Perhentian Islands
Malaysia · South China Sea
The Perhentian Islands sit in Malaysia's South China Sea roughly 20 kilometres off the Terengganu coast, ringed by crystal-clear water that turns an almost improbable shade of turquoise during the dry season. Visibility regularly reaches 20 metres or more over healthy hard-coral gardens patrolled by green and hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks, and a dense cast of macro subjects including frogfish, nudibranchs, and ghost pipefish. The islands close entirely from November through February when northeast monsoon swells roll in, but from March through October conditions are ideal for snorkelling, reef dives, and night dives — making this one of the most approachable and affordable dive destinations in Southeast Asia.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is busy.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
33 species across the dive sites here
Blue-ringed Angelfish
Seen 20 days ago
at Tokong Laut
Least concern
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Shark Point
Least concern
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Shark Point
Vulnerable
Blacktip Reef Shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Shark Point
Vulnerable
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Seen 2 months ago
at Shark Point
Critically endangered
Barrel Sponge
Seen Jul 2025
at Tokong Laut
Golden Trevally
Seen Jul 2025
at Tokong Laut
Least concern
Fusilier
Seen Jun 2025
at Tokong Laut
Least concern
Bigeye Trevally
Seen Feb 2025
at Tokong Laut
Least concern
Acropora Coral (Branching)
Seen year round
at Shark Point
Blue-ringed Octopus
Seen year round
at Batu Nisan
Dusky Batfish
Seen year round
at Tokong Laut
Least concern
Encrusting Sponge
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Feather Star
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Ghost Pipefish
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Least concern
Giant Clam
Seen year round
at Shark Point
Harlequin Shrimp
Seen year round
at Batu Nisan
Lionfish
Seen year round
at Shark Point
Nudibranch
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Seen year round
at Batu Nisan
Least concern
Painted Frogfish
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Least concern
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Seen year round
at Batu Nisan
Porites Coral (Massive)
Seen year round
at Shark Point
Robust Ghost Pipefish
Seen year round
at Batu Nisan
Least concern
Sea Fan
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Soft Coral
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Trumpetfish
Seen year round
at Tiga Ruang
Yellow-banded Snapper
Seen year round
at Tokong Laut
Bluefin Trevally
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Point
Least concern
Juvenile Grouper
Seasonal visitor
at Tiga Ruang
Spotted Eagle Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Tokong Laut
Endangered
Whale Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Tokong Laut
Endangered
Whitecheek Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Point
Endangered
Dive sites
Shark Point
blacktip reef shark · green sea turtle · hawksbill sea turtle · acropora coral (branching)
Tiga Ruang
painted frogfish · ghost pipefish · feather star · soft coral
Tokong Laut
yellow-banded snapper · bigeye trevally · dusky batfish · golden trevally
Batu Nisan
blue-ringed octopus · ornate ghost pipefish · harlequin shrimp · peacock mantis shrimp