ocean can offer.
Today, as Cruise Director, Joel is the mind behind every journey curating each day with intention, reading the weather, the mood, the tides. He keeps the yacht steady, the team sharp, and the guests at ease.
With a quiet confidence and a deep respect for the sea, Joel doesn’t just lead trips he leads experiences. For him, it’s never just about where the yacht is going it’s about what each voyage means, to those onboard and to the ocean that carries them.
Jackrina Liman
Marine Biologist
Jackrina is the heart of our conservation efforts.
A Marine Science graduate from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, she has spent years working on remote islands like Lankayan and Mantanani as a Conservation Officer leading coral restoration projects, managing turtle hatcheries, and conducting seawater quality research.
Onboard Mawali, she makes sure our conservation programs stay on track from reef monitoring dives to hatchery planning and water data collection. She keeps things organised, practical, and always grounded in science.
when guests have questions about coral, turtles, or the health of our seas she’s always happy to share what she knows, and get others involved in the work that matters.
Ritchie A. Lee
Dive Operations Manager
Ritchie’s diving journey began in 2002 on the shores of Redang Island a place that first opened his eyes to the wonders beneath the waves. But it wasn’t until 2007, when he arrived at Layang-Layang, that he truly found where he belonged.
What was meant to be just another chapter in his diving career turned into 12 unforgettable years based full-time on the island. From the very first descent into Layang-Layang’s untouched reefs, he was hooked mesmerised by the vibrant coral walls, the abundance of life, and the surreal encounters with pelagic giants that made every dive unique.
He fondly remembers glassy surface conditions in April and August, playful dolphin sightings, and the way the ocean always bounced back after even the roughest July storms as if nothing had ever disturbed its rhythm.
Ritchie’s deep connection to Layang-Layang, combined with his decades of experience in Sabah’s top dive sites, makes him an invaluable part of the team. Today, as Operations Manager, he continues to guide the next generation of divers and guests toward meaningful experiences in one of Malaysia’s most extraordinary marine environments.
Zoeanna
Expedition Dive Instructor
With over nine years of experience in the diving world, Zoeanna is a certified PADI Instructor who has guided countless divers through Malaysia’s most breathtaking underwater destinations from the world-famous reefs of Sipadan to the remote, untamed beauty of Layang-Layang.
Her diving journey began at just 15, when a single dive off Mabul Island sparked a lifelong passion for the ocean. That path eventually led her to Layang-Layang a place she hadn’t even heard of at first, but which quickly became one of the most unforgettable chapters of her career.
Between 2017 and 2019, she was based full-time at Layang-Layang, where she led guests through thriving coral walls, crystal-clear waters, and awe-inspiring encounters with eagle rays and hammerhead sharks. To this day, she describes it as a hidden gem, rich in marine life and untouched natural beauty.
Though no longer stationed there year-round, Zoeanna remains deeply connected to Layang-Layang and is passionate about sharing its magic with new divers and ocean lovers from around the world.
Janice Reichart
PADI Scuba Instructor & Content Creator
Easygoing, energetic, and full of good vibes. Janice brings both fun and focus to every dive.
The daughter of Captain Jerry, Janice took her first dive at just 8 years old under her father’s watchful eye. By 18, she had already earned her PADI Instructor certification a natural progression for someone who grew up with the ocean as her playground.
Today, Janice shares her passion for diving with students from around the world, turning nervous beginners into confident ocean explorers. She’s also an active part of our conservation efforts, especially underwater coral planting projects near our base.
Onboard Mawali, Janice is more than just an instructor she’s also our resident content creator, capturing life at sea and all the magic below the surface. With her upbeat energy and friendly nature, she makes every trip more memorable both in real life and on camera.
Brendon David
First Mate
Brendon is the silent engine behind every expedition.
From electrical systems to plumbing, compressors to generators he’s the one making sure everything works, flows, and powers up when it’s needed most. Nothing escapes his attention, and if it needs replacing, repairing, or re-routing, he’s already on it.
Certified under the West Malaysian Shipping Industry, Brendon brings hands-on experience and technical precision to the Mawali crew.
Like the rest of the team, he shares a deep love for the sea and while you won’t always find him on the front lines, you can be sure he’s under the bilges, always working.
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