Dive Sites
Temple of the Sea / Tokong Laut
Temple of the sea or Tokong Laut in malay is the number one dive site in the Perhentian islands. The submerged pinnacle lies of the north east coast of the island, 15 minutes by speed boat. This site gets its reputation as the best site of the islands due to its amazing abundance and variety of fish life and up to 25m visibility. Here you can see moray eels (Giant and white eyed) and bamboo sharks chilling under the rocks, huge schools of snapper, hunting parties of trevallies terrorising their prey and black tip reef sharks circling, great barracuda drop by for a clean and occasionally eagle rays take your breath away. This site caters for all levels of diver, from open water divers up to master scuba instructors; this site has something to offer for all. With a max depth of 24 metres multi-level dives are the norm circling up the pinnacle and a 50 minute dive time can be expected, if you can keep yourself relaxed amongst all the beautiful marine life.
Sugar Wreck / Kapal Gula
Located half way back to the mainland sugar wreck challenges temple of the sea for the top dive site award. The ship sank late in 1999 carrying a cargo of sugar, hence the name, and is still in pristine condition. Twenty minutes by speed boat, sugar wrecks is the furthest site away from our shops, but trust me, it’s worth the wait! Wrecks generally have less fish life than reefs, however sugar is special. As you descend huge schools of yellow tail barracuda, yellow snappers and giant puffers become visible. The marine life does not stop there, around the ship scorpion fish, lion fish, chevron barracuda, nurse sharks, bamboo sharks, bat fish and the peculiar upside down razor fish can all be seen taking refuge. This is a great dive and my personal favourite, available to advance divers and above, however, if you are an open water diver want to give it a go, but are unsure whether you want to do the AOW course, try an adventure dive which goes towards your advanced certification.
T3 / Terumbu Tiga
Terumba Tiga or T3 is located on the eastern side of the big island. This site is based around three big boulders that stick out above the surface of the water. T3 is a diver’s playground with big rocks and small creating oodles of swim throughs, some nice open tunnels, and for those of you who are a bit more adventurous, tight passageways to squeeze through. T3 is not renowned for its abundance of marine life; however, lion fish, giant morays, trevallies, squid, emperor angel fish, great barracuda, turtles, and sometime reef sharks can all be seen here. T3 is one of the best dives around the perhentian islands and with a max depth of 20 metres T3 is a great dive for divers of all levels.
Vietnamese Wreck
This Japanese landing craft was used to transport refugees sank in 1973 while on its way to the mainland for repairs. This dive site is located in open water and is exposed to some strong currents. With a max depth of 23 metres and currents disturbing the sand visibility can be bad. This is one of the more challenging dives around the perhentian islands, but when your down there is becomes worth it. The top of the wreck is covered in beautiful soft corals and underneath we find schools of chevron barracuda, travellies and snapper. Around the wreck we find lots of box fish, puffers, angel fish, lion fish and if you have your eye in you may spot a scorpion fish relaxing on the wreck.
Due to the strong currents here it is possible to complete a drift dive across the sands. Drifting over the sands there is a chance to see sea horses, octopus, black bared sting rays, as well some really nice soft corals.
Due to the depth of the wreck this dive requires you to have completed the deep adventure dive/ advanced open water course.
Tanjung Butong
Tanjung Butong lies off the north tip of the small island (Kecil), 5 - 10 minutes by speed boat from Coral Bay or Long Beach. Big coral gardens with brain corals to table corals fill the reef. In and around the corals barracuda, blue spotted rays, file fish, big potato groupers can be seen, but don’t forget to have a look out into the blue, occasionally a cobia or two could be cruising by or a reef shark could be looking for a meal. Around the rocks be on the lookout for sweet nudi branchs and tiny pipe fish! If you’re lucky a turtle or group of bump head parrot fish could top off your dive. The max depth here is 27 metres, but most dives here are to 18-20 metres. This is a really nice relaxed dive for all levels of diver.
Tanjung Basi
Tanjung Basi lies on the north tip of the big island (besar) and is renowned for having beautiful table corals. Otherwise known as trigger fish alley, tanjung basi is the place to see trigger fish during the mating season, swimming along the edge of the reef triggers spiral upwards from their nests on the sand to warn off intruders. Off the north edge of the reef rocks stretch down to 29 metres where queen fish and black tip reef sharks can be spotted. On the reef itself, orange spined unicorn fish, big puffers, barracuda, groupers and file fish can all be spotted, if your fortunate, maybe a turtle and a school of bump heads could complete your dive. Ideal for divers of all levels this site has something to offer for all divers.