TENGGOL ISLAND

ABOUT ISLAND

Pulau Tenggol is another beautiful diving getaway island lies offshore of Kuala Dungun in the southern of Terengganu. This tiny and compact island is only 45 minutes from the coastal quite jetty in Kuala Dungun. It is as small as 3km in length and 2km in width. However, this doesn’t prevent it from becoming a paradise for many people especially diving enthusiasts.

 

The interior of the island are steep sunken rocky cliffs. This rocky terrain extends from the interior of the island to the ocean and has created a dramatic canvas for diving meanwhile an ideal hideaway for marine life. For example in Teluk Air Tawar where the seabed will first slope gently down from the beach then a sudden drop of 90ft deep after some 600ft from the shore, creating a large spread of sloping reef on the rocky wall. Whereas in Rajawali Reef, as you dive deeper following the vertically dropped rocky walls which falls as deep as 32m, you will discover a healthy growth of encrusting corals at the bottom, accompanied by other marine fishes like batfish and black tip reef shark.

 

Diving in areas like Teluk Air Tawar, Tanjung Gemok and Tanjung Sarong Lang can be very challenging partly due to the strong current but also the concreted walls from the sunken wrecks lie underneath the clear blue water. However, it is still worth to try your luck here as besides calm coral gardens, you probably will have a chance to meet with humphead parrotfish, giant stingray, bat fishes, whale shark, leopard shark, schooling jacks etc. They are the usual residents here. Whale sharks are easily be seen during in certain area during August to October every year.

 

On the island itself, behind the sandy beach is the resort that blends harmoniously into the surrounding environment and accommodating every exhausted visitor after a long active day. To the interior of the island, it is deep forested rocky hills that make it a scenic destination for adventure seekers. The hills rising over 800ft is a good place to have a panoramic view of the island, who knows, maybe you will see turtle swimming in the sea.

ACCOMODATION

If you want to stay at a nice place before or after visiting Tenggol Island, then you might want to consider the following great 5 star resorts:

1. TANJUNG JARA RESORT

Discover how Malay kings once crafted their palaces. Fronted by an emerald sea glittering with diamonds of light, shaded by tall palms rustling in the breeze, attended to by a people steeped in traditions as timeless as the land. 

Located on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Tanjong Jara Resort is a sanctuary of luxury and well-being steeped in age-old Malay traditions. Designed to reflect the elegance and grandeur of 17th century Malay palaces, Tanjong Jara is a 99-room resort with an authentic taste of the region's spirit and an enduring embodiment of the gentle Malay art of service and hospitality.

The philosophy of the Resort is as unique as the Resort itself. Based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being, Tanjong Jara encourages true rejuvenation of both body and spirit.

Tanjong Jara is an opportunity to withdraw from the pressures of this ever-changing world by offering you a chance to immerse yourself in a place of serenity and beauty. Authentic in architecture and attitude, always warm and welcoming, it is an environment to let go, to relax deeply and take time to rediscover yourself, your family or your friends; all this whilst staff members drawn from the local villages truly live the age old legacy of Malaysian warmth and hospitality.

At Tanjong Jara you can choose from a wide variety of possible experiences - lazy and languid, energetic and outdoors, indulgent and regenerative, cultural and enlightening - it is your choice whether you fold them into a single visit, or you craft each visit differently to meet your needs.

There are two swimming pools at Tanjong Jara Resort, a free-form pool near the Teratai Terrace and lobby, and another adjacent to the beach near the Spa Village. Each pool has towels and deck chairs for sun lovers, and refreshments are served at the pool deck. 

Ideally situated away from the beach and recreational areas near the tennis courts, the conference hall is able to accommodate between 80 and 100 people. It is a perfect venue for corporate conferences and meetings as well as themed events. Events may also be arranged to take place in the garden or on the beach, providing guests with a unique dining experience. 

A wide variety of magazines and multilingual novels can be found in the library located in a quiet, cosy corner within the Resort.

Tanjong Jara Resort
Batu 8, Off Jalan Dungun
23000 Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
Email: travelcentre@ytlhotels.com.my 

2. ARYANI RESORT 

Located on the quiet sandy beach of Terengganu facing the Redang National Marine Park, is The Aryani Resort. With just 20 villa units to ensure exclusivity and privacy, The Aryani Resort is a cultural retreat offering the finest collections of authentic Malay culture and artifacts. The owner, an architect - conservationist, wants The Aryani Resort to be a total cultural experience. 

The State of Terengganu which has one of the longest coastlines in Malaysia has been widely regarded as the cradle of Malay culture in Malaysia. It’s rich heritage of hand woven gold thread 'Songket', brassware, fine-wood carvings, woven mats and batik are amongst the local handicrafts used throughout The Aryani in the order to indulge guests in local culture. 

Amongst the unique features of The Aryani Resort are the hundred-year-old timber 'Heritage Suites' which has been dismantled and rebuilt on the resort site. The 'Heritage Suite' is part of the original timber Palaces Complex of Royal households from the previous Century. It offers guests the unique experience of living in an ancient Malay Timber Palace. 

All villa units have their own private garden and gateway with an outdoor sunken bathtub in an intimate garden setting. The Heritage and Modern Suites feature both outdoor and indoor baths giving guests the choice of enjoying both luxuries. 

The Central Courtyard resembling an ancient village square, holds the swimming pool with the three elevated pavilions built around it. These pavilions are used by the traditional 'Gamelan' musicians in the evenings for their daily performances. The Central Courtyard is the recreational and traditional performances area popularly used by guests. In the evening, the Central Courtyard comes alive with the tantalizing music of the classical 'Gamelan' Orchestra. It is a place to escape the business world and be immersed in a fantasy world of past civilisation. 

Just off the beach of The Aryani are various islands of the National Marine Park offering crystal clear diving waters and rich coral communities. A short boat ride away is one of the finest Marine Parks of Peninsular Malaysia. 

All Modern Suites, Deluxe and Superior Room are new buildings with a touch of traditional Terengganu architecture . All beds are specially ordered with the size of 2.2m, which sleep 3 adults. Fixed with facilities, hot & cold water tab. 

All rooms are flaunt with an open-air sunken bath fenced in a compound with garden . Low windows in the room allow cooling sea breeze to sweep right across the bed . Every room unit has a ‘ Serambi ‘ or verandah to provide a relaxation area that also acts as an important social role between household members and public passersby who stop for chat or exchange in the olden days. 

Aryani Resort Sdn Bhd (co no 312749-D)
Jalan Rhu Tapai – Merang,
Setiu 21010 Terengganu, Malaysia

Tel: +60 9 653 2111 / 1003 / 1006 / 2004 / 2005
Fax: + 60 9 653 1007
Email: aryani@tm.net.my

FOOD AND BEVERAGE 

Food and beverages usually will included to you accommodation package. Some hotel or resort will take an extra charge for BBQ near to the beach at night.

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTION

SNORKELING

Tenggol Island is part of the fabulous Terengganu Marine Park and is reached in approximately 45 minutes by speedboat. The island is famous for its tropical jungle, sandy white beaches and most of all, the untouched coral gardens and rare species of marine life which makes it one of the best places for diving in Malaysia. There are over 20 dive spots which offer unforgettable under water experiences for beginners and exciting adventures for experienced divers. Brand new diving equipment may be rented from the Water Sports Centre and our experienced dive Instructor can even certify you for your PADI Open Water Diver licence as part of your holiday. If you would like to get the PADI licence, the book can be sent to you directly so you are able to study the dive theory at home rather than while on holiday.

DIVING

The dive season starts on 1 March and finishes on 31 October of every year. 

More than 20 different dive sites present you with colourful marine life including soft and leather corals, and a variety of hard corals. The underwater world is home to an incredible collection of nudibranchs, sea turtles, the giant double-headed parrotfish, yellowtail fusiliers, trevallies and napoleon fish, to name a few. Sightings of eagle rays, black-tipped reef sharks and large barracudas are common. There are also sightings of large pelagics, whale sharks and manta rays generally at the beginning and end of our diving season (March, April, September and October) which is the best time to dive at Tenggol Island.

The formations underwater are very impressive with giant rocks and boulders, sometimes creating exciting swim-throughs and channels. Strong currents let the divers fly over the reef, accompanied by curious batfish and often meeting enormous schools of hunting trevallies.

With so many different dive sites around we can almost guarantee that the group you are diving with is the only group you will see on your dive that makes the diving here very personal and special.

Our brand-new twin outboard engine speedboat covers the distance of about 20 nautical miles to the island in a spectacular 45-minute ride.

Tokong Laut or The Mini Highway
Level: Advance Diver and Above
Depth: 18m-22m (54’-66’)
Current: Gushing 

The Mini Highway was the name given to this dive site that serves a purpose. It was because the current could be strong and often everyone will be doing their drift dive here. However, besides drift dive, you can also find jacks, kingfish, fusiliers and even batfish. There are people who claim that they saw whale sharks, eagle rays and manta rays which I believe you might see them in rare cases.

  Tokong Burung
Level: Advance Diver and Above
Depth: 18m-25m (54’-75’)
Current: From mild to calm 

At Tokong Burung, you might catch the sight of bumphead parrotfish, scorpion fish, titan triggerfish, giant moray eels, cuttlefish and even blue-spotted fantail rays. You can also spot the various species of nudibranch and flatworm if you spend more time looking around. It is often being said that patient diver will get a better reward and it do work for this case. If you are fortunate enough, you will see the hawksbill turtles.

Tokong Kamudi
Level: Open Water Diver and Above
Depth: 3m-33m (10’-110’)
Current: Calm

This dive site, you will find more delicate and various type of corals that you might stop for photographs. Other than that, you might hope to barracudas although it is not in a school and tunas, jacks, parrotfish and so on. However, if you spotted a triggerfish, you might consider not intruding into its territory or else you will risk being attack.

Tokong Talang
Level: Open Water Diver and Above
Depth: 15m-27m (20’-90’)
Current: Mild

Tokong Talang is one of the good dive sites in Tenggol Island. In Tokong Talang, the current is still bearable and often you can find nudibranchs, flatworms, six-banded angel fish, scorpionfish, fusiliers, squid, giant moray eels, painted spiny lobsters and blue-spotted fantail rays.

Pulau Nyireh
Level: Advance Diver and Above
Depth: 15m-25m (45’-75’)
Current: Calm 

Although, the current is quite calm but this dive site is more suitable for advance diver. You can prepare your camera to capture some great shots of underwater photograph and more often than not you will find nudibranchs, flatworms, Moorish Idols, spotted coral groupers, scorpionfish and bumphead parrotfish. There are also chances to catch the sight of hawksbill turtles, barracuda, jacks, snappers, lionfish, blue-spotted lagoon rays, moray eels and others.

Garden or The two bays on the east side of P.Tenggol
Level: Open Water Diver and Above
Depth: 5m-30m (15’-90’)
Current: Gentle (calm) 

This dive site is suitable for Open Water diver as the current is calm and this new diver can experience the fun of scuba diving while catch the sight of some beautiful marine creatures such as lionfish, scorpionfish, angelfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, hawksbill turtle and not to forget, the well-known little creatures called “Nemo” in TV but Clownfish in the underwater world.

Northeastern Bay or Teluk Rajawali
Level: Advance Diver and Above
Depth: 24m-30m (72’-90’)
Current: Mild 

This dive site can be known as Northeastern Bay or better known as Teluk Rajawali where there are many soft corals, tiny marine creatures such as Christmas-tree worms, sponges’ soft corals, sea anemones, angelfish and lionfish. As most of the divemaster will say, if you are lucky you will then get to see the manta rays, eagle rays and one of the hottest topics in town, meet the great whale sharks.

Teluk Air Tawar
Level: Open Water Diver and Above
Depth: 12m-34m (36’-110’)
Current: Gentle 

If you love to meet marine life like nudibranchs and Spanish dancers, this is a dive site that you must pay a visit. Here, besides nudibranch you can also find garden eels, moray eels, zebra lionfish, triggerfish, scorpionfish, stonefish and many more.

Drifting from Batu Chanchand to Tanjung Gemok
Level: Advance Diver and Above
Depth: 24m-34m (72’-102’)
Current: Calm, Gushing 

This dive site as mentioned in the name itself is a drift dive that suit for Advance divers and above. Besides drifting, you can also enjoy and experience the fun of scuba diving together with the amazing marine creatures like stingray, jacks, trevallies, crocodilefish, moray eels, lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, bumphead parrotfish and many others.

Tokong Timor (White Rock)
Level: Open Water Diver and Above
Depth: 16m-21m (48’-60’)
Current: Gentle current towards the end of the dive 

As mentioned in the name itself, you can often find lizardfish resting on coral or rock heads that waiting eagerly for you to capture their photographs. You can also catch schools of bannerfish, angelfish, bumphead parrotfish and even fusiliers.

ECO-ADVENTURE MARANG RIVER CRUISE

Discover the beauty of the Marang River on this half-day cruise. A variety of vibrant wildlife, monkeys, iguanas, river crabs, sea eagles and exotic birds can usually be spotted amongst the vegetation on the river banks and in the mangroves.

A seven-kilometer cruise up the river takes guests to a jetty where they disembark and take a walk through a traditional Malay village. The villagers still practice ancient methods of food preparation and handicraft and this is the perfect opportunity to witness traditions that have almost been forgotten.

This excursion will not be available from 1 November and will re-commence on 1 March of every year.

GETTING THERE

By Air

There are daily flights operated by Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur International Aiport (KLIA & LCCT) to Kuala Terengganu From here you take a public bus or taxi to the small coastal town of Kuala Dungun (travel time around 1 hour). Expect to pay only a few ringgits by bus and around RM60 by taxi. At Kuala Dungun jetty you can arrange a boat to Tenggol Island. Tenggol Island is located about 25km from the coast, so it is a 50 minute boat ride to reach your resort.

Another option is a flight by FireFly from Subang Airport (nearer to KL compared to KLIA/LCCT) to the town of Kerteh. From Kerteh it is only a 20 minute drive by taxi to Kuala Dungun. This option saves a lot of time when you are traveling from Kuala Lumpur.

 By Land

Location	Distance	Driving Time (approximate time)
Kuala Lumpur	385 km	4 hours 30 minutes
Kuantan	145 km	2 hours
Kuala Terengganu	70 km	1 hour 15 minutes
Ipoh	540 km	7 hours
Penang (Butterworth)	675 km	8 hours 15 minutes
Singapore	718 km	9 hours

MAPS