Endowed with breathtaking beauty and superb underwater attractions, Pulau Perhentian is a destination in Southeast Asia with few peers. This marine park is divided into two islands, Pulau Perhentian Kecil and Pulau Perhentian Besar and comprises of Pulau Rawa, Pulau Serenggeh, Pulau Susu Dara Besar and Pulau Susu Dara Kecil. These islands are located about 20km from the main land.
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'Perhentian' when translated from Malay language means stop over and the word 'Besar' means big while 'Kecil' means small. This islands offers a various styles of accommodation to suit the visitor's budget and dive packages. For visitors who like to spend a holidays here, are advice to make a reservation at least a month before arriving date because all of the islands of Terengganu is #1 island holiday destination in Malaysia. So, please make a reservation earlier (2 - 3 month before arrival date) or its fully book.
Perhentian Kecil offers wider beaches and an even wider range of accommodation. Its vibrant nightlife is renowned. Along the famous Long beach, visitors can enjoy their evenings at the many rustic cafes and bars that open till early hours.
Of the two islands, Pulau Perhentian Kecil is the more secluded and isolated with only minimum facilities while Pulau Perhentian Besar has been carefully developed to cater to visitors.
Dive sites here are at close proximity to one another with interesting sights at each. Tiger Reel Reef offers the chance to spot green turtles. At Gua Kambing, be prepared for an underwater manicure as cleaner shrimp at some coral bommies excitedly interact with divers. Simply lay your hands down next to the coral and these shrimps will venture to your boldly. Pretty soon, they'll be nibbling away gently
as they attempt to get rid of so-called 'parasites' from your nails.
To the north of Perhentian Kecil, you will drift dive past a rich bed of soft and hard corals, shaded by large angelfish, parrotfish and black-spotted snappers, green turtles and manta rays make occasional visits here.
For the ultimate, relaxing dive, a night-time shore dive from the north end of Perhentian Kecil's, Long Beach or Pasir Panjang is recommended. You will encounter blue-spotted stingrays, cuttlefish and plenty of reef fish. As you surface for shore, fin gently on your back and gaze into the starry night. The sound of faint music beckoning from the seaside cafes is a magical welcome back to the island. Suffice to say, the relatively shallow depths here allow you to maximise your diving time. Perhentian Besar has ample accommodation and several dive centres. It has a more sedate lifestyle, with chalets only a few metres away from the shore.
