What should a dive centre in Malaysia run on?
Malaysia has two dive coasts that work in different ways: Sabah's Semporna islands, where Sipadan access runs on permits, and the east coast islands of the peninsula, where the monsoon sets the season. DiveOps runs either from one login.
The short answer
DiveOps suits Malaysian dive centres from Semporna to the Perhentians: it plans each day's boats by group and guide, so Sipadan permit days and Mabul or Kapalai days sit on one board, tracks every student to certification, and runs gear, ringgit payments and payroll, with a 24/7 WhatsApp AI front desk.
(opens full size in a new tab)Semporna, Sipadan and the permit days
Sipadan Island Park is managed by Sabah Parks, and dives there are arranged through registered operators, with entry permits booked through Sabah Parks. A Semporna centre plans its week around the Sipadan days it holds, and fills the rest with the muck and reef diving of Mabul and Kapalai.
DiveOps does not book Sabah Parks permits. It plans who goes where: drag groups onto boats, see each diver's certification level and dive history as you build the groups, and publish the day so the crew, the shop and the wall screen all see the same plan.
The east coast islands and the monsoon
On the peninsula's east coast, the Perhentians, Redang, Tenggol and Tioman dive through the dry months, and many centres slow down or close during the northeast monsoon, roughly November to February. The water stays warm, around 27°C to 30°C, while the season is open.
DiveOps lets a centre plan the season once, with a fallback site for each day, and it is priced by the number of divers you run through the year, so a centre that closes for the monsoon pays for its size.
Open Water courses, beds and partners
The Perhentians and Tioman train a steady flow of backpackers and Singaporean and Malaysian weekenders. DiveOps tracks every student from pool session to sign-off, beds can be booked alongside the dives on one bill with the accommodation add-on, and hostels and travel agents can have their own booking link and QR code, with commission paid only on divers who book.
A 24/7 WhatsApp front desk in the diver's language
Enquiries arrive in Malay, English, Chinese and many European languages, usually by WhatsApp. DiveOps' WhatsApp AI answers on your centre's own number through the official Meta Business API, replies in under 2 minutes, handles around 92% of routine questions itself and sends your booking link. A person at the centre takes over any chat that needs one.
Ringgit, card rates and one login
Bookings, the shop till, payroll and reports run in Malaysian ringgit. Card payments go through your own Stripe account, which can mean card fees up to 20% lower than a typical terminal (never guaranteed; it depends on your current processor), and centres get roughly 8 hours a week of admin back.
DiveOps is one plan with every feature, priced by the number of divers you run through the year. Book a demo and see it set up against your own boats and courses.
Questions, answered.
Does DiveOps book Sipadan permits?
No. Sipadan entry permits are booked through Sabah Parks by registered operators. DiveOps plans who uses them: the groups, the boats and the guides for each day, alongside your Mabul and Kapalai trips.
Does DiveOps suit a centre that closes for the monsoon?
Yes. The season is planned once, and DiveOps is priced by the number of divers you run through the year, so a seasonal centre pays for its size.
Does it work in ringgit?
Yes. Prices, payments, the shop till, payroll and reports all run in Malaysian ringgit, with card payments through your own Stripe account.
How much does DiveOps cost for a dive centre in Malaysia?
One plan with every feature, priced by the number of divers you run through the year. The pricing page has the details, or book a demo for a figure against your own numbers.
See it run your dive centre.
A short live walkthrough on your real schedule. No slides, no sales patter.