Pulau Tioman Things to Do Tips by xuessium Top 5 Page for this destination

Hit the waters! You're in Tioman!

It was painfully obvious till this most recent posting that I never really got to experience the legendary waters off P.Tioman. 12 years in between visits, but I finally got it done.

This is the first place in Malaysia that really got off to a booming start as a diving/snorkeling paradise. Despite the various warnings that the seas are no longer as beautiful, hey, I gonna take a plunge...nothing like seeing it for myself.

I went to 3 spots on a quick afternoon off with myself.

Pulau Tulai (aka as Coral Island) lived up to its name. The island with its band of faint yellowish pristine beaches look inviting enough as the boat approaches and despite the crowded waters, the corals appeared healthy and the waters teeming with fishes and marine organisms of various kinds. However a closer look revealed more worrying signs - there were plenty of crown-of-thorns starfishes on the fringes. This species is at least partly responsible for much loss of coral reefs.

Then it's time to amuse the kids in the group with fish-feeding at the entrance of the Marine Park. Despite the presence of many hungry large fishes (parrotfishes, trevallies etc) which thrilled the kids no end when they surfaced and fought for the bread pieces, the sand beds were amazingly covered with sea urchins and devoid of corals.....despite in waters at least 5m deep.

The last stop was off the shores of Pulau Renggis, a small rocky outcrop. The waters were more choppy here but the island seemed to attract a fair share of diving beginners. Wasn't particularly attracted by the offerings here - fewer species and more evident signs of death and decay on the fringes.

Directions: The waters off Pulau Tioman

Paya: The jungle trail and the mini "waterfall" Paya Beach Review

There is a jungle trail behind the beach and the shophouses lining the beach front. It was a good trek as you follow the river "inland". Once you leave the beach and enter the jungle, it becomes very quiet except for the flow of the river and the rustling of leaves. We were hunting for this waterfall marked on our map. I just want to tell folks that you would be disappointed with it. In reality, it is more of the river water flowing over big boulders on a gentle slope. "Waterfall" indeed! (I still remembered that we were quite incredulous when we finally found it!)

Directions: Paya village.

Paya: Have a good look at Gunung Kajang Paya Beach Review

Gunung Kajang is a mountain ("Gunung" meaning mountain in Malay) behind the village of Paya. There is no way you can ignore its presence.

Directions: Paya village.

Paya beach at low tide Paya Beach Review

The beach at low tide brought a totally different look as the retreating tide exposed many rocks and crevices that you do not get to see at normal sea level. It was a great time for photography as the many weird shapes made for great patterns, especially in the early morning when the sun is very low in the sky and the light is less harsh.

Directions: Paya beach.

Paya: Hitting the beach! Paya Beach Review

Paya beach is not quite the best beach in the world. A little coarse at places and definitely not white, but more of a brownish hue. But if you are at Paya, this is what you will have to contend with!

I like the rickety pier better. I spent a good afternoon here, with a local burger in hand, sitting at the pier, with fishes swarming around in the emerald water below me, a cool breeze blowing, a panorama of the village in front of me and chatting with my friends. This was the highlight of my trip.

Directions: Paya beach.