Water Adventure in Perhentian Islands

Perhentian Islands in Malaysia

Malysia have a lot of things to offer, not only known for it's best dishes. You have plenty of activities to do whether you stay in this country for good or for a quality vacation. One of the best thing to do is to explore Malaysia's sparkling waters.

Located approximately 20 kilometers off the coast of North East Malaysia, very close to Thailand, the Perhentian Islands is a good diving destination for all underwater enthusiasts.

More breathe taking snorkeling view from the shore and this island offers a lot of good diving spot, trails to hike, and beautiful beaches keeping yourself busy.

The 2 Main Islands of Perhentian

Perhentian Kecil

With cheaper accommodation, this island attracts more traveler as it is more developed. It has many dive shops you can check out for all your needs. 

Perhentian Besar

This island of Perhentian is less developed with more expensive resorts and restaurants, however, this is also the best island good for relaxation and romantic breakaway.

Five uninhabited islands

Except for two main islands of Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil,  there are five more islands in the archipelago.  All these five islands are uninhabited.  

There are many snorkeling and scuba diving spots around it. The amazing sandy beaches are on Rawa, Serengeh and Tokong Burung islands.

How to get to the Perhentian Islands?

From the city in Malaysia, you can go to Kuala Besut by bus, and from there take a boat to one of the Perhentian Islands.

You can buy boat tickets at Kuala Besut Jetty. Multiple boats leave every day, the boat ride takes approximately 40 minutes.

Snorkeling in Perhentian Islands

Snorkeling around the islands is awesome. You will have a good chance to easily see many harmless Blacktip reef sharks. 

This type of shark is harmless. You will also see giant green turtles from very close as they are not shy.

The best way is to arrange a snorkeling day trip with a local guide to take you to the best spots around the islands. 

You can rent your snorkeling gears on many places but better to take yours for it is safer and you can choose what kind of gear suits you need.

Diving Season

The diving season in the Perhentian Islands is from April to October. This month has warm water for about 27 to 32c and with good visibility. 

June to August mostly has little rain. From November to March the whole island shuts down due to bad weather and rough seas.

Perhentian Island Dive Sites

The very popular site is also called the ‘The three brothers’ or T3 due to 3 massive boulders at this site. 

The reef is patchy with many barrel sponges, gorgonian sea fans, giant clams, and solid table coral. Many small reefs fish frequent the reefs, nothing bigger than titan trigger fish. 

Tanjung Betong

Tokong Laut

The Sugar Wreck

Traveling Malaysia FAQs

1. When is the rainy (monsoon) season?

Malaysia, being an equatorial country, experiences afternoon rain showers throughout the year, which cools the day. 

However, during the North-East monsoon between the months of December through February, there will be an increase in the frequency of these showers. Also check out our weather webpage.

2. What attire should I bring on my vacation to Malaysia, and what should I wear when visiting mosques and temples?

As Malaysia’s climate is hot and humid almost all year round, it is ideal to have light clothing to be worn throughout the year. 

It is also advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.

3. What is the best way to travel around the country?

Whether you are in a hurry to get to your destination or you wish to take things leisurely, there is a wide choice of transportation to suit your needs. 

By air, you can travel with Malaysia Airlines domestic flights. By rail, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) of Malaysian Railways has an impressive rail network that stretches from North to South and East to West throughout Peninsula Malaysia. Buses and taxis are also available throughout Malaysia. 

There are also transfer services with drivers readily available.

4. What is the national language?

Bahasa Malaysia is the national and official language. English is widely used especially in commerce and industry. Several Chinese and Indian dialects are also spoken.

5. Is it safe to drink tap water?

In major cities, towns and resorts, tap water is generally safe to drink.

6. What is the procedure if I want to bring pets into Malaysia?

It is advisable for you to contact the Malaysian Diplomatic Mission nearest you for up-to-date information concerning the importation of pets from your country. Various air line companies may also be able to help you with this.

7. What is the time difference?

Standard Malaysia time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 7 hours ahead of summer and 8 hours ahead of winter.

Traveling Asia

Asia is the best destination for all travel enthusiasts. It comprises 48 countries, so it’s hard to narrow down where to begin your visit. It contains the two most populated countries in the world, China and India.

While it would take years to truly explore every corner of this continent, most travelers begin in Southeast Asia. 

Almost every part of Asia has its own unique dishes, festivals, cultures, beliefs and more.