Located between the Perhentians and Redang Island, the lovely little isle of Lang Tengah is both remote and seldom visited. With pristine and healthy coral in abundance, and with incredibly diverse marine life, including bamboo sharks, shovelnose rays, and turtles, it is a fantastic little piece of paradise which is ideal for a relaxing getaway. While there are several wonderful dive sites here, some do deserve a little extra attention. Here are just five to whet your appetite for adventure.
Goby Garden - Malaysia Dive Sites
With depths between two and eighteen meters, Goby Garden features fantastic coral formations, as well as colorful soft coral and sponges. With such intriguing creatures as Christmas tree worms, tiny decorator crabs, and nudbranchs, it is ideal for macro photography. As the site’s name suggests, it is also a good place to encounter hundreds of little gobies clinging to the rocks and corals. In addition, look for the occasional black tip reef shark, and keep a sharp eye out for the stonefish and octopus that hide in the reef. Look for more colorful species as well, including parrotfish and triggerfish, angelfish, and butterfly fish.
Karang Nibong - Malaysia Dive Sites
Suitable only for divers with experience, Karang Nibong is a good place for a drift dive among pelagics, such as jacks and trevally, schooling barracuda, shoals of snapper, and others. Watch for smaller creatures too, such as wrasse and damsels, nudibranchs, and others. With a bit of current and maximum depth at 31 meters, this is also a good place for the occasional manta ray or whale shark encounter. Watch for turtles and sharks, too.
Batu Bulan - Malaysia Dive Sites
Featuring a beautiful backdrop composed primarily of table corals and a few large boulders, Batu Bulan is an excellent site for intermediate divers and above. Home to schooling batfish and snappers, moray eels and black tip reef sharks, the site features maximum depth at just 15 meters and is ideal for all divers. From time to time, a light current allows for an easygoing drift. Watch for napping cat sharks and nurse sharks along the reef’s base, and keep an eye out for a variety of rays, as well.
Karang Bahar - Malaysia Dive Sites
Beautifully colorful, with an abundance of sponges and soft corals that create the perfect backdrop for photography, Karang Bahar is suitable for intermediate divers and above. With maximum depth at 25 meters, and a light current that encourages a relaxing drift, the site’s rocks shelter such creatures as stonefish and groupers, shrimps, crabs, and other crustaceans. Look for jacks and fusiliers, barracuda, and the occasional shark.
Terumbu Kuning - Malaysia Dive Sites
Also known as Yellow Reef, and with depths between 10 and 20 meters, Terumbu Kuning is a fantastic site for all divers. While there is an occasional current, the site is not at all challenging. Named for the yellow colored black coral trees that grow in abundance toward the bottom of the reef, as well as for all the yellow butterfly fish and others, the site is great for photography. Watch for intriguing hingeback shrimps, lobsters, and pipefish as you explore, and keep an eye out for juvenile sharks.
There are a few small resorts on the island, and for the most part it is still a sleepy and undiscovered place. A good way to visit is via liveaboard – with excellent accommodations and the opportunity to dive in even more places that are just too far out of the way for local dive operators to visit, the cruises are diver-oriented and fun for all. No matter which option you choose, be sure to make reservations well in advance. Space is limited, and as the word gets out, Lang Tengah is certain to be an even more popular destination.