South Reef
Redang Island · Malaysia
South Reef is where Redang makes its most dramatic promises, a deeper offshore reef that hosts seasonal whale shark encounters from June through August when the creatures are drawn to the island's plankton-rich waters. Outside whale shark season the site still delivers with strong pelagic action — schools of barracuda, dogtooth tuna, and eagle rays that use the current-swept reef edge as a hunting highway. This is Redang's advanced site and a bucket-list destination for any diver willing to wait for the gentle giants.
Conditions
Depth
10 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 5 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Strong | Strong | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Ocellaris Anemonefish
Last confirmed Aug 19, 2025 · 7 records
Very likely
Most dives
Green Sea Turtle
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 14 records
Very likely
Most dives
Scissortail Sergeant
Last confirmed Jun 29, 2025 · 7 records
Very likely
Most dives
Great Barracuda
Last confirmed Jul 31, 2025 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Varicose Wart Slug
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 12 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Blacktip Reef Shark
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 7 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Spotted Eagle Ray
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Whale Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear