Perhentian Island Dive Sites

The Perhentian Islands (Pulau Perhentian) are one of Malaysia’s top diving destinations, offering crystal-clear waters, abundant marine life, and diverse dive sites. Whether you’re a beginner looking for shallow reefs or an experienced diver seeking deep wrecks and strong currents, Perhentian has something for everyone.

Popular Dive Sites in Perhentian

1. Sugar Wreck

(MV Union Star 17)

One of Perhentian’s most famous dive sites, this 90-meter-long cargo ship sank in 2000 and now lies at a depth of 18 meters. Over time, it has become an artificial reef, home to barracudas, trevallies, groupers, scorpionfish, and bamboo sharks. This site is great for wreck diving, but visibility can vary, and currents can be strong.

2. Tokong Laut

(Temple of the Sea)

Often considered the best dive site in Perhentian, Tokong Laut is a massive pinnacle covered in hard and soft corals. The site attracts blacktip reef sharks, barracudas, moray eels, cuttlefish, and even whale sharks (seasonally). Currents can be strong, making it more suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.

3. Terumbu Tiga

(T3 or Three Brothers Rock)

A stunning dive site featuring huge granite boulders, swim-throughs, and overhangs. It’s a great place to spot blue-spotted stingrays, nudibranchs, and bamboo sharks. The rocky formations create an exciting underwater landscape, and strong currents can bring larger pelagic species.

4. Shark Point

As the name suggests, this site is known for frequent sightings of blacktip reef sharks. It features a sloping coral reef with plenty of anemones, clownfish, and parrotfish. It’s a must-visit for shark lovers and a great spot for underwater photography.

5. D’Lagoon

A calm and shallow dive site, perfect for beginners and macro photographers. Expect to see seahorses, pipefish, nudibranchs, and reef fish hiding among the corals. It’s also a great place for night diving, where you can find octopuses and hunting lionfish.

6. Tanjung Basi

Located near Besar Island, this site features a mix of coral reefs and rocky formations, attracting trevallies, snappers, and schools of fusiliers. Currents can be moderate, making it suitable for all levels of divers.

7. Vietnamese Wreck

A sunken Vietnamese refugee boat, this wreck now sits at a depth of 24 meters, making it an exciting site for advanced divers. It is covered in soft corals, sponges, and schools of yellow snappers, with occasional sightings of giant groupers and bamboo sharks.

8. Batu Layar (Sail Rock)

A beautiful reef with colorful corals, sea fans, and diverse marine life. Divers can expect to see batfish, lionfish, and schooling jacks. The site is also popular for night dives, where you might spot cuttlefish and sleeping parrotfish.

9. Seahorse Drift

A fantastic drift dive along a coral wall, known for seahorses, ghost pipefish, and frogfish hiding in the coral. The currents here make it an exciting dive for those who enjoy drifting with the water flow.

10. Pinnacle House Reef

Located near the dive centers, this site is great for training dives and night dives. It is home to clownfish, pufferfish, lobsters, and small reef sharks.

Why Dive in Perhentian Islands?

• Varied Dive Sites: From shallow coral gardens to deep wreck dives and strong drift dives.

• Rich Marine Life: Regular sightings of reef sharks, turtles, rays, and macro critters.

• Great Visibility: Ranges from 10 to 30 meters, depending on the season.

• Warm Tropical Waters: Comfortable temperatures between 27-30°C year-round.

• Accessible for All Levels: Beginner-friendly sites and thrilling deep dives for advanced divers.

Whether you're looking for relaxing coral reef dives, exciting wreck explorations, or thrilling drift dives, Perhentian Island is a must-visit diving destination in Malaysia!