Ask any travel agent for the best scuba diving spot in Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast and he/she will probably--automatically--direct you to Pulau Perhentian. At any one weekend you will find as many as 300 people diving in its vicinity & when their last tanks are spent, they retreat to their budget hotels or seaside cafes that rim the sparkling sands of Perhentian Besar. Go thru this blog for a dip in its warm waters.
Perhentian, as the locals fondly call the island, can be reached by trawler from the sleepy fishing town of Kuala Besut, Terengganu. The seascape of reefs and smaller islands surrounding Perhentian Besar-one of the two islands in the Perhentian archipelago 21km off Terengganu's shores-are rich with the beauty and variety of marine life bustling below the glittering tropical waters.
The waters of Perhentian Besar house an amazing variety of aquatic life that ranges from solitary angelfish to schooling moonfish. The vividly coloured corals, fish, turtles, sharks and rays make up a show- stopping water world and the dazzling performance not to be missed is the dancing clownfish that swim endlessly back and forth and around their anemone abodes. However, be warned, clownfish are very possessive of their soft corals. There is also an abundance multicoloured miniature 'Christmas trees' actually gossamer worms spiralling from heads of brain coral here. Even a squid or two may let you hover within an arm's length. Hence, it is this and the sheer coral that keep divers returning for more
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Perhentian's shoreline, stretching from one tip of the island to the other, is littered with remnants of corals and seashells of all shapes and sizes. The waters are crystal clear with a visibility range of 15 metres from the water's surface. On a sunny day, the sea turns chartreuse against a brilliant-blue sky.
Perhentian has, for years, top marks as one of the best diving spots on the East Coast.
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After about two hours of snorkelling and diving, you will probably find your body aching, It's time to surface, collect seashells and search for sea cucumbers sucking up the sand along the beach, or just laze in the sun on the beach, watching seabirds dive and sail across the water looking for their meals. There is always plenty of time for a nap before dinner. The next day, get up just before the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise over Perhentian. It is another day and the sea, weather, clouds and colours on and off-shore, will be different. All this is the cycle of life at Perhentian.
HOW TO GET THERE:
-Pulau Perhentian can be reached bt trawler from Kuala Besut, Terrengganu.
-Boats normally leave the jetty between 7 am and 10 am daily and the trips take about 90 minutes. The fare is between RM 30 to RM 50 each, depending on the type of boat and the number of passengers on board.
-There are two ways to get to the town: by air or road.
By road either by bus or car will take about 8 hours from Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia Airline flies daily from Subang and KLIA to Kuala Terrengganu.
From the airport, visitors can take a taxi to the fishing town. It costs between RM30 and RM60 per person.
But for those who enjoy the beautiful scenery of the East Coast, a drive to the town is recommended. The journey is rewarding
So what are you waiting for, come and have a dip at Perhentian !!!
