Perhentian Kecil
Explore The Perhentian IslandsNestled in the South China Sea, the Perhentian Islands off the coast o
Explore The Perhentian Islands
Nestled in the South China Sea, the Perhentian Islands off the coast of Terengganu, Malaysia, are a diver's paradise, boasting some of the most enchanting underwater experiences in the region. The islands consist of Perhentian Besar, ideal for families and honeymooners, and Perhentian Kecil, a favorite among backpackers. Both islands offer crystal-clear waters, teeming with marine life, and vibrant coral reefs. Divers here can enjoy the thrill of exploring underwater rock formations and swimming through captivating overhangs. The underwater world around the Perhentian Islands is alive with a dazzling array of marine species. Among the most memorable experiences are encounters with green and hawksbill sea turtles, as well as sightings of black-tip sharks cruising through the waters. The islands are renowned for their excellent visibility and warm waters, providing an inviting environment for both novice and seasoned divers. From March to October, the diving season reveals an abundance of life, with colorful reef fish darting through the corals and fascinating WWII wrecks, such as the Sugar Wreck, waiting to be explored by advanced divers. What makes diving in the Perhentian Islands truly special is the harmonious blend of natural beauty and thrilling underwater exploration. Whether you're captivated by the serene grace of a turtle gliding by or the adrenaline rush of discovering a historical wreck, the islands offer a dive experience that's both inspiring and unforgettable.
Places to explore
Dive Activity
Diving in Perhentian Islands
There are many different dive sites surrounding the Perhentian Islands, and so a variety of types of diving to be done here. Luckily, the dive sites here are all quite close to the shore, so the dives are either done from shore, or with a short boat ride, the furthest being 20 minutes out. The topography of most of the dive sites are made up of boulders, pinnacles and other rock formations which also, in some dive sites, creative thrilling swim-throughs and overhangs, canyons and sometimes caves. This area also has three wrecks for divers to explore and there are a number of shallow reefs teeming with life to be enjoyed by all divers.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Perhentian Islands
This area is known for its high abundance of multiple species of marine life. The warm waters, calm conditions and the flourishing reefs are what attracts these many species. The reefs are made up of a variety of different corals of all shapes, sizes and colours to be admired by all divers. The reefs include soft corals, hard corals, Sea Fans, Barrel Sponges, Giant Clams, Anemones, Table Corals and Coral Pinnacles. The dive site T3 here is among the best sites in the area to admire one of these reefs with its vibrant colours and many different schools of fish and other reef critters. The wrecks here have also done an impressive job of having grown their own marine environment and have also attracted numerous species for divers to admire. Temple of the Sea dive site is the most popular for spotting Sea Turtles and on the best days, Whale Sharks can glide by as an exciting surprise. There is also one dive site to spot Blacktip Reef Sharks which is the appropriately named Shark Point.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
1.1k Sightings
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0
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22
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32
A
108
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118
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106
J
241
A
220
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197
O
48
N
1
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0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
695 Sightings
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2
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1
M
6
A
66
M
74
J
79
J
124
A
173
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136
O
31
N
1
D
2
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
396 Sightings
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0
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0
M
10
A
38
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40
J
66
J
87
A
76
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68
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10
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1
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0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
370 Sightings
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3
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0
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2
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11
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26
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64
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108
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88
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63
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4
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1
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0
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
355 Sightings
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2
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7
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12
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37
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35
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28
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64
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86
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50
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27
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0
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
3.1k Sightings
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7
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25
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106
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302
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336
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379
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627
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621
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550
O
136
N
3
D
1
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
2.9k Sightings
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6
F
25
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96
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301
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371
J
327
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575
A
623
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445
O
116
N
1
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
2.2k Sightings
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5
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4
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63
A
185
M
241
J
270
J
503
A
464
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365
O
106
N
1
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0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
2.1k Sightings
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4
F
11
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62
A
202
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225
J
239
J
501
A
456
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342
O
104
N
3
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
1.7k Sightings
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4
F
22
M
68
A
179
M
184
J
227
J
340
A
359
S
233
O
81
N
1
D
1
The best Months to dive in Perhentian Islands
The best time to dive in the Perhentian Islands is luckily the large majority of the year. Malaysia has two seasons; the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts only from December to January, and the rest of the year its is mostly dry with ideal diving conditions. The water temperatures here are warm throughout the year, which is why it is also a very popular diving destination. The lowest temperature the waters here ever reach is 27 degrees Celsius and in the midst of the summer the temperature can reach up to 32 degrees Celsius, so really nice, warmer temperatures to dive in. The visibility averages around 25 metres with 35 metres on the best days.
