With water so clear that boats look as though they are floating on glass, the mountainous little island of Tioman, which is sparsely populated and heavily forested, is an exquisite and enchanting place. Regulations forbid buildings more than three stories high, and this beautiful piece of paradise, which has been used by mariners as a source of fresh water for thousands of years, is truly amazing both topside and beneath the water. With an abundance of marine life, it is surrounded by pristine coral reefs. While there is lots to see in the surrounding area, the three main dive sites at the island itself deserve some attention. Let’s go take a look!
Tioman Marine Park - Tioman Island Dive Sites
A wonderful site for all divers, Tioman Marine Park features a series of wrecks, eight in all, at depths between eight and twenty-five meters. The wrecks are connected by a permanent line, so navigation is simple. Each of the wrecks is covered in a soft blanket of coral and sponge, and you’ll find fantastic moray eels, groupers, and snappers living onboard. Look for shoaling fusiliers, curious batfish, and schooling jack and trevally, plus keep an eye out for the occasional turtle, shark, or ray. Be careful – the wrecks are a hideout for scorpionfish! Visibility here, as in other places around the island, is excellent, so be sure to bring your camera.
House Reef - Tioman Island Dive Sites
Just right for first time divers, and fun for those with experience, as well, Tioman’s House Reef offers maximum depth at just ten meters, and is beautifully calm. Fun for diving day or night, it is home to a wealth of small crabs, lobsters, nudibranchs, and other little creatures, all hiding among the stands of staghorn coral and huge boulder corals. Tiny tropical fish and colorful shrimp dance atop brain corals, while a school of small barracuda and groups of parrotfish, angelfish, and butterfly fish put on a show of their own.
Pirate Reef - Tioman Island Dive Sites
With maximum depth at only fourteen meters, and located just a quick five minute ride from the dock, Pirate Reef is a superb dive site which is ideal for novices and experts alike. Besides the fact that the Pirate Wreck is located nearby and often dived at the same time, this beautifully vibrant reef is one of the main fish spawning and hatching sites at Tioman. It is literally overflowing with both adult and juvenile reef fish, and the coral that sets the scene for all this activity is fantastic in its own right. At night, you’ll find bamboo sharks, and you can see crabs and little lobsters on their evening cleanup routes.
Getting to Tioman is easy, as it is just 32 kilometers from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Popular as an eco-tourism destination due to the abundance of rare species that inhabit the island itself, Tioman boasts several fantastic resorts and chalets. You can get here by flying or ferry, and you can also visit via liveaboard. Whichever route you choose, you’ll be certain to enjoy some spectacular diving and make memories that last for life.