Monkey Dives, Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

After five dives in two days, we can vouch that Monkey Dives on the Perhentian Islands of Malaysia is one excellent dive hostel. The owners, Bee and Bart, as well as Micaela, Angela and Mika, our dive instructors, are as friendly as they are professional.

Careful consideration goes into every detail, from the following dive locations, to the briefings and gear preparations.

1. D’Lagoon

Only five minutes away. 12 meters. 50 minutes. We saw Trigger Fish, Puffer Fish and Parrot Fish, among others. Micaela made Damsel Fish dance with sign language.

2. Sail Rock

18 meters. 50 minutes. First we encircled the coral, then because visibility and current were good, we did a swim through. We saw Scorpion Fish, four coral farms, Grouper, Turtles and even a Jenkins Stingray—a very large stingray!

3. Stingray Alley

19 meters. 50 minutes. We had visuals on Stingrays, Nudibranches (Varicose Wart Slugs are most common) and really nice corals because not many people dive here. We even spotted a Longfin Batfish and one very persistent Ramoray “Suckerfish” attempted to hitch a ride with every diver.

4. T3 aka Terembu Tigga

19 meters, 50 minutes. This dive featured tight swim throughs. Micaela’s advice was to exhale to decrease your buoyancy, and to try not to touch anything, but you can use a finger on the floor or ceiling for balance, if needed. Just make sure there are no fish or nudibranches where you touch. Do light flutter kicks. We saw a turtle, Trigger Fish and a large Jenkins Stingray.

5. Tanjung Basi

18 meters, 50 minutes. Although Black Tip Reef Sharks have been spotted here, they were absent that day. We did see many of the fish mentioned above, however. MIcaela’s advice for territorial Trigger fish, which can bite if you encroach on their territory, is to use use your secondary air supply to blow bubbles at them.

If you’re on the small island of the Perhentian Islands, plan your next epic dives with Bee and Bart at Monkey Dives! Video is coming soon!

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