Diving in Malaysia

Hi all

I wonder if someone can help me with a question about diving schools
in Malaysia. Has anyone been to the Perhentian Islands (Pulau
Perhentian): Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar? If so, can you
recommend any dive schools on either of these islands? Lonely Planet
lists Coral Sky Scuba Diving Centre on Perhentian Besar, but that's
the only one

Thanks so much for any advice

Chris Carter

Chris,

It's been a while since I was there but I can highly recommend Pulau
Perhentian Kecil. The South China Sea is clear and warm and teaming with
life on the reefs around the island. The diving is very relaxed, since the
boat rides out to the reef are very short (you can spend the surface
interval on your own verandah) and the dives I did were shallow (mostly
<20m expect for one wreck dive on an inverted Japanese WWII boat).
Underwater life highlights included black-tip and white-tip reef sharks
(saw juveniles sheltering under rocks), turtles, schooling barracuda, giant
clams, rays, anglefish, nudibranchs and very impressive black Napolian
wrasses munching at the coral. Altogether a very colourful underwater
experience.

It was about seven years ago I was there and Kecil was very underdeveloped -
just a couple of dozen bamboo huts on stilts and no electricity; and
limited fresh water. I've heard from a friend who went last year that it's
now much busier and more developed - it's a matter of personal choice if
this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Only downside of the island from a holiday point of view is that there was
no alcohol sold there (BYOB) so there's nothing in the way of night life.
When I was there the absence of electricity and alcohol meant everyone went
to bed shortly after sunset. Except for the divers going on night dives,
which were spectacular! Lots of crustaceans and bio-luminescence and I saw
some free-swimming morays.

The island is pretty small (hence the name) and although gloriously pretty
there's little else in the way of distractions, so don't go if you're
looking for anything exciting to do while above the water.

I dived with (quick lookup of dive log) Turtle Island Dive Centre who were
good then. They were the only dive shop on the island at the time although
I hear there are more now.

Bon vacances!

John.


Chris Carter wrote:

> Hi all
>
> I wonder if someone can help me with a question about diving schools
> in Malaysia. Has anyone been to the Perhentian Islands (Pulau
> Perhentian): Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar? If so, can you
> recommend any dive schools on either of these islands? Lonely Planet
> lists Coral Sky Scuba Diving Centre on Perhentian Besar, but that's
> the only one
>
> Thanks so much for any advice
>
> Chris Carter