The last time I went diving was October 2013 in Maldives, a full 2.5 years passed since I breathed underwater, until last week, when we revisited Tenggol Island. The very island I got my diving certificate more than ten years ago, and also the island I dived the most. How time flies.

Tenggol Coral Beach Resort
Tenggol Coral Beach Resort

The east coast highway is now completed, heading to Dungun took us only 4 hours (excluding the detour to Bentong for breakfast), we left KL at 6 in the morning and got there in time for the 11 am boat transfer to the island. It was also an easier drive than previously when you had to navigate through the old coastal road that can sometimes be congested with big & slow lorries.

As a consequence then, the island is now being visited more than ever, and perhaps lost a bit of its mystic of almost being a deserted island that we used to love.

KY, Haze, Rich, San San at Pulau Tenggol
KY, Haze, Rich, San San at Pulau Tenggol

Anyway, we paid about RM 1.5k each for a twin sharing room with all meals included, boat transfer from Dungun, and 7 boat dives. Slightly more expensive than earlier deals, but it was fair considering the upgrades of the facilities & meals. Will get to that later.

Anyway, I want to document my dive log here as per my usual practice.

Day 1
Dive 1
Site: Coral Garden
20/5/16 3:18 pm, 55 mins, 21.7 meter, 30 Celsius, 124 bar of air
Bumphead, 2 types of nudi, black shrimp on cushion starfish, coral fish

Dive 2
Site: Tanjung Gemuk, evening dive
20/5/16 5:58 pm, 57 mins, 19.4 meter, 31 Celsius, 117 bar of air
Nemo, huge morel eel, trumpet fish, rock hopper wrasse, huge nudi, lovely coral garden
Fish eagle with fish or sea snake captured. Nice slow drifting current

Day 2
Dive 1 – Tokong Laut
21/5/16 9:27 am, 48 mins, 26.6 meter, 29 Celsius, 118 bar of air
Lots of boulders, some swim through which is always one of my favorites.

Dive 2 – Tokong Timur
21/5/16 11:43 am, 60 mins, 20.8 meter, 29 Celsius, 134 bar of air
The other group saw whale shark at other dive site. We didn’t but was a reasonably nice dive too. Warm water of 29-30c too. Rainbow runner, school of fish.

Dive 3 – Turtle Point
21/5/16 3:38 pm, 61 mins, 16.3 meter, 31 Celsius, 113 bar of air
Trying to hunt for whale shark, didn’t find any
Lots of goby with shrimp pairing. Some pvc artificial habitat for the fishes.
Always love the black damsel among corals.

Day 3
Dive 1 – Thai Wreck
22/5/16 9:18 am, 49 mins, 30.2 meter, 28 Celsius, 130 bar of air
Lovely atmospheric dive, took a few pics around the wreck. Deepest dive so far.
Again plenty of goby with shrimp at Sandy bottom.

Dive 2 – Amazing Grace
22/5/16 11:37 am, 61 mins, 18.6 meter, 30 Celsius, 120 bar of air
Last dive of the trip. Also one of the loveliest.
Saw 2 turtles, maybe could have been the same one. Trigger fish. Also saw 3 blue spotted rays.
Big giant garupa. Played with Nemo, catch and release style. Saw jewel garupa too.

Thai Wreck, one of my favorite dives
Thai Wreck, one of my favorite dives

A thing to note for myself is that I have to start checking my equipment at least a couple weeks prior to the trip. I only did so a night prior to this trip and discovered 2 optical cables & my macro lens were missing. The lens lent to a friend but the cables .. well, I may need new cables.

Additionally, we discovered that Haze’s dive computer ran out of battery, with mine being quite low in power as well. We also should have tested the BCD in the swimming pool, cos that would have avoided me discovering that a plastic part had failed right before I was about to go into water for my first dive.

Lessons learned.

food at the resort in Tenggol has since tremendous improvement
food at the resort in Tenggol has since tremendous improvement

One of the best things that happened to having more visitors to Tenggol, at least at Tenggol Coral Beach resort that we went, is that now they serve proper food!

In previous years, you basically “eat to dive” and there were very little enjoyment to be had from those barely edible meals. Now they actually offer fairly decent buffet spread that wouldn’t be out of place in a 2-star hotel in the city.

there was even steamboat dinner on our last night
there was even steamboat dinner on our last night

In fact, on the last night they even prepared steamboat dinner with a hot pot on every table, complete with names of the group all assigned properly.

There’s also now a mini market of sort that you can purchase additional drinks (aka alcohol, soda etc) or snacks to be charged to the room. All in all it is now a much hospitable set up than before, and with 24 hour stable electricity supply & hot water as well. We were pleasantly surprised by this.

our dive guide - Jess
our dive guide – Jess

I have a feeling I would see Tenggol again in future trips, the diving was pretty decent, getting there is now easier than ever, makes for a perfect long weekend getaway.

 

KY dives – Tenggol 2016
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23 thoughts on “KY dives – Tenggol 2016

  • May 27, 2016 at 5:28 pm
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    Look like an awesome trip. Tenggol must be the easiest dive site to reach from kl

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    • May 27, 2016 at 9:12 pm
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      Z: yeap, it now really is with the new highway.

      Reply
  • May 28, 2016 at 7:08 am
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    Ok, you go and dive…I’ll head straight to the buffet table. Hehehehehe!!!!

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    • May 30, 2016 at 8:42 am
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      The Yum List: was definitely!

      Reply
  • May 29, 2016 at 10:01 pm
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    KY, look like a place for mini vacation get away. Dives seem more fun with ship and lost treasure underwater. I love diving but have to be careful of sharks! Now in Hawaii there more sighting of it and jellyfishes. Boy they sure sting have to many people in hospital to treated it.

    Love the the food there and glad you and Haze had wonderful time. Hope to travel there one day and do diving also.

    Reply
    • May 30, 2016 at 8:43 am
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      Vickie: at Hawaii there may be more problems of aggressive sharks, there’s no such issues here though, our sharks are usually smaller and “tamer”

      Reply
  • May 30, 2016 at 8:58 am
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    uncle found Nemo!! Woohoooooo

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      • June 2, 2016 at 7:13 am
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        oh my gawd…. did uncle…… steam or fried?

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          • June 7, 2016 at 6:24 am
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            siao…. disney have to recast actor now

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      • July 9, 2016 at 12:22 am
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        As a rather experienced diver I suppose you shouldn’t play catch/release with clown fishes (or any marine life for that matter) as the substance on human skin may be harmful to them. Probably a few less clown fishes down at Tenggol now.

        Reply
        • July 11, 2016 at 9:13 am
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          Concerned Citizen: you do have a point, will keep my hands off them

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  • July 7, 2016 at 2:53 pm
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    Seems like your having a great adventure, don’t you? See you on your next destination. Good luck. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • July 11, 2016 at 9:08 am
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      Nika Jane: pleasure is mine.

      Reply
  • July 24, 2016 at 10:48 am
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    Hey KY,
    Would you recommend Tenggol Island Beach Resort or Tenggol Coral Beach Resort?
    Thanks!
    Planning a trip in Sept 🙂

    Reply
    • July 27, 2016 at 4:14 pm
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      Mel: I can’t say for the other but the coral beach we went was pretty decent.

      Reply
  • December 15, 2016 at 10:07 am
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    Great photos Ky. The sea looks really clean.

    Reply

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