Malaysia’s Perhentian Kecil is an island cliché, a picturesque example of what fills the minds of people trapped at work. While that blue water is nice to see, getting underneath is even more exciting. Scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands is inexpensive and enjoyable enough to leave that sand soft, at least for a while.
Diving in the Perhentian islands
Diving in the Perhentian Islands is a different experience than that found in neighboring Indonesia and Thailand. Expect great visibility, small dive boats, and reefs in decent condition, mostly thanks to the US $ 2 conservation fee paid by all visitors to the island.
Because all dive shops use small boats, each diver generally only takes one tank. The boat returns to the beach for resupply and a short break before continuing to the next dive site.
Pinnacle / Temple of the Sea, Sugar wreck and T3 are unanimously considered everyone’s favorite dive sites. The same sites can also be reached from neighboring Besar Perhentian.
Dive shops in Perhentian Kecil
Similar to Koh Tao in Thailand, almost every other structure in little Perhentian Kecil is a dive shop. With two locations in Long Beach and one in Coral Bay, Quiver Divers is by far the largest dive operation.
Prices between dive shops vary only slightly. Most dive shops accept credit cards, however they all charge a three to six percent commission.
Fun dives in Perhentian Kecil
A single dive in Perhentian Kecil costs around US $ 23 ; prices drop to US $ 20 if you do more than four dives. Some popular dive sites like the famous Sugar Wreck, Temple / Pinnacle, and Rendang Island cost more due to the extra effort required to get there.
Night dives are more expensive, starting at around $ 40. Interestingly, beach dives cost the same as boat dives at Perhentian Kecil.
Discover diving
People who are not yet fully committed to PADI certification can take a basic diving course called Discover Scuba Diving; The course costs around US $ 67 and includes a shallow dive. Diving counts toward your Open Water certification once you realize you’ve accidentally picked up an expensive and addictive new hobby!
Cursos PADI sobre Small Stop
Perhentian Kecil is a very popular place for first-time divers to obtain their PADI certifications; every dive shop offers courses up to at least Divemaster. Many dive shops have partnered with guest houses to offer discounted accommodation while you take your course.
Quiver Divers offers PADI courses in English, Italian, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, Danish, and Swedish.
- PADI Open Water: First of the diver certifications, this course can be done in three intensive days or four more relaxed days. The cost of the course includes four dives. The PADI Open Water certification costs around US $ 317; prices vary only slightly between dive shops.
- PADI Advanced: The advanced course costs around US $ 300 at Perhentian Kecil and includes your choice of night dive, wreck or other technical specialty. Once certified by Advanced, you can dive deep to 30 meters or more.
- Rescue Diver – Considered by many to be the most difficult and fun of all the PADI certifications, the Rescue Diver course includes a separate first aid course. Expect to pay around US $ 467 to get Rescue certified.
What to see while diving in the Perhentian islands
Yes, whale sharks, the Holy Grail for all divers, make unpredictable visits to the Perhentian Islands. While you’re waiting for that whale shark, you’ll be treated to blacktip reef sharks, barracudas, massive humpback parrotfish, an abundance of turtles, and decent macro life like nudibranchs.
Titan Triggerfish patrol their nests, although they tend to be much less aggressive than those found in Thailand.
When to go diving in Perhentian Kecil
Peak season in the Perhentian Islands is during the summer months; The island fills up between June and August. Perhentian Kecil practically closes at the end of September and the visibility of the water decreases.
Llegando a Little Stop
From Kuala Lumpur you must either fly or take a nine-hour bus to Kota Bharu. Once in Kota Bharu, you can take a one-hour taxi (maximum four people) from the airport directly to Kuala Besut, the port city, or take a public bus to Jerteh and then to Kuala Besut.
In Kuala Besut you need to buy a round-trip speedboat ticket for US $ 23. The boat takes about an hour to reach Perhentian Kecil. There is no jetty at Long Beach, so you must transfer to a smaller boat (and pay an additional $ 1) to be taken to the beach.
Tip: The speedboat from Kuala Besut to Perhentian Kecil can be a humid and bumpy ride, depending on the sea condition; waterproof everything that matters to you. You must get out of the last boat in knee-deep water and sail ashore.
