Scuba Diving in the Perhentian Islands – a Rare Piece of Paradise in Malaysia
September 14, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourists Attractions
The crystal clear waters and brilliant white sandy beaches of the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia have for many years captured the hearts and imaginations of the backpackers and travellers who passed through. Recent years however have seen a different type of traveller coming to the Perhentian Islands, as their reputation as a premier diving destination has slowly increased amongst the scuba diving community.
In fact it would be fair to say that a large amount of the success of the Perhentian Islands as a scuba diving location should be attributed to the neighbouring Thailand, and the dive resorts of Koh Tao, Phuket and Koh Samui. Large numbers of travellers who have learned to scuba dive in the larger Thai resorts often find themselves gravitating to the natural beauty of the Perhentian Islands. Looking for one last dive before the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore!
The Perhentian Islands comprise of Pulau Perhentian Kecil and Pulau Perhentian Besar, and are located approximately 20 kilometres off the coast of Malaysia. Offering what can only be described as a slice of paradise, the palm fringed beaches encircle these tropical islands, whilst the clear blue waters hide a wealth of marine and coral life below.
The scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands is of a high standard, and a wide range of dive sites has meant that the islands have become a popular destination for people looking to take a scuba diving course. There are approximately ten major dive sites which are regularly visited by the dive centres in the Perhentian Islands. Of these, Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea) is widely acknowledged as being the best dive site on the islands. A large rocky outcrop of boulders just off the northwest coast of Perhentian Kecil offers some of the best examples of soft coral formations in the region. This carpet of stunning soft corals provides a home to a wide variety of marine life including kingfish, barracuda, nurse sharks and black tip sharks.
For fans of wreck diving, there are two excellent dive sites in the Perhentian Islands. The Sugar Wreck, a 90 metre cargo ship which sank in 2000, and the Vietnamese Wreck were it is still possible to dive inside the wreck itself.
If you are planning to go scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands, the best time to visit is between April to October, when both the visibility and weather are at their most favourable. November to March sees the monsoon season, when the weather becomes poor and access to and from the islands becomes limited due to the rough seas.
The Perhentian Islands offer superb scuba diving, and the shallow nature of the dive sites here make it a good choice for the novice or more inexperienced scuba diver. However what makes the islands so very special is their stunning natural beauty and undeveloped landscapes. You truly feel as though you are diving in your very own piece of paradise!
Snorkelling in Malaysia
April 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourists Attractions
Malaysia’s waters are so teeming with fish there’s no real need to go into the deep to see them. Here are my favourite snorkelling spots.
The Perhentian Islands
The best snorkelling on Perhentian Kecil is at the northern end of Coral Bay or the northern end of Long Beach. Both are similar in the regards of types of coral and fish, and you should see turtles and rays in both locations. On Besar, Teluk Dalam is the best bay for snorkelling. Sharks are said to frequent the formation of underwater rocks and coral at the westernmost tip of this bay.
Lankayan Island
The Lankayan atoll offers a reef with many beautiful diving spots and opportunities for snorkelling. Good snorkelling can be done in the vast lagoon around the beach, additional snorkelling is possible by boat along the external reef. The place is a paradise for macro photography, as there are lots of small and unique creatures.
Sipadan
Few things beat drifting with the currents on the more exposed sites. There are many turtles to be seen which is why the famous Jacques Cousteau documentary, Ghost of the Sea Turtles, was filmed here. You’ll probably also catch glimpses of barracuda, humphead parrotfish and thousands of friendly reef fish. Hammerheads are sometimes sighted at South Point.
Redang
Tg Mak Cantik located right in front of Redang Reef Resort on Pantai Pasir Panjang has been popular with snorkellers for years. The underwater wildlife on display isn’t as prolific as in the places listed above, but the spot is regarded as one of the most accessible snorkeling spot in Redang. Look out for moon wrasse, scissortail sergeant, redlip parrotfish, virgate rabbitfish, Bleeker’s damsel, eight-banded butterflyfish and maybe the odd turtle.
Tioman
The water around Tioman is absolutely crystal clear. Among the popular snorkelling spots are Renggis Island, Tulai Island, Monkey Bay and Marine Park. You will be mesmerised by the colorful tropical fish and the beauty of soft and hard corals. At most spots, the fish are tame and will approach the swimmers.
