Now, I’m not saying I was overdue a bit of sea and sunshine, but by the time we got to Tioman Island, I’d have happily flung myself into a puddle just to cool off. Thankfully, this place is the real deal – jungle-covered hills, beaches that look like they’ve been filtered, and that proper slow-paced island feel where even the cats look like they’re on sabbatical.
If you’re after scuba diving at Tioman Island, it really does tick all the right boxes. It’s off Malaysia’s east coast and surrounded by a protected marine park, which means the reefs are in great condition and the marine life is thriving. Tioman’s a favourite for local divers, backpackers, and anyone after a slice of tropical paradise without the full-blown tourist circus.
Most meals come with rice whether you asked for it or not (don’t complain – it’s great), and since it’s a duty-free island, you’ll find beer in the shops for around 44p a tin, or about a quid in local restaurants. Just steer clear of the resort hotel prices – lovely as they are, they’ll charge you like you’ve just ordered vintage Champagne rather than 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 a bit different – so we settled on Tioman Island. Sounds simple, right? Well, it wasn’t difficult, but it did involve a few steps (and a converted shop).
We started by flying from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Johor Bahru’s Senai International Airport – a quick 45-minute hop, no dramas. From there, we booked a Grab taxi to the coastal town of Mersing, which took around 2.5 hours. We’d arranged to stay overnight before the ferry, and the place we booked was listed as a “homestay” – but was, in reality, a converted shop. Still had the old counter in the living room. If you sat behind it, you looked like you were about to read the six o’clock news. It wasn’t fancy, but for £40 between the four of us, it did the job. Beds, air-con, and no major complaints – can’t say fairer than that.
The next morning, we headed down to Mersing Jetty, ready to board our ferry. Before boarding, a friendly local ranger pointed us towards the Marine Park pass office just across the road – a permit you’ll need to dive in the area. It cost 30 MYR per person, and it’s half price for pensioners. Once we’d sorted that, we crossed back over to the dock and boarded our pre-booked Cataferry. It’s a more comfortable, faster option than the basic ferries – and took just under two hours to reach Tekek Jetty on Tioman Island.
Because we were staying at a resort, they had a van waiting to pick us up – but not before a crucial stop at the Duty-Free shop, where we picked up a 24-pack of beer for just £10. Absolute result. Let’s be honest… resort prices are nearly always higher, so stocking up early is definitely the smart move.
If you’re planning the trip yourself, you can actually get a Grab taxi straight from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Jetty, which would cut out the flight and save a bit of time. But to be fair, we enjoyed taking the long way round. It made the journey feel like part of the adventure.
I booked with Tioman BigBrother Diver after finding them on Google and dropping a message via WhatsApp – quick replies, friendly tone, and all the info I needed to get sorted before we even reached the island. If you’re planning to do scuba diving at Tioman Island, they make the whole thing easy. The dive shop is along the main road in Tekek, just a short stroll from the beach. It’s got a relaxed, no-fuss vibe – and the morning motorbike and sidecar ride down to the boat is worth the visit alone!
We dived with Kay, the owner and the Big Brother himself. He’s also the divemaster – calm, professional, and genuinely lovely to dive with. Nothing was too much trouble. He made every dive feel effortless, and the atmosphere was always relaxed but safe. The guides were also brilliant at spotting marine life – from nudibranchs and blue-spotted rays to all sorts of reef life I’d have swum straight past without them. If you’re looking for easy-going, friendly 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.
