Geographic Description

Tioman Island (Pulau Tioman) or The Marine Park of Pahang is situated on an island known most for its folklore and legends. Situated in the state of Pahang, a northern state in Peninsular Malaysia; Pulau Tioman is yet another destination famous amongst domestic and international vacationers as well. Set amidst the South China Sea, this is the largest among a group of 64 volcanic islands within the surrounding waters and the largest among the 9 main islands of Pulau Tioman, Pulau Tulai, Pulau Labas, Pulau Sepoi, Pulau Seri Buat, Pulau Tokong Bahara, Pulau Gut, Pulau Cebeh and Pulau Sembilang, which makes up Marine Park Pahang. Approximately 19 km long and about 11km wide, Pulau Tioman has a coastline of about 69 km, where almost half of the island which is covered by sandy beaches, while the other half is made of cliffs and rocky highlands. After the park was gazetted in 1994, 5 more additional islands; Renggis, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Soyak, Pulau Tasu and Pulau Raja were also included within the park’s boundaries.

At the park
Located at Tajung Mesoh, The Pulau Tioman Marine Park Centre Mesoh is the third and largest Marine Park Centre in Malaysia. Well equipped with various facilities such as a main office building with an exhibition hall, staff quarters, laboratory, jetty, various camping sites, gazebos, barbeque pits and restroom facilities for visitors, the centre is basically a central for administration and management which also provide facilities for researchers and education seminars. Exhibitions, slides and various video presentations on a variety of subject matter including educational material on endangered marine species at the centre help promote greater awareness and appreciation of Malaysia's natural marine heritage.

Unique Features
Easily accessible by air or boat, Pulau Tioman attracts those who seek an escapade tinged with a little fantasy and romance. Visitors can choose from a five-star resort to simple comfortable wooden chalets for accommodation. Tioman was declared as a duty-free island in February 2002, enjoying many of the duty-free status as Labuan and Langkawi islands (with exception on excise and import duty on cars and petroleum products).

Historical Background
In 1958, Pulau Tioman was chosen to be James Michener's fictitious Bali Hai for the filming of the Hollywood classic, “South Pacific”. Since then, Pulau Tioman became a popular tourist attraction especially among underwater explorers.

Video about Tioman Island

People
Tioman Island is relatively populated, with at least 9 villages and roughly 3,000 residents who live and work on the island as fishermen and resort employees among others. During high tourist seasons, visitors out number the residents.  A majority of Tioman’s residents are Malay. Among the prominent villages that tourists check out during their trips are:

Kampung Tekek
Tekek village can be considered as the heart of Tioman. The airport is located at Tekek and so does police station, local authorities and other government offices. The only available road at Tioman is from Tekek village to Lalang village (Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort). To get to other location you need to take a boat ride. For those who loves thrill can try jungle trekking from Tekek village to Juara village. Main attraction while trekking is the waterfall.

Kampung Salang
Salang village located at northwest of Tioman Island. It has one of the beautiful beaches around. It is adjacent to Monkey bay, marine park and Tulai Island. Certainly a preferred destination for snorkel's and scuba divers. Facilities available at the resort includes mini market, 3 scuba shops, jet ski, canoe, souvenir shop and many restaurants.

Kampung Genting
Genting village mix fishing villages and resorts. Most of the resorts located at a hilly side thus illustrates a splendid sea view. Facilities at the village includes mini market, scuba shop, souvenir shop and many restaurants.

Kampung Juara
Juara village, about 2 kilometres away from the village, its strategic location promised to be the most peaceful and quiet place in Tioman Island for it happens to be the only resort there. At about 50 metres from the resort, a white water Mentawak River flows from Kajang mountain, the highest mountain in Tioman Island. Visitors will be able to feel the freshness and the coldness of the mountain, which cannot be found in any other part of this island.

Kampung Mukut

In the Southern part of the island, this village is closest to the Asah waterfalls and to several exciting rock climbing araes.

Activities
Diving, snorkelling, and jungle trekking.

Dive Site

Tioman has about 13 dive sites such as Pulau Renggis, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Soyak, Pulau Chebeh, Pulau Tulai, Pulau Sepoi , Pulau Labas, Pulau Gut, Pulau Sembilang, Pulau Seri Buat, Pulau Tasu, Pulau Raja, Pulau Tokong Bahara. The maximum Diving depth here is about 30 metres while the average Diving depth is about 20 metres. The best time to dive in Tioman is from March to September or October.  During the months of March till May, one is able to see manta rays, and whale sharks in these waters. At sites such as Pulau Renggis is where one is able to spot turtles and black tip sharks. Other notable sites such as Pirate Reef, Pirate Wreck and Sawadee Wreck are a popular haunt for wreck divers. Thousands of tiny fish can be seen on the reef can be seen from the months of March to May. Pirate Reef and Pirate Wreck is located a couple of minutes from the marine park headquarters and at Sawadee Wreck is where you will find bigger shoals of fish such as jacks and fusiliers.

1. Magicienne Rock

Common Sighting
Angelfish, Puffer fish, Jacks, golden striped trevallies, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Nurse Sharks, Scorpion Fish, Stingrays, Yellow Striped Snappers, Moray Eels and Zebra Lion Fish.

Dive Site Briefing
This dive site is a pinnacle that rises to 8 metres below the surface. The site is open to the ocean with rather occasional strong currents, but a good chance to spot pelagic fishes including manta rays, whale sharks and Leopard sharks. This site is also rich with reef fishes, colourful corals and sponges.
     
 

2. Genting Bay / Fan Canyon

Common Sighting
The resident marine life you can find here are Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Nurse Sharks, Scorpion Fish, Stingrays, Yellow Striped Snappers, Moray Eels and Zebra Lion Fish.

Dive Site Briefing
This dive site stretches out of Genting Bay and slopes down to a maximum of 30 metres. On most occasions, at the deeper part of the dive site, you can see large scorpionfish and Napoleon wrasses. At 16 metres, there is a tunnel worth swimming through due to the uncountable tiny anchovies one is able to encounter here. From here swim into Genting Bay to begin a three-minute safety stop at five metres.

 

3. Batu Malang

Common Sighting
Hawksbill Turtles, Cuttlefish, Lion Fish, Moray Eels, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Parrot Fish, Wrasses, Blue Spotted Stingrays, Scorpion Fish and Butterfly Fish

Dive Site Briefing
This place makes a perfect second dive site with an average depth of only 10 metres, for the more experienced however, a one-hour dive is quite attainable. Batu Malang is blessed with an abundance of hard corals such as staghorn coral, tabletop coral, potato coral, flower coral and bommies.

 

4. Kador Bay

Common Sighting
Moray Eel, Stone Fish, Barracuda and reef fishes

Dive Site Briefing
The general dive plan here is to dive down to the end of the plateau where you can find large moray eels and stonefish, hiding in the small overhang at 18 metres. This spot is a fantastic second dive for the day. With great ease you can dive along the rocks, which slopes down to approximately 16 metres.

 

5. Pulau Chebeh

Common Sighting
Barracudas, Rainbow Runners, Black Tip Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, Jacks and Trevallies.

Dive Site Briefing
As you descend you will be greeted by many Yellow-tail fusiliers and batfish. This steep sloping reef formation has a vast coverage of fan corals (gorgonians) and many other types of soft corals. At 21 metres you can discover a large cavern filled with glassfish. Here on many occasions you can see sleeping nurse sharks up to 2.5 metres in length.

 

6. Boulder Dash – Pulau Tulai

Common Sighting
Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Angelfish, Puffer fish, Blue-spotted rays, Gobies and variety of nudibranchs

Dive Site Briefing
This dive sites offers a jumble of boulders that you can swim around. There are a lot of colourful soft corals, gorgonian fans and black corals as well. There is usually some surface current, but it decreases, as you get deeper.

 

7. Tiger Reef

Common Sighting
Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Nurse Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Stingrays, Moray Eels Lion Fish and variety of nudibranchs.

Dive Site Briefing
This particular site is located at midway between Pulau Labas and Pulau Sepoi. It starts at nine metres and slopes down to 22 metres. This is one of the major highlights of Tioman's under water world. The rock formation is simply amazing because the soft corals, hard corals and barrel sponges, cover almost everything in sight. Since Tiger Reef is not frequently dived you can find very little human impact upon the corals. And due to the stronger currents, which you can expect here, you will also encounter large schools of jacks, mackerels, Yellow-fin barracudas and rainbow runners on almost every dive.

 

8. Golden Reef

Common Sighting
Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish and variety of nudibranchs.

Dive Site Briefing
Located between Tiger Reef and Pulau Sepoi. The rock formation on the northwestern side is the best; set apart with good coral growth and a variety of colourful gorgonian sea fans and sponges. It is always refreshing to come here and explore the abundance of reef fish such as lionfish, scorpionfish, green and brown moray eels, jacks, nurse sharks and countless of butterflyfish. There is usually some surface current, but it decreases, as you get deeper.

 

9. Renggis

Common Sighting
Hawksbill Turtles, Cuttlefish, Lion Fish, Moray Eels, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Parrot Fish, Wrasses, Blue Spotted Stingrays, Scorpion Fish and Butterfly Fish

Dive Site Briefing
This small island lying opposite a resort has a good hard coral diversity. Renggis' fringing reefs are shallow, making it a good place for a second dive. The usual dive plan is to enter the water at the easterly side and swim around the island at a depth range of 12 to 15 metres. The coral formations found here are mainly tabletop, staghorn, bommies, brain, cabbage and potato on a rather flat bottom. If you prefer a deeper dive, you could take a detour to the two Thai fishing wrecks, which lay in 20 metres of water, but mostly you will be on the back part of the island in search of its resident Black-tip reef sharks and Green turtles.

 

10. Labas Island

Common Sighting
Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish and variety of nudibranchs.

Dive Site Briefing
The island is somewhat unique in appearance, due to its abundance of caverns. Labas Island has two dive sites to offer; the head or the tail. Both are equally challenging and simply fascinating. Whether you are swimming through the labyrinth of swim-through or gliding along the dense coral garden at a depth of 18 metres, both experiences will create lasting memories. Labas Island with its overgrown rock formation makes for an easy dive. You can just lazily glide along the fan and soft corals or visit the remains of a Japanese Fishing Boat.

 

11. Tokong Bahara

Dive Site Briefing
This site is located at the southwest of Tioman. Average depth here is 15 metres and the maximum depth is about 18metres and is about 20-30 min from Genting village. You will be able to find various pelagic species as well as local reef fishes. Numerous species of prolific marine life abound in the richness of this coral reef and mini drop-off. Tokong Bahara is said to be one of the best dive sites in Tioman.

 

12. Pulau Soyak

Common Sighting
Blue Ringed Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Bat Fish, Emperors, Titan Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Bumphead Parrot Fish, Blue Spotted Stingrays, Yellow Striped Snappers, Moray Eels, Yellowtail Fusiliers and Zebra Lion Fish.

Dive Site Briefing
Right of the shores of Salang Bay you will see this small island; due to its close proximity to the island, you could easily snorkel your way to it while enjoying clear fish-filled waters. The reef formation consists of large granite boulders that are covered with soft corals, fire corals, sea whips and turret (cup) corals. The diverse colours and marine life makes Soyak Island the preferred night dives spot.
 

Climbing

Avid climbers will also find the island to be quite a challenge because of its granitite boulders-beds, which give rise to rocky structures. Exposed boulders are found along the coast at Kampung Paya, Batu Sirau (747 metres), Nenek Si Mukut (685 metres) and at several other places along the trail to the summit of Gunung Kajang, which has the highest peak at 1,030 meters. Locals as well as foreigners who are avid climbers often make return trips to Tioman to experience the thrilling climb of Nenek Si Mukut and Gunung Kajang, where they’re able to enjoy the breathtaking backdrop of the sea.

Food
There are plenty of different restaurants and stalls that sell a variety of local foods and needless to say, seafood is one of Tioman’s specialities. Almost every moderate-sized resort will have a seafood barbeque dinner as part of its culinary offering.

Events & Festivals
One of the much-enjoyed events in Tioman, and indeed in the other islands of the east coast, is the squid jiggling season which takes place around July each year.  Another event, which has been held in Tioman and other Marine Park islands is the annual Beach Cleanup, an environmental event which involves both the locals as well as visitors to the island.
 
Nearby Destinations & Attractions
Roughly 15km south of Tioman Island is the smaller, but no less seductive islands of Aur, Dayang and Lang, which are part of the Johor Marine Park which remain relatively untouched by development.  

Travel Advice & Weather
Most resorts are closed from November until February due to the Northeast monsoon, which brings strong winds and rough seas. However, Tioman remains open during this period. But the best time to visit Tioman Island is between February and October. The average temperature on Tioman is between 28 to 30 degrees Celcius.

Related Video About Tioman

For more information on Tioman Island, please contact:
Tioman Development Authority
Lembaga Pembangunan Tioman
A145-147, Tingkat 1 &2
Lorong Tun Ismail 6
Sri Dagangan
25000 Kuantan, Pahang
Tel:+609-5141206
Fax:+609-5148801
Email:tioman@mytioman.com.my
Website: http://www.mytioman.com.my