Ultimate Guide to Perhentian Island Diving: Best Accommodation, Transportation & Food Tips
📍Perhentian Kecil Island
🤿Sea Voice Divers
🤍This serene island is a haven for foreign tourists seeking tranquility, making it a peaceful and relaxing escape. The atmosphere is so calm that you can almost hear the gentle lapping of the waves.
🤍Visitors often spend their days basking in the sun, engrossed in books, playing cards, savoring local cuisine, watching movies, snorkeling, diving, and immersing themselves in the crystal-clear waters.
It’s a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
🤍On weekends, the island welcomes more Malaysian visitors, adding a lively buzz to the otherwise tranquil beaches.
🚦Transportation Arrangements
(Airport to Jetty)
✈️Fly into Kota Bharu Airport
🚐Pre-book your transportation online with Seven Seas, which will take you from the airport to Kuala Besut jetty. Once booked, they’ll send a confirmation to your email, ensuring a smooth start to your journey.
💰One-way: RM30 per person
(Jetty to Island)
🛥️Upon arrival, the driver will escort you to the Seven Seas office near the jetty. After exchanging your booking for a boat ticket, they’ll guide you to the jetty and arrange for your boat ride, making the process incredibly convenient [laughing]. No need to stress about last-minute transportation hiccups.
Just remember to provide your hotel details, and they’ll drop you off at the jetty closest to your accommodation, whether it’s on the big or small island [thumbs up].
💰One-way: RM35 per person
🏨Accommodation
We stayed at Senja Bay Resort, conveniently located near the dive shop. We booked through Booking.com, but you can also book directly with the dive shop. The resort, known as Senja Bay, offers basic and simple facilities in charming stilted wooden houses. Since we spent most of our time diving, the simplicity of the accommodations didn’t bother us much [crying laughing].
🍴Food
✨The island’s culinary offerings include a delightful mix of Western and Malay dishes, such as fried rice, fried noodles, fried vermicelli, chicken chops, fish chops, and steak.
✨Our go-to spot was Amelia Cafe, right next to the dive shop. We often visited during surface intervals, and their kuey teow goreng and bihun were particularly delicious.
On our last night, we indulged in their grilled fish and fish chop, which were absolutely scrumptious, likely due to the freshness of the catch.
✨Local favorite: Rosemarry Cafe
✨Popular among foreigners: Panorama Cafe
✨Convenient and close: Amelia Cafe
🤿Dive Shop: Sea Voice Divers
🔥The prices are incredibly reasonable, with each dive costing under RM100, including all equipment and refreshments [thumbs up][shy]. This is a great deal for divers looking to explore the underwater world without breaking the bank.
🔥While you do need to carry your own gear and tank onto the boat, it’s a fantastic way to get a little extra workout in before your dive [laughing][crying laughing]. Plus, it adds to the adventure!
🔥The dive sites are varied, ensuring you won’t be revisiting the same spots. If you have specific locations in mind, the team is very accommodating and will do their best to arrange it [laughing][thumbs up]. This flexibility makes every dive a unique experience.
🔥The instructors and divemasters are highly professional. They start by assessing your skill level and then group you accordingly. For more challenging dive sites, they also take into account individual capabilities (though it’s an unspoken rule, everyone knows this [crying laughing][sweating]). Their expertise ensures a safe and enjoyable diving experience for all levels.
🔥Popular Dive Sites in Perhentian: SanChoi Wreck (a fish lover’s paradise)
🔥My personal favorites include: Panglima Abu (the final dive of our trip, where we experienced excellent visibility and saw some incredible large marine life—though, as always, luck plays a part [facepalm]) and Serenggeh (with its unique topography, this site is breathtaking when the light is just right [winking]).
🔥Top 3 local picks: SanChoi Wreck, Terumbu Tiga, and Tokong Laut (although visibility wasn’t the best when we visited these two, they are still worth exploring).
Wishing everyone safe and memorable dives! Enjoy the adventure!
