Just off the east coast of Terengganu, the Perhentian Islands are perfect for a relaxed weekend of diving. I’ve now visited twice: first staying in Coral Bay on Perhentian Kecil, and later basing myself at Long Beach. Each trip had its own atmosphere, dive centre, and memorable dives.
Both islands are laid-back with clear blue water and plenty of dive sites. You’ll find colourful reefs, regular turtle sightings and wrecks full of schooling barracuda. It’s a great mix for both new and experienced divers. The season runs from March to October, when the water is warm, calm and at its best.
The Perhentian Islands have two main hubs for divers on Perhentian Kecil: Coral Bay, which is quiet and easy-going, and Long Beach, which is livelier and more social. I’ve stayed on both, and each has its perks depending on what you want from your trip.
My first trip was all about taking it easy in Coral Bay. We stayed at Senja Bay Resort, a simple but perfectly located beachfront spotideal for lounging, watching sunsets and walking to the dive centre. Breakfast alternated between local dishes like roti canai and western plates, and the staff were welcoming and relaxed.
For diving, I booked with Sea Voice Divers, just a short walk from the resort. Their low-key, family-run feel suited the area perfectly. Their motto, “Everyone walks in as a customer but leaves as family,” sums them up well. The team were professional without being too formal, and their beachside spot had one of the best sunset views on the island.
Getting there was easy. We flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu, took a shared minivan with Perhentian Gateway Services to Kuala Besut Jetty, and boarded a boat transfer arranged by the same company. Coral Bay is the first drop-off and last pick-up on the route, which worked in our favour.
For my second trip, I went for the busier Long Beach after meeting the team from Turtle Bay Divers at the Malaysia International Dive Exhibition (MIDE). They were friendly and down to earth, so I decided to book with them. Booking was easy. I paid a deposit for a package that included boat transfers, accommodation at The Room (just two minutes from the dive centre), and seven dives each.
This time, I flew from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang) instead of KLIA. It was a much better experience. The airport was quieter, easier to reach, and even had a MyNews shop selling cold beer before the gate. Security was quick, and soon we were boarding a small Firefly prop plane. The short flight to Kota Bharu was smooth, and Perhentian Gateway Services were waiting on arrival with our transfer to Kuala Besut Jetty. Everything went seamlessly.
The dive centre was brilliant from the start. The team at Turtle Bay Divers were professional, welcoming, and clearly passionate about diving. Their location right on Long Beach made everything simple. You can check their courses and packages at Turtle Bay Divers.
Long Beach itself has a more social atmosphere with beach bars and cafés, perfect if you want some evening life after diving. You’ll find a few bars serving beer for around 15 MYR a can, and you can even bring one into a restaurant that doesn’t serve alcohol. As you might guess, I enjoy a cold beer after a dive, and Long Beach made that easy enough.
There are plenty of great dive sites here, offering something for all experience levels. From shallow coral gardens to deeper wrecks, the variety keeps things interesting. These two stood out as my favourites.
This WWII-era wreck sits at about 22 metres, covered in coral, gorgonians and macro life. You can no longer swim inside as sand has filled much of the entrance, but a good torch lets you peek inside and see what’s hiding. Around the wreck you’ll find barracuda, scorpionfish, nudibranchs and smaller critters tucked among the debris.
Our favourite site overall was the San Choi Wrecks, a relatively new dive area made up of three fishing boats deliberately sunk in 2018 to create an artificial reef. Sitting at around 18 metres, it’s not a huge site but absolutely full of life.
During our dive, schools of barracuda, fusiliers and snappers surrounded us so thickly that we could barely see the wrecks behind them. It’s the kind of dive where you just float in the middle and take it all in. Look closer and you’ll spot bamboo sharks, Jenkins rays, banded pipefish, scorpionfish and boxfish.
Although the site is known to get busy, we were lucky. There weren’t many other divers when we went, which made the experience even better. If you only do one wreck dive around Perhentian, make it this one.
If you’re planning a diving trip to the Perhentian Islands, both Coral Bay and Long Beach make great bases. Each offers something different: one peaceful, the other social.
If you’d like more details about either spot or the dive centres I used, feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to share tips and recommendations from my dives.
A few shots from my dives around the Perhentian Islands, featuring colourful reefs, barracuda schools and relaxed beachside vibes.
