Explore Perhentian Kecil

Perhentian Kecil is a tropical paradise island which lies in Terengganu, Malaysia, in the South China Sea. Perhentian Kecil is one of two islands, the other is Perhentian Besar, and Kecil is the island which is more visited by the backpacker tourists who also enjoy the nightlife of this island. It is still the definition of tropical with white sandy beaches, turquoise sparkling waters, an abundance of palm trees and a variety of flourishing life to see underwater. These islands are known to be one of the best diving locations in Malaysia due to the different types of diving; there are wrecks, there are boulder rock formations, there are thriving reefs and there are many different marine species to admire. There is always something revel over with dive buddies when surfacing after a dive here.

Upcoming Events

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Ombak Dive Resort

Assistant Instructor

20 Feb 2026

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Ombak Dive Resort

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

15 Mar 2026

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Dive Sites Show on map

Mares

Kampung Beach Front (★4.3)

Right in front of Nemo Chalet is the Kampung House Reef. This dive site is a simple shore entry, and is welcoming to snorkelers and divers alike. The sandy bottom stretch into 10m deep, and has an abundance of Clownfish and Anemones.

Aqualung

Vietnamese Wreck (★4.3)

The Vietnamese Wreck, aka Pasir Tani Wreck, was a US Troop Transport boat used by Japanese Navy during WW2, and used by Vietnamese asylum seekers in the 1970s. It ended up sunk in Malaysia Waters, and is now a Marine life haven laying at 24m depth. Penetration is possible for overhead certified divers.

Mares

Sea Bell Rock (★4.3)

Sea Bell owes the name to the lighthouse. Beneath the lighthouse sits a massive boulder cluster, with extensive growth of corals and marine life on it. The dive site extends to Sea Bell Reef, where hard corals cover the sea bed, extending into 18-20m depth

Mares

Batu Nisan (★4.2)

Batu Nisan is an easy dive in a protected zone off the northern edge of long beach. The dive site offers calm and clear water with a sandy bottom, which is perfect for learners and divers alike to practice skills and buoyancy control. The site also offers decent night dive with easy shore access.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Romantic Reef (★4.1)

Romantic Reef is a rocky slope that divides Romantic Beach and Teluk Aur. Extending from the surface to 15m deep, this dive site is an easy slope for beginners to dive.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Batu Nisan Laut (★4.2)

Extended out of the shallow shore of Long Beach, Batu Nisan Laut is a rocky slope that extends to 10m, before transitioning into a sandy bottom. It is a relatively easy dive site for students and divers alike to practice skills and buoyancy control.

Aqualung

Romantic Beach (★4.6)

Perhentian Romantic Beach is a dive site well suited for beginner training. Sheltered from longshore current in the bay, the reef starts from the shore, extending all the way to down south into a rocky slope.

Mares

Panglima Abu (★4.5)

Panglima Abu reef is located off the beach of the same name. It is located off the Northwest of Pulau Perhentian Kecil. The site extends from the shore, and consists of a mixture of hard and soft coral patches. It it a good dive spot during pre and post monsoon times, being sheltered from the eastern wind.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

D’Lagoon (★4.4)

D’lagoon is a reef overlooking the Perhentian windmill. Blessed with clear water and a shallow and majestic reef, it is the embodiment of beauty itself. D’lagoon is located in a bay, also protects it from wind and current. The Reef starts from the shoreline into 12m depth, where it transitions into a sandy bottom.

Mares

Teluk Kerma (★4.3)

Teluk Kerma is separated into Kerma Darat, and Kerma Laut, meaning Kerma by the land, and Kerma by the sea respectively. The site owes it’s name to the beach of the same name. The site is a shallow reef, that extends into 15m. The site is a combination of boulder and corals.

Aqualung

San Choi Wreck (★4.6)

San Choi are 3 fisherman wrecks sunk in 2018 to form an artificial reef. Sitting at 18m depth, the wreck is now teeming with fishes, to the extent that it blocks the sunlight. The wreck is also a cleaning station, with plenty of cleaner pipefish and cleaner shrimps offering their service to the fishes.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Sand Ray Alley (★4.1)

The Sand Ray Alley offers a stingray galore underwater. The rocky outcrops extends 10m underwater, where the sandy bottom starts. Between the Rock and the sandy bottom, a plethora of stingray species dwells and prosper. Do watchout for the occasional triggerfish presence though.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Tanjung Butong (★4.2)

Tanjung Butong is located at the northern point of Perhentian Kecil, and is a rocky slope. Due to it’s exposed located, current can be strong occasionally.

Scubapro

Batu Tabir (★3.7)

This underwater pinnacle is located north of Tanjung Butong. It is located in a current zone, and the top of the pinnacle is about 5m underwater, and the bottom is surrounded by boulder formations.

Diving in Perhentian Kecil

Perhentian Kecil, due to its ideal conditions and pristine waters, this is a top diving destination for divers of all levels, especially for novice divers as the conditions here are perfect for courses. For the divers wanting to just do fun dives and explore the area, there are multiple wrecks to explore, there are multiple rock formations, including canyons, swim-throughs and boulders, and there are many flourishing reefs to enjoy. Some dive sites are located just offshore for shore dives, and others are done from boats. Luckily the dive sites are all close to shore so the longest boat ride is 20 minutes.

The best Months to Dive in Perhentian Kecil

There are two seasons in Malaysia; the rainy season and the dry season. The good thing is that the rainy season is significantly shorter than the dry season, the rainy season only lasts from December to February, and then the rest of the year has ideal diving conditions. The water temperature here is pleasantly warm throughout the year, with the coldest being 27°C and it reaches up to 32°C in the midst of the dry season. The visibility ranges between 10 metres in the rainy season up to 35 plus metres in the dry season.