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� The Island � Dive
Features � Dive Map � Popular Dive Sites �
Tenggol Island size about 435ha. In April,
clear water and visibility up to 20). Whale shark season in Aug, Sept
and Oct. Monsoon season takes over Oct to March. One week before and
after monsoon season would be the best time to visit because water is
extra calm.
 The Islands
The Tenggol group of islands is the most southerly of Terengganu's
Marine Parks. It consists of Pulau Tenggol, Pulau Nyireh (Nyireh
Island), Tokong Timur, Tokong Talang, Tokong Burung and Tokong Kemudi.
Before being declared a marine park, Pulau Tenggol was a favourite
hunting ground for spear-fishermen, particularly for snappers and
groupers.
The Island is renowned for its beautiful white sandy beach, clear blue
waters and is no doubt one the best diving spot in Peninsular. This
remote and tucked away tropical island paradise is a diving haven for
divers who wants a quiet and relaxing getaway diving environment
 Dive
Features
Tenggol features a dramatic drop-off on the eastern side of the island
to 48ft and offers more than 20 stunning dive sites. Most sites bottoms
out at 30 metres with large rocky outcrops and boulder-like terrain
dominating the seascape. Divers will be able to choose their type of
diving, ranging from the relaxing to the more demanding sites.
For the
more experienced divers, who prefer to get their adrenaline pumping, can
opt for the more demanding dive sites like, "Tokong Timur", "Tokong
Laut" or "Tanjung Api", where strong currents, deeper waters and
pelagics prevail. For those looking for big fish encounters, head for
the northeastern bay of Pulau Tenggol during the months of
March through to August.
POPULAR DIVE SITES
Tokong Timur
Further out lies a big boulder with gentle slopes that is a popular site
named Tokong Timur. The sloping reef go down to over 60 ft here, and is
well-covered with a variety of pretty soft and hard corals and sea
whips. This place positively rains fish down upon the diver, with
endless swimming schools of bannerfish, fusiliers, angelfish, and
Humphead Parrotfish. Also frequently seen are Lizardfish resting on
coral or rock heads and Banana Fish. Surface swell can be rough
depending on the weather and time during the dive.
Tenggol Bay or Tokong Air Tawar
Across the other eastern side of Pulau Tenggol from the main bay of
Teluk Air Tawah are the two bays of Tanjung Pisang and Tanjung Sarang
Lang.
The well-sheltered bay is excellent for checkout dives and night dives
from the shore. Depth gradually increases down the gentle slope to about
20 metres. Hard corals dominate the terrain with sporadic soft corals
adding a touch of colour to the monochromatic seascape. It is also one
of the favourite sites to locate a diversity of nudibranchs. Shy garden
eels can be observed towards the right of the bay at about 18 metres
depth on the sandy bottom. Lots of chromis, fusiliers and butterfly fish
inhabit the coral garden. Nocturnal animals include the spanish dancer
(large nudibranch swimming in mid water), moray eels and crabs.
Batu Tokong Laut & The Highway
This area offers non-stop action with its strong surface swells,
currents and frenzy of schooling pelagic fish and rays. One of the more
popular sites for advance divers seeking out schools of fish. Located in
the open sea, the boulder-like terrain features interesting swim through
tunnels and crevices for divers to explore. Some of the fish sighted
include batfish, fusiliers, jacks and kingfish.
On good days, divers are treated to the awe-inspiring sight of these big
boys streaming along this underwater highway amongst the intriguing
terrain of big boulders. A peek on the underside of these boulder walls
reveal golden fields of blooming cave corals as one swims through
tunnels and openings formed by the boulders. Upon surfacing, inquisitive
batfish invariably accompany divers during ascent and safety stops. The
large coral-clad boulder outcrops at Batu Tokong at 80 ft are
playgrounds of favourites like Whale Sharks, turtles, Eagle and Manta
Rays. For the more experienced divers, this is a must-go site.
Tokong Kamudi
Granite boulder pinnacle coming up To the surface. Diving depth:
10-110ft / 3-33m. From the 100ft wall at Tokong Kamudi, the seascape has
a good mix of hard and soft corals. Christmas tree worms carpet the face
of porite mounds. Expect to see lots of sea anemone, nudibranchs,
butterflyfish, wrasses, parrotfish and large snappers.
One can do a drift-dive at 80ft from to Pulau Tokong Burong, and be
regaled with schools of barracudas, tunas, jacks, snappers and
fusiliers. As with the other areas around Pulau Tenggol, these sites are
also nudibranch havens.
Pulau Tokong Burong
Small granite-boulder islet. Diving depth: 10-85ft / 3-25m. Sloping
rocky reef with variety of hard, leather, whip and wire corals. Some
soft corals, anemones and gorgonian fans. Here you will find bumphead
parrotfishes, scorpion fishes, blue spotted fantail rays, cuttlefish,
squid, nudibranchs and flatworms, titan trigger fishes, giant moray eels
and possibly hawksbill turtles
Pulau Nyireh
The larger nearby island of Pulau Nyireh with fringing reef offers easy
diving in general. With the area being mostly calm, beginners too can
enjoy the marine life found in these shallow waters of 30 to 40 ft in
depth. Shallow areas have large granite boulders covered with corals and
anemones. Deeper areas rocky with sandy patches and some soft- and wire
corals. Most of what you see here are coral fish like various wrasses,
squirrelfish, Moorish Idols, parrotfish, angelfish, surgeonfish,
butterfly fish, Spotted coral groupers, scorpion fishes, many
angelfishes and butterfly fishes, squid, bumphead parrotfishes,
nudibranchs and flat worms and possibly hawksbill turtles.
Tokong Talang
Small granite boulder pinnacle coming up to the surface. Jumble of
granite boulders stacked on top of one another and spread along the
sandy bottom. Nice dive site with variety of hard and soft corals but
mainly interesting because of its fish life. Diving depth: 10-85ft /
3-25m. Marine Life: Schooling big eye jacks, rainbow runners, robust
fusiliers, squid and big eye snappers, six- banded / blue ringed /
emperor and keyhole angel fishes, giant moray eels, scorpion fishes,
painted spiny lobsters, blue spotted fantail rays, nudibranchs and flat
worms. Also many parrot and butterfly fishes.
RELATED LINKS
Islands of Terengganu ~ Tenggol Island
Located 17Km off the southern coast of Terengganu,
Pulau Tenggol is known mainly as a beautiful but rugged diving getaway.
Just 3km long and 2km wide, it has a forested interior with a rocky
terrain that extends to the ocean.
� The Island � Diving-in Tenggol � Stay �
Getting Around �
travel - guide - sightseeing - information - travel guide - tours - visitors guide
- places of interest
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