Around 40km off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, not far from Singapore is the picturesque island of Tioman.
A popular holiday resort for Malaysians & Singaporeans, the steep-sided jungle clad slopes of the island rise straight out the water and smaller islets dot the coastline, making for a spectacular tropical dive spot.
A little to the south is the tiny island of Aur, which while difficult to reach, has good diving.
Highlights
Best diving spots
Underwater, Tioman's best sites are off the north-west coast. The islets of Labas & Tulai offer good diving, with plenty of soft coral & the chance to see Nurse Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, & Turtles.
Tiger Reef is a submerged pinnacle that is only suitable for more experienced divers, who are rewarded with stunning soft corals, healthy reef-life and a good chance of big fish encounters.
Closer to Tioman, Labas Island has many swim-throughs and makes for an interesting, enjoyable dive, while Soyak has a small wreck that is home to Lionfish & Banded Sea-Kraits, plus a nice fringing reef.
Large Turtles, Giant Morays, Bumphead Parrotfish & Cuttlefish are frequently seen around Tioman’s dive sites. Blacktip Reef Sharks & Nurse Sharks are seen too, with Whale Sharks making very occasional appearances. The best spot for big fish encounters is Magician’s Rock to the north - although the site can only be dived in perfect conditions.
To the south, Palau Aur is another popular dive spot. It normally has better visibility & healthier reefs than Tioman as it is a little further from the mainland, but is more difficult to reach. There is accommodation here, but currently no dive resort.
There is good diving off the south coast of Aur around Pulau Pinang, where Stingrays, Batfish, Napoleon Wrasse & large Groupers can be seen. A little south, three deep pinnacles have Barracuda, Napoeon Wrasse, schools of Snapper & Fusliers & Whitetip sightings.
Dayang & Lang to the north probably have Aur's best diving. At Raynor's Rock, a family of Bumphead Parrotfish munch their way noisily around the reef, while Captain's Point is a great drift-dive with plenty of big fish encounters. Healthy populations of reef-life call this area home and there is a chance to see Eagle Rays, Manta Rays or even the odd Whale Shark - especially between October & November.
When to dive
Tioman is best dived between April and October.
Getting there
Tioman can be reached by ferry from Mersing on the mainland. There are regular trips in the high season, between April & October, but a very limited service outside these months. It's also possible to fly to the island by small plane from both Singapore & Kuala Lumpur.
Activities
Away from the reefs, day trips & snorkelling to nearby islands are popular, including trips to the beautiful Joara beach on the other side of the island. For the more ambitious, it is possible to arrange jungle trekking and rock climbing. Nightlife on the island tends to be limited to a few restaurants.
Resort and liveaboard options
There is a wide range of accommodation on the island. The beaches to the north of the island tend to cater for budget travellers, while to the south, mid and high range resorts can be found. Some of the more exclusive resorts are a little difficult to reach, so it is best to book in advance.
You might also enjoy...
Sipadan & Mabul Island
Sipadan is Malaysia’s most famous diving spot. Nearby, Mabul Island offers more excellent diving for smaller marine life, and a good choice of dive resorts.
These nutrient-rich waters attract huge numbers of Turtles, while the area is also home to large number of White-tip Reef Sharks, Bumphead Parrotfish, Trevally and Barracuda.
Layang Layang
Layang Layang is a remote atoll in the South China Sea, around 300 kilometres off the coast of Borneo.
The 14 kilometre long atoll rises from the depths 2000 metres below, providing awesome wall diving and some great opportunities for shark lovers.
Negros & Dumaguete
Negros Island is a large island in the Visayas. It’s eastern shore is separated from Cebu by a narrow channel, while it’s west coast faces the Sulu Sea. Much of the diving is in the south of the island.
Like many of the Philippines dive spots, it is blessed with the combination of big fish encounters and fascinating smaller critters that will keep avid divers happy for many dives.
Wreck diving hotspots
With so much coastline and so many seas, it is no wonder that South-east Asia has some of the best wreck diving in the world.
Many of the region's wrecks are not only great for their level of preservation & fascinating history, but also for the amount of marine life that now calls them home.
So if you want to experience some world-class wreck diving, click on a hotspot below...
Madang
Madang is a bustling town on the north coast of Papua New Guinea.
It is also renowned for some superb diving and its unique marine environment is of great interest to scientists, with new species regularly found here.
Langkawi
