Perenthians Islands Diving Review

The Perhentians Islands offer good scuba diving. They belong to the Terengganu Marine Park. There are about 20 dive sites around the small archipelago accessible within a short boat ride.

In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Perenthians Islands.

Dive Summary

There is a good wreck dive called the Sugar Wreck. It is easy and shallow and will offer you good underwater photography opportunities. However the site is close to the mainland and visibility is not always good. Another wreck is the Vietnamese wreck which is upside down. Another popular dive site is the Pinnacle also called Tokong Laut.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-greb/106319844/

The marine life is rich with all the usual reef fishes of Southeast Asia. You can also spot pelagic fishes, lots of turtles and reef sharks. If you are very lucky it is possible to encounter Manta rays and even the tail of a Whale Shark!

The best scuba diving occurs around Redang Island situated a bit further south. The water there is usually much clearer and the coral more beautiful and rich. It is possible to dive Redang from the Perhentians on a day trip.

Best time to Dive in Perenthians Islands

The Perhentians islands are almost completely closed from November to March with irregular boats, and most of the hotels, resorts and diving centres closed. In the other months the Islands are fully booming with nice tropical weather.

• Dry season from April to October, average temperature of 27°C.
• Rainy season from November to March, average temperature of 29°C.
• Peak touristic season runs from July to August

The diving season is also from April to October. The best visibility is generally around summer time. The water temperature is between 27°C to 32°C year round.

Hot tips

• During the peak season and local holidays prices tend to rise sharply. You should book in advance.
• During the rest of the year, you can negotiate the room rates. Lots of budget resorts do not accept reservations in advance so you will need to go there directly to look for a room.
• There are no ATMs on the islands so bring enough cash for your stay. However, diving centres and resorts tend to accept credit card.

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Scuba Diving conditions

Most of the dive sites are easy and are accessible by all divers. The current is generally very gentle. It is a good place to take cheap scuba diving lessons and night diving for example in D’Lagoon.

The visibility is good but not excellent. It ranges from 8m to 20m depending on the season and where you dive.

You will have the dive sites for your own most of the time, except during peak seasons and long weekends when popular dive sites can get crowded.

There are many dive operators on the islands with strong competition. Thus, diving is cheap, ranging from RM 60 to RM 80 depending on how many dives you do.

Snorkelling in Perenthians Islands

Snorkelling around the islands is excellent. You will have the rare chance to easily see many harmless Blacktip reef sharks. Don’t worry they are not dangerous. You will also see giant greet turtles from very close as they are really not shy.

The best way is to arrange a snorkelling day trip with a local guide. He will take you to the best spots around the islands. You can rent your snorkelling gears on many places but better to take yours if you want good quality ones.

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Fishes and Coral

Fishes

You can spot most common fishes around the Perhentians Islands. You can see also many blacktip reef sharks and leopard sharks. But actually blacktip sharks are much easier to see while snorkelling!

Coral

Inside the Terengganu Marine Park, a protected area, you will enjoy very colourful soft coral and lots of sea fans.

Travel Guide

Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Perenthians Islands Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.

Dive spots in Perenthians Islands