Perhentian Dive Sites

Tanjung Basi locates at the Northernmost Tip of Perhentian Besar. The reef sits at 12m-18m depth, and current can be strong at times. This is the primary site in Perhentian for deep diving activities, with beautiful shallow reef, massive boulders and overhangs, offers an interesting opportunity for divers to explore.

Max Depth: 18m-30m

Possible Sightings: Triggerfish, Napoleon Wrasse, Humphead Parrotfish, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Nudibranch, Giant Moray Eel, Unicorn Fish, Bannerfish, Golden Trevallies, and many more.

Sunk in 2000 due to the monsoon, Sugar Wreck (MV Unionstar 17), is a cargo vessel that was carrying sugar from South Africa. It is the largest wreck we have around Perhentian - spanning up to 90m long.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Cuttlefish, Squid, Giant Pufferfish, Barraccudas, Nudibranch, Bamboo Sharks, Butterflyfish, Bannerfish, Golden Trevallies, and many more.

The Three Brothers" or "T3" is a huge site made up of three massive building sized boulders and many smaller ones. Many pelagic fish visit here and it is a good spot to find blacktips, barracuda and turtles. There are numerous caverns and swim-throughs and the soft corals on the top of the boulders make for awesome wide-angle photo opportunities. T3 is also a great place to find nudibranch and pipefish.

Max Depth: 25m

Possible Sightings: Humphead Parrotfish, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Nudibranch, Giant Moray Eel, Unicorn Fish, Bannerfish, Barracudas, Golden Trevallies, and if you're really lucky, Whale sharks come around T3 during August to October.

Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea) is arguably one of the most popular dive sites around Perhentian. It is a submerged pinnacle that goes down all the way to 25m. Enjoy the diverse marine life around the pinnacle and don't forget to look out into the blue where Whale Sharks were known to be spotted.

Max Depth: 25m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Sharks, Bamboo Sharks, White-eyed Moray Eel, Porcupine Fish, Giant Pufferfish, Cuttlefish, Squid, Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Nudibranch, Unicorn Fish, Bannerfish, Barracudas, Golden Trevallies, and if you're really lucky, Whale sharks come around Tokong Laut during August to October.

These THREE (3) fishing vessels were sunk in 2018 to create an artificial wreck sitting at just 18m. San Choi, which sounds like "3-Boats" in Chinese, has become one of the hottest dive sites around Perhentian the past few years. It is now home to thousands of marine life. You could get lost in the school of fish surrounding the wreck!

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Bamboo Sharks, Jenkins Whipray, Bluespotted Stingray, Porcupine Fish, Giant Pufferfish, Cuttlefish, Squid, Barracudas, Golden Trevallies, and so so many more!

Serenggeh Island is a small, rocky islet off the coast of Perhentian Kecil, known for its vibrant marine biodiversity and unique underwater topography. This site is popular among both beginner and experienced divers due to its moderate depth, good visibility, and the variety of marine life it offers. There is also a beautiful "canyon" at the end of the dive site - if you have sufficient air left, you won't want to miss this.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Bamboo Sharks, Bluespotted Stingray, Boxfish, Porcupine Fish, Giant Pufferfish, Cuttlefish, Squid, Barracudas, Golden Trevallies, Angelfish, Lionfish, Humphead Parrotfish, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Moray Eels, and so so many more!

Whip Garden or also known as Tokong Burung Deep is off the rocky islet of Tokong Burung, close to Tokong Laut. This unique dive site offers diverse marine life as well as corals (soft & hard). Tons of whip corals can be found here, as the name suggests, and also tree-size Black Corals is also spotted here. Venture into the forest of the sea and be amazed of this one-of-a-kind dive site. Pretty much like entering a magical place here.

Max Depth: 25m

Possible Sightings: Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Jenkins Whipray, Short Tail Ray, Marble Ray, Trevallies, Snappers, Nudibranch, Angelfish, Humphead Parrotfish, Eagle Ray, Barracudas, Pufferfish, and many more.

Tokong Burung (Bird Rock) is a scenic, boat-accessed reef surrounding a rocky islet in the outer cluster of the Perhentian Islands. It features sloping rock formations, and vibrant soft coral gardens that drop off into a calm, sandy seabed.

Max Depth: 20m

Possible Sightings: Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Jenkins Whipray, Blue-spotted Stingray, Bamboo Shark, Yellowtail Barracuda, Groupers, Nudibranch, Leather Soft Corals, and many more.

Located off Perhentian Kecil, this artificial reef project consists of intentionally sunken metal vessels clustered together on a flat seabed. Locals have noted that 7 boats were sunken but only 6 are found today. The 7th is a mystery, hence the name. It provides fantastic structure for schooling fish and marine life shelter, making it a favorite for wreck enthusiasts.

Max Depth: 24m

Possible Sightings: Schooling Trevally, Snappers, Barracuda, Bamboo Shark, Scorpionfish, Boxfish, Batfish, Lionfish, Nudibranch, and many more.

Romantic Beach is a gentle, shallow slope located between Romantic Beach and Teluk Aur on Perhentian Kecil. Its calm, clear waters and easy sand-to-coral transition make it an ideal warm-up, refresher, or training site for beginner divers.

Max Depth: 12m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Blue-spotted Stingray, Clownfish, Damselfish, Parrotfish, Wrasse, Gobies, Pipefish, and many more.

Situated next to Vietnamese Wreck, Seahorse Drift features a combination of sandy bottoms and scattered hard coral heads. Divers drift along gentle currents while scanning low-lying rubble and sea fans for rare macro critters.

Max Depth: 24m

Possible Sightings: Octopus, Seahorse, Pipefish, Nudibranch, Blue-spotted Ray, Cuttlefish, Razorfish, Hermit Crab, and many more.

Also known as Pasir Tani, this sunken 1970s refugee transport ship rests on its side in deeper waters. Prone to stronger currents and variable visibility, this challenging dive rewards experienced divers with rich macro life and heavy fish coverage over its encrusted hull.

Max Depth: 24m

Possible Sightings: Seahorse, Blue-ringed Octopus, Batfish, Scorpionfish, Groupers, Barracuda, Snapper, Sweetlips, Nudibranch, and many more.

Positioned at the northern tip of Perhentian Kecil, Tanjung Butong is characterized by massive granite boulders cascading into deep water. Known as "Trigger Alley," it offers exciting drift-style topography with overhangs, and pelagic action.

Max Depth: 32m

Possible Sightings: Titan Triggerfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Schooling Trevally, Scorpionfish, Moray Eel, Nudibranch, Blacktip Reef Shark, and many more.

Off a sheltered bay site on northern Perhentian Kecil that hides rocky formations, fine white sand, and compact hard coral formations. It offers relaxed diving conditions with plenty of juvenile marine life taking shelter among the coral heads.

Max Depth: 20m

Possible Sightings: Groupers, Blacktip Reef Shark, Blue-spotted Ray, Angelfish, Moray Eel, Hawksbill Turtle, Anemonefish, Butterflyfish, and many more.

Stingray Alley is a sloping boulder reef that smoothly transitions into broad patches of open sand. The contrast between the rocky overhangs and open seabed makes it a top spot for spotting rays and benthic sharks resting on the bottom.

Max Depth: 20m

Possible Sightings: Jenkins Whipray, Blue-spotted Stingray, Bamboo Shark, Blacktip Reef Shark, Tuna, Bumphead Parrotfish, Nudibranch, and many more.

Located in a quiet, sheltered bay on Perhentian Kecil, D'Lagoon features fine white sand interspersed with healthy hard and soft coral patches. It is famous for calm conditions, shallow depths, and exceptional night diving opportunities.

Max Depth: 12m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Bumphead Parrotfish, Blue-spotted Ray, Hawksbill Turtle, Squid, Cuttlefish, Nudibranch, and many more.

Extending out from the Batu Nisan headland into deeper water, this site features a continuous boulder slope covered in hard corals and sea whips. It offers moderate depths and gentle currents suitable for all experience levels.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Blue-spotted Stingray, Coral Cat Shark, White-eyed Moray Eel, Cuttlefish, Scorpionfish, Trevally, Snapper, Parrotfish, and many more.

Positioned at the northern end of Long Beach on Perhentian Kecil, Batu Nisan is a classic, shallow house reef. With clear, calm waters and easy entry, it is one of the island's premier locations for training courses, checkout dives, and night dives.

Max Depth: 12m

Possible Sightings: Baby Blacktip Reef Shark, Clownfish, Damselfish, Blue-spotted Ray, Squid, Hermit Crab, Pipefish, Needlefish, and many more.

A cluster of three decommissioned wooden police patrol boats intentionally sunk side-by-side on a flat seabed. Over time, they have merged into a vibrant artificial reef teeming with baitfish, macro life, and resident apex predators.

Max Depth: 19m

Possible Sightings: Chevron Barracuda, Snapper, Yellow Scad, Bamboo Shark, Crocodile Fish, Nudibranch, Lionfish, Batfish, and many more.

Named "Sail Rock" after its distinctive profile, Batu Layar is a submerged pinnacle surrounded by scattered rocks, soft coral garden slopes, and deep overhangs. The open water exposure brings regular visits from schooling pelagics and turtles.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Hawksbill Turtle, Barracuda, Snapper, Scorpionfish, Porcupinefish, Nudibranch, and many more.

Situated along the northwest bay of Perhentian Besar, Teluk Pauh features gentle sea grass beds sloping into healthy shallow hard coral patches. The tranquil bay conditions make it a prime location for turtle encounters and relaxed diving.

Max Depth: 12m

Possible Sightings: Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Blue-spotted Stingray, Cuttlefish, Parrotfish, Needlefish, Clownfish, and many more.

One of Perhentian’s most iconic sites, Shark Point consists of shallow staghorn coral fields fading into a clean sand bottom. As the name suggests, it is a consistent gathering ground for blacktip reef sharks patrolling the warm, shallow reef.

Max Depth: 12m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Cuttlefish, Blue-spotted Stingray, Trevally, Triggerfish, and many more.

Translating to "Ship Rock," Batu Kapal consists of twin submerged granite pinnacles sitting south of Shark Point. The site boasts rich encrusting corals, crevices, and open channels that attract hunting pelagic species.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Fusiliers, Yellowtail Trevally, Moray Eel, Scorpionfish, Triggerfish, Nudibranch, and many more.

A dramatic granite rock formation protruding from the sea, featuring steep drop-offs, underwater overhangs, and narrow crevices creating fun swim throughs. The vertical structure and occasional currents attract schooling fish and cranny-dwelling macro critters.

Max Depth: 22m

Possible Sightings: Barracuda, Yellowtail Trevally, Bamboo Shark, Nudibranch, Spiny Lobster, Moray Eel, Boxfish, and many more.

Often rated among the prettiest reefs around the islands, T2 is a submerged pinnacle and boulder reef famous for its dense, colorful soft coral coverage and sea fans. It offers vibrant colors and diverse fish life in shallow to mid-range depths.

Max Depth: 18m

Possible Sightings: Humphead Parrotfish, Blacktip Reef Shark, Eagle Ray, Pipefish, Nudibranch, Sweetlips, Angelfish, and many more.

Located off the uninhabited outer island of Pulau Rawa, this site boasts crystal-clear waters, giant granite boulder formations, and pristine hard corals. The outer exposure frequently brings larger marine life into view.

Max Depth: 20m

Possible Sightings: Blacktip Reef Shark, Bumphead Parrotfish, Trevally, Giant Clam, Hawksbill Turtle, Schooling Snapper, and many more.

Part of the outer Susu Dara island cluster, Susu Dara Kecil features boulder swim-throughs, drop-off walls, and healthy soft coral growth. Excellent visibility and exposed currents make it a thrill for intermediate divers.

Max Depth: 22m

Possible Sightings: Yellowtail Barracuda, Snapper, Hawksbill Turtle, Blue-spotted Stingray, Nudibranch, Moray Eel, and many more.

The larger sister island to Susu Dara Kecil, offering an expansive site with shallow coral flats sloping down into deeper coral walls and open sand. Its outer position yields great visibility and heavy pelagic fish action.

Max Depth: 25m

Possible Sightings: Pelagic Fish, Giant Trevally, Blacktip Reef Shark, Jenkins Whipray, Moray Eel, Barracuda, Nudibranch, and many more.