I was more than ready for some sea and sunshine by the time we got to Tioman Island. Honestly, I’d have jumped into a puddle just to cool off. Thankfully, this place is the real deal, with jungle-covered hills, beaches that look perfectly filtered, and that slow island rhythm where even the cats seem to be on sabbatical.
If you’re planning to go scuba diving at Tioman Island, it ticks every box. Sitting off Malaysia’s east coast, it’s surrounded by a protected marine park, so the reefs are thriving. Tioman is a favourite among local divers, backpackers and anyone looking for tropical paradise without the full-blown tourist circus.
Most meals come with rice whether you asked for it or not, and that’s no bad thing. Since Tioman is a duty-free island, you’ll also find beer in the shops for around 44p a tin or roughly a pound in local restaurants. Just steer clear of resort prices, as they’ll charge you like it’s vintage champagne instead of a can of lager and a plate of noodles.
This trip came about because my brother was visiting Malaysia with my niece and fancied seeing somewhere new. We agreed on Tioman Island, and while it wasn’t hard to reach, it did take a few steps and a converted shop.
We started by flying from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) (KLIA) to Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru. The flight took just 45 minutes. From there, we booked a Grab taxi to Mersing, a small coastal town about two and a half hours away. We stayed overnight before the ferry in a place listed as a “homestay”, which turned out to be a converted shop. It still had the counter in the living room. Sitting behind it, you could almost imagine reading the six o’clock news.
It wasn’t fancy, but for £40 between four of us, it did the job. Beds, air-con and no complaints.
The next morning, we headed to Mersing Jetty to board the ferry. A friendly local ranger pointed us to the Marine Park pass office across the road. You’ll need this permit to dive in the area. It costs 30 MYR per person, or half price for pensioners. Once that was sorted, we boarded our pre-booked Cataferry, which is faster and more comfortable than the basic ferries, and reached Tekek Jetty on Tioman Island in under two hours.
Since we were staying at a resort, a van was waiting at the jetty. Of course, we made a quick stop at the duty-free shop to grab a 24-pack of beer for £10. Always a good move, as resort prices are much higher, so stocking up early saves a few pounds.
If you’re planning this trip yourself, you can skip the flight and take a Grab taxi directly from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Jetty. It’s a longer drive but can save time overall. Still, we enjoyed taking the scenic route. It made the journey feel like part of the adventure.
I found Tioman BigBrother Diver through Google and contacted them via WhatsApp. The replies were quick, friendly and full of helpful details. If you’re looking to dive at Tioman, they make everything easy.
Their dive shop sits along the main road in Tekek, just a short walk from the beach. It has a relaxed, no-fuss vibe, and the morning motorbike and sidecar ride down to the boat is worth the visit on its own.
We dived with Kay, the owner and divemaster. He was calm, professional and genuinely lovely to dive with. Nothing was too much trouble. Each dive felt effortless, and the whole atmosphere was relaxed but safe. The guides were brilliant at spotting marine life too, from nudibranchs and blue-spotted rays to plenty of reef fish I’d have missed without them.
If you want friendly, easy-going diving with people who know the island inside out, this is the place.
Want to dive with BigBrother? Send them a message on WhatsApp: +60 13-493 8515, check out their Google Business page, or have a scroll through their dives on Instagram.
A few photos from my dives with Tioman BigBrother Diver, calm seas, colourful reefs and great company above and below the surface.
