Diving in Perhentian
Diving in Perhentian patches of soft corals along Anemone and Clown Fish will also greet you underwater.
Marine Life Highlights in Perhentian
Stonefish
Cuttlefish
Parrotfish
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Dive Sites In Perhentian
Sugar Wreck
Sugar Wreck is considered as one of the best diving sites in Perhentian Islands. Its 18-meter depth makes it perfect for underwater explorations. The 90-meter cargo ship sank in 2000 that is located at the west part of Pulau Perhentian Kecil. It once served as a transportation for sugar but today it is a habitat of marine life.
Corals and shells can be seen growing on the hull. Huge schools of Snappers, Jacks, and Trevally roams the hulk and varieties of tiny fish shelter inside. Scorpion Fish can be witnessed in the walls and deck while Bamboo Sharks and Blue Spotted Sting Rays underneath the cargo doors can also be spotted.
Sugar Wreck is one of the farthest spots in Perhentian but for experienced divers, penetration in the cargo bay is possible in the engine room, wheelhouse, and cabins. Best time to visit is in the month of March to April.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 18m
Average Visibility: -
Vietnamese Wreck
In the 70s, this wreck sank at 24 meters and divers can be challenged with its currents. Vietnamese Wreck has a maximum depth of 24 meters and considered as one of the must-dives in Perhentian.
The site is also known as Pasir Tani Wreck and divers are welcomed by sheer variety of marine life such as Boxfish, Devil Scorpion Fish, great Barracudas, Batfish, Jacks, Wrasses, gigantic Groupers and Stone Fish.
Better to bring good torch as you dive for better visibility. Ideal period of diving is also March to April.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 24m
Average Visibility: -
D Lagoon
If you are up to an easy shallow dive close to the shore with rocks on a sandy bottom, D Lagoon or Teluk Kerma in its native name, is perfect for beginners and underwater macro photography.
This diving site is a great place for spotting and diving with sharks. Plan holidays to visit this place if from March to April of the year. Sheltered at the North of the small island, D’Lagoon is a popular site for many scuba divers.
Puffers, Pipefish, and many types of Goby, resident Jenkin Rays can be seen on waters. Large school of Barracudas, Snappers, Silver Batfish, Turtles and occasional Blacktips along with giant Bumphead Parrotfish and adorable Clown Fish on the hard and soft corals can also be spotted. D’Lagoon has a maximum depth of 12 meters.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 12m
Average Visibility: -
Batu Nisan
Macro observation and photography spot is what the Batu Nisan can offers to its tourists. With its maximum depth of 16 meters, this site can be best visited on the months of March to April.
It is a shallow and easy dive site in the Perhentian with a sandy bottom. There is an abundance of huge Clams, Anemones, and Christmas Tree Worms. Sting Rays that rested on the sandy bottom can also be witness here. Night dives is also an option for divers as Crabs, Shrimps, Feather Stars, Parrot Fish are asleep and encased by nightfall.
This site is also perfect for beginners, checkout dives and courses. Witness the beauty of shallow areas with clear waters to see massive schools of Glassfish, and Boxfish.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 16m
Average Visibility: -
Terumbu Tiga
The 20 meter water of Terumbu Tiga or “The Three Brothers” or “T3” is one of the popular diving sites and caving spot in Perhentian islands. Visibility is good in here and advanced level divers can enjoy different marine life underwater.
Pelagic fishes, Blacktips, Barracudas, and Turtles often visit here. Numerous caverns and swim-throughs can be seen as soft corals on top of boulders make an awesome angle for pictures. It is also a great area to spot Nudibranchs, Pipefish, schools of Mackerel, and Barracudas. If you’re lucky enough, Leopard or white Tip Sharks can be seen.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 20m
Average Visibility: -
Tokong Laut
Best time to dive in Tokong Laut is in the month of March to April. With its large pinnacle surrounded by very rich marine life with Scorpionfish, Turtles, Bamboo Sharks as well as hard and soft corals is beautiful. Tunnels and small caves along the reef are ideal for underwater photography and have a sandy bottom of 19 meter deep.
Known as the “Temple of the Sea”, Tokong Laut is a pinnacle and one of the best and popular diving sites in Perhentian. You can find Giant Puffers and Morays as you dive deep at 24 meters. Bamboo Sharks also greets you as they rest under the rocks among with Snappers. Squid, Rays, Boxfish, and Nudibranchs can also be witness by divers.
The island has a maximum depth of 25 meters. The rocky hideaways at Tokong Laut are also homes for Whale Sharks and Nurse Sharks.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: 19m
Maximum Depth: 25m
Average Visibility: -
Tanjung Basi
At the northern part of island lies the beautiful diving spot called Tanjung Basi. With a good visibility, this shallow dive has a maximum depth of 25 meters.
Big rocks formations and small caves and swimthroughs make it more than an attraction to tourists. Schools of Barracudas, Trevally, and Mullets may greet you as they lurk around in the depths. Big pelagics to the shallow section has beautiful corals to offer and a great place to spot Turtles and Reef Fish.
Access: Boat Entry
Average Depth: -
Maximum Depth: 25m
Average Visibility: -
Diving in Perhentian
The natural beauty of Perhentian islands located 19 kilometers or 10 nautical miles off the coast of northeastern Malaysia offers a great experience for scuba divers. It is a beautiful group of small islands that lies approximately in the state of Terengganu and 40 miles or 64 kilometers south of the Thai border. Pulau Perhentian Besar or Big Perhentian Island and Pulau Perhentian Kecil or Small Perhentian lsland are the two main islands of Perhentian.
Perhentian island has a tropical climate and due to the eastern monsoon, the diving season in the island is limited to the period between early March until ending of October. Seas can be tough and choppy, the sky is overcast, and currents may be too strong for scuba diving outside the period of March to October. Expect a good average temperature and nice weather in the months of January, February, October, November and December. If you opt for rainy season, months of June, July, August, and September are perfect. On average, May is the warmest month while December has the coolest weather.
Pronounced as Perhen-TEE-AHN, Perhentian or “stopping point” in Malay became a staging point for traders from Malaysia to Bangkok. But today, it is one of the greatest scuba diving destinations in Malaysia.
Explore the beauty of underwater through scuba diving as Perhentian island offers you with wonderful throve of marine life and corals. With the good visibility, plenty of fishes, specifically Parrot Fishes and hard corals can be seen. Patches of soft corals along Anemone and Clown Fish will also greet you underwater. It is also once a habitat for green and Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Black Tip Sharks can also be witness in the island.
| Best Diving Season: | March to October |
| Weather: | December to February Rainy Season |
| Water Temperature: | 27-32°C |
| Marine Animal Highlights: | Cuttlefish, Parrotfish, Manta Ray, Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Stonefish , Devil Scorpionfish,White tip Reef Sharks & Leopard Sharks |
| Recommended Thermal Protection: | 5 - 7mm |
| Water Visibility: | 5 - 30m |
| Tipping: | - |
| Transportation: | - |
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