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Scuba Diving in Perhentian Islands
A pair of islands, Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar, off the north-east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in Terengganu. Fringed by clear, warm South China Sea water, coral reefs and a few shipwrecks, the Perhentians are one of the country's most popular and affordable places to learn to dive, with white-sand beaches and no cars. Most resorts and dive centres close during the north-east monsoon.
Why here
The Perhentians are where a lot of travellers get certified, and for good reason. The two islands sit inside a marine park in warm, clear water, the reefs start in the shallows straight off the beach, and the diving is gentle enough that a first Open Water course here is relaxed rather than daunting. Green and hawksbill turtles are common, blacktip reef sharks cruise the shallows at sites like Shark Point, and there are bumphead parrotfish, cuttlefish, moray eels and healthy hard-coral gardens. For something with structure, the Sugar Wreck, a cargo ship that sank in 2000, sits in around 18 metres and has become a soft-coral-covered fish magnet, with a couple of other wrecks nearby for qualified divers. Prices are among the lowest in the region and the pace is barefoot and unhurried, which makes the Perhentians a natural counterpoint to the deep, current-fed diving of Sipadan on the far side of the country. Come outside the monsoon, when the islands are open and the sea is at its clearest.
Best months
The dive season runs roughly March to October; from about November to February the north-east monsoon closes most resorts, boats and dive centres, and access is limited. Water is warm year-round at around 28 to 30 degrees, so a shorty or 3mm suit is enough. Visibility is generally good and currents are mild at most sites, which is why the islands are a strong choice for beginners; the Sugar Wreck and outer pinnacles like Tokong Laut give certified divers more to work with.
Getting there & around
Reach the islands by boat from Kuala Besut jetty, itself about an hour from Kota Bharu airport or a longer drive or overnight bus from Kuala Lumpur. Speedboats run frequently in season, roughly 30 to 45 minutes across. There are no cars or ATMs on the islands and power can be limited, so bring cash. Pick your beach with the diving in mind: Long Beach on Kecil is the backpacker hub, while Besar is quieter.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Flora Bay Divers
SchoolFlora Bay Divers is a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Dive Resort at Teluk Dalam on Perhentian Besar, and it says it is the only centre on the island able to offer the full range of PADI programmes. Under PADI Course Director Azman Sulaiman it has trained more than 700 PADI professionals. Its dive sites include the outer pinnacles Tokong Laut and Terumbu Tiga, the Sugar Wreck and the surrounding reefs, with full-day trips out to Redang and Lang Tengah islands.
Turtle Bay Divers
SchoolTurtle Bay Divers is a dive centre on Long Beach, Perhentian Kecil, running courses and guided dives across the marine park. It teaches PADI courses from Open Water through Enriched Air and welcomes divers certified with agencies including SSI, NAUI, CMAS, BSAC and TDI. Its trips take in the islands' three wrecks, the 3,500-tonne Sugar Wreck, the Police Wreck at around 18 metres and the deeper Secret Wreck, plus reef sites rich in turtles and bumphead parrotfish and day trips to Redang.