Best way to dive Tenggol

[CJ Bill]

Thinking off stopping off in Tenggol for a couple of days on a saunter up the malaysian east coast and I was looking at the Tenggol Island Resort (formerly Tenggol Aqua I believe). However, I came across a post on Fins which seemed to indicate that Tenggol Island Resort isn't that good and a Liveaboard (or LOB) might be the best option. Unfortunately, the only liveaboard I found goes out at the weekends which doessn't fit in the tight timetable I've got for that leg of my journey.

I know there are a few divers from the region here, what's your opinions on the matter? Ditch Tenggol entirely and spend extra time in Redang? Head for Kapas or similar instead? Stay at Tenggol Island Resort anyway as it's fundamentally OK?

 

[tzeyap]

Tenggol is arguably the best dive destination on the East coast of Malaysia. My clear favourite.

If you are prepared to accept a lower standard resort and 'rough it out' a little, the diving is well worth it. It's a shame about the resort cos' the island is really beautiful and the dive sites are world-class . Be prepared to put up with fairly strong currents.

I go to Manchester once or twice each year and will likely to be there in August. If you'd like to meet up PM me.

Tenggol is off season from November to March each year.

 

[Bowmouth]

Unfortunately, the only liveaboard I found goes out at the weekends which doessn't fit in the tight timetable I've got for that leg of my journey.
QUOTE]

There's a luxury liveaboard from Thailand doing Adventure Cruises (with plenty of diving) along Malaysia's East coast in September and October this year. Check out this website: http://www.ocean-rover.com/

 

[Quero]

Thinking off stopping off in Tenggol for a couple of days on a saunter up the malaysian east coast and I was looking at the Tenggol Island Resort (formerly Tenggol Aqua I believe). However, I came across a post on Fins which seemed to indicate that Tenggol Island Resort isn't that good and a Liveaboard (or LOB) might be the best option. Unfortunately, the only liveaboard I found goes out at the weekends which doessn't fit in the tight timetable I've got for that leg of my journey.

I know there are a few divers from the region here, what's your opinions on the matter? Ditch Tenggol entirely and spend extra time in Redang? Head for Kapas or similar instead? Stay at Tenggol Island Resort anyway as it's fundamentally OK?

Tenggol is my own favorite east-coast Malaysia dive destination! If it's only for a couple of days, and you can splurge, you might stay at Tanjung Jara Resort and do a two-tank dive every day through their in-house dive center. Last time I dived Tenggol (May 2005), I stayed at a little budget place up the road and dived with TJR, but the upper management didn't like this at all, and I think they've made a rule against it.

You should NOT stay on Tenggol Island. The accommodations are beyond dismal, and the dive op is worse yet. It is definitely worth diving, though! Kapas has little to offer other than some sunken fishing boats, and viz is generally not good.

When are you going?

 

[manta~ray]

Yes.. Tenggol is definitely a dive destination that you wont regret. The accomodation there is not good, Liveaboard is the best choice. I personaly don't like Redang dive site because the island already polluted.. most of the corals are dead and not much to see.. if you plan to go Redang island.. what I recomment is the other island near Redang called Perhentian Island.. more nice dive site.. much much better compare to Redang dive site..

http://www.pinganchorage.com.my/perhentian_island.htm

 

[CJ Bill]

Thanks all. I'll be in the area at the turn of July and August: I was thinking 30th of July to 1st of August.

I had a look at Tanjung Jara Resort, but at RM805 for a room for a night that's not an option. BTW Quero, you know it was you that put me onto Tenggol as a good place to dive in another thread.

Does anyone know any other shore based dive operators in the area? If there aren't any I guess I might just have to rough it on Tenggol itself, should be OK for a couple of nights. My friend and I have got pretty much all our gear so all we'll need is tanks and weights.

Funnily enough Manta~ray, heading for the Perhentians after Tenggol/ Redang. You reckon it's worth giving Redang a miss and going straight to the Perhentains? I'm planning on being there for three weeks to do my DM course but after that I've only got 4 weeks to get across to Bali and I'm looking on trying to squeeze a few extra days in Sulawesi in.

 

[victor]

CJ
RM805 a night
Must be a spectacular resort.
There must be a better option than that.
I stayed on the small Island at Perhentains last year, May I think, not expensive, RM 120 a night B&B, Air Con, on the beach, cheaper if you had the non aircon rooms.
We did not book in advance, wife is Malaysian, so I let her negotiate the deals when we got there.
Her recomendation is to check with the hotel directly that there are rooms, not use the booking services in KL as they charge extra. This can be difficult as you need to find out the phone number of the hotel, not there front agency in KL.

I booked the hotel in Redang, should have listened to her advice, cost extra, was forced in to Dinner B&B, food was horrible communal barby, will listen to wife from now on.

 

[Bowmouth]

I personaly don't like Redang dive site because the island already polluted.. most of the corals are dead and not much to see.. if you plan to go Redang island.. what I recomment is the other island near Redang called Perhentian Island.. more nice dive site.. much much better compare to Redang dive site..

I'm surprised to hear that you think Redang is not good for diving and that the corals are dead. I've been several times to Redang in the past and had some excellent diving at Turtle Bay, Pulau Lima and the Sea Mount on healthy reefs. There was some minor bleaching but otherwise not much damage at all. Is the damage you're talking about something very recent? And where is the damage at Redang; it's a big place with lots of small islets and reefs so please be a little bit more specific. I'm planning to visit and dive Redang, Tenggol, Tioman, Aur and the Perhentians again this year so any updates are much appreciated.
I saw more damage from bleaching, sedimentation and divers at Perhentian than at Redang. The best diving I had at Perhentian was at Tokong Susu (susu rock) which had a nice reef and great fishlife.

 

[Quero]

Thanks all. I'll be in the area at the turn of July and August: I was thinking 30th of July to 1st of August.

I had a look at Tanjung Jara Resort, but at RM805 for a room for a night that's not an option. BTW Quero, you know it was you that put me onto Tenggol as a good place to dive in another thread.

That *is* a lot to spend for a room. When I lived in Malaysia I took advantage of deals--they had a three-night (or was it two?) stay package that included diving. It might be worth writing to them to find out if there are any mid-week specials, for example.

Since this whole thing was my "fault", LOL, I'll keep my ears open for possible solutions. So that I have a clear idea of your timeframe, give me the dates of your DM course and the dates you plan to start out traveling (from where?) and the rough dates of your post-DM itinerary as you see it. If *anything* turns up, I'll let you know.

Q.

 

[CJ Bill]

That *is* a lot to spend for a room. When I lived in Malaysia I took advantage of deals--they had a three-night (or was it two?) stay package that included diving. It might be worth writing to them to find out if there are any mid-week specials, for example.

Since this whole thing was my "fault", LOL, I'll keep my ears open for possible solutions. So that I have a clear idea of your timeframe, give me the dates of your DM course and the dates you plan to start out traveling (from where?) and the rough dates of your post-DM itinerary as you see it. If *anything* turns up, I'll let you know.

Q.

A quick scout around the net got me a price of RM670 per night for a room which is still a bit much! ETA Pinganchorage do a 4d3n deal (without diving) for RM1149 p/p. Hmmm, still about twice the price of 3d2n on Tenggol Island itself with diving...

Post DM, which should be around the 25th of August with any luck, I'm heading down to KL then I've got to make Bali for the 27th/ 28th of September to meet a plane. Basic plan is to head over to Sabah and dive from Semporna for Sipidan (and surrounds) then head over to Sulawesi for the Toegians and Manado/Lempeh/Bunaken. Which, on reflection leaves me another gap to get to Tenggol at the end of August but by that point I'll be travelling on my own and hitting single supplements (and that seems to really bump the price up at the nicer dive spots!) as well as being holiday season (I think).