If you’ve been following me for a while now, then you’ll understand why Tioman Island or Pulau Tioman has a special place in my heart, especially when it comes to diving in Tioman Island. 

Located off the east coast of the Malaysian Peninsula, Tioman Island is actually part of the state of Pahang, although it is geographically closer to the state of Johor. 

This little island is less famous than Redang Island or Perhentian Island. Still, it is very popular with locals, Singaporeans, and Westerners, especially among divers who love to dive and have a little fun.

It has become one of the islands known for its diving spots and impressive wreck sites, which are home to hundreds of sea creatures. In addition, Pahang added another exciting item to the seabed. Can you guess what? Hint: Choo Choo! 😛 

But compared to diving in Sipadan or Perhentian Islands, is it really worth stopping to dive in Tioman? 

In this article, I’ll take you along on my journey as I embark on a ferry boat back to where my husband proposed underwater, witnessed by sea creatures. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. I hope you find the information here useful! Merci beaucoup 😀

How To Get To Pulau Tioman

How to Get to Mersing Jetty from KL

The most practical way from KL to Tioman is to drive on your own. You’ll have the time flexibility, like we did. It took us about 4 hours to drive from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Jetty. 

My friends and I drove there. It’s always a good idea to carpool and go on a road trip together! 

This will be the best option if you’re traveling with friends or family. It gave us the flexibility to stop at the rest area if needed. Plus, it’s a great way to create some core memories of tripping!

All you need to be sure of is arriving there early, as you will need to find parking and queue up to buy Marine Park tickets.

A cheaper option is to take a night bus to Mersing town. It takes about five hours, and you should be in town by 5 a.m. You can save your energy and sleep on the bus.

The only downside is the waiting game between your arrival time in Mersing and your ferry Tioman time. 

Otherwise, you can also opt for private taxis, which cost a lot more. But if you’re traveling in groups, it could be a good idea to share the costs.  

Check Out: Compare Bus Rides and Taxi Costs – KL to Mersing  

How to Get to Mersing Jetty from Singapore

If you can handle driving all the way from Singapore to Mersing, it is definitely worth the drive. 

It takes about 3 hours, which is a shorter drive than the KL—Mersing Jetty route. 

Some buses and coaches, such as KKKL Singapore, Starmart Express, The One Travel and Tours, Transnasional, and WTS Travel and Tours, offer trips from Singapore to Mersing town. 

While taking the bus or coach may be cheap, it also comes with certain disadvantages, such as having to get off the bus for immigration (with your luggage) and then queue up to board the transport again. 

Notes: 

• The bus from Singapore leaves pretty early in the morning, so you will need to double-check your bus arrival time and ferry time. Allow a 2-hour margin just to be safe. 
• Some buses may drop you in town, so you’ll still need to make your way to the jetty, which could take some time on foot or by car. 
• Allow some time to queue up for a Marine Park ticket at the counter before heading to the jetty. 

Once the ferry decides to leave the jetty, it’s too late for you.

Check Out: Compare Bus Rides and Taxi Costs – Singapore to Mersing

How to Get to Tioman Island from Mersing Jetty

Once you have your car parked, remember to get your Marine Park ticket at the counter across the jetty. Regardless of the ferry company, all boats will bring you from Mersing to Tioman Island.

Both offer different kinds of experiences, and you get to choose according to your budget and timing. Two ferry boat services run daily, which are:

Option 1: Cataferry 

Cataferry is on the higher end as you get to choose your seat. You don’t have to worry about sitting with strangers or being separated from your group. 

What I loved about Cataferry:

• More comfortable 
• Allocated seating has a premium seating area
• Access to a mid-upper deck and top upper deck where you can enjoy the view while you’re on your way to Tioman
• Suitable for all kinds of groups, especially for families with small kids
• Luggage area to store your luggage

Pros: Newer, spacious, more comfortable

Cons: Less frequent, more expensive

Check the schedule and book ferry tickets from Mersing jetty to Tioman here. 

Option 2: Bluewater Ferry

Bluewater ferry is another Mersing ferry to Tioman Island. It is also as convenient and comfortable as Cataferry, but it has free seating on a first-come, first-served basis. You keep your bag wherever it is possible on the floor.

If you take your sweet time to queue up, well, you’ll be seated in any seat available. Hence, there are higher chances of being separated from your friends or family. 

What I loved about Bluewater:

• Convenient 
• Comfortable seats
• Affordable pricing

Pros: More frequent, cheaper

Cons: Noisier, less comfortable

Check the schedule and book ferry tickets here. 

I tried both ferry services – Cataferry on the way into the islands and departed on a Bluewater ferry back to the mainland. I find the Cataferry ride to be more relaxing and comfortable, with the fantastic view from the upper deck! 

Best Time to Visit Tioman Island

The best time to visit Tioman is between March and October, during the dry season. During this time, all the islands on the Southern China Sea side are open for the island beach season. 

Visibility is said to be at its best between May and June/July. So, plan your trip well to maximize your diving experience. 

I went in August, and the visibility was low to moderate. But overall, it was pretty. We could still see some fascinating sea creatures!

Where I Stayed + How Much I Spent for 3D2N

There are a few villages on Tioman Island that you can go to based on your preferences and budget. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family, you can refer to this guide on the different villages of Tioman Island.

I stayed at Bayu Dive Center in Kampung Genting, a village with a calming and quiet atmosphere—the same place where I did my OWD.

I love it because it’s calm and relaxing. It’s suitable for divers who want a quick getaway on an island where they can eat, dive, chill, and sleep. 

The best part about the package is its affordability. For only RM 700, I enjoyed a 3D2N stay that covered all my needs.

• Accommodation (With A/C and Comfortable Bunk Beds)
• Meals (1 Lunch, 1 Dinner,  2 Breakfast)
• 4 Boat Dives (With our fun Dive Master, Bim)

Of course, this price does not include the ferry transfers, equipment rental, and marine park fees. Here is a quick breakdown of additional costs: 

• Marine Park : RM5 for Malaysian | RM 30 for Non-Malaysian Citizens
• Parking : RM15 per day
• Full Set Equipment (Regulator, BCD, Masks, Fin): RM100

I’m a slow traveler who finds joy in not doing anything but relaxing and taking a step back from the real world. So, if you’re like me and seek relaxing stays and dives, I definitely recommend checking out the dive+stay package Pulau Tioman by Bayu Dive Center.

Suggested Activities: Scuba Diving on Tioman Island (Open Water Diving Course)

Tioman Dive Sites – Where We Dived

There are at least ten dive sites on Tioman Island, including wreck dives, reef dives, and beach dives, all of which are unique and beautiful. 

On our first diving in Tioman trip in 2020, we visited several dive sites, one of which was Tomok—the dive site where my husband and I got engaged underwater!

This time around, we did one check dive at Pirate Reef and three fun dives at Renggis, Sayok, and the newest LRT Coach Reef at Monkey Bay. 

Here, you can find two LRT coaches submerged as an artificial reef to persevere Tioman’s marine ecosystem, an initiative set forth by Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah. 

Further reading: The First LRT Coach Reef Is In Pulau Tioman

Pirate Reef (Depth: 4-14m)

Pirate Reef is not usually a go-to diving site for experienced divers. It’s relatively small and consists of coral bommies bulging out from the sandy bottom. 

You can expect to see some marine life like parrot fish, clown fish, and angel fish swimming around. Occasionally, some hawksbill turtles say hello to you, too!

As most of us haven’t dived in for quite some time, it was a perfect place for a check dive. It was a good kickstart for a short getaway from Kuala Lumpur and the busyness of life. It’s an ideal site for a relaxing dive.

The last time I was on an island, it didn’t involve any diving sessions. It only involved an unlimited package getaway with snorkeling trips at this Perhentian Island. 

At Pirate Reef, I could adjust my buoyancy accordingly, loosen up my muscles and legs a little, recall the underwater diving signals, and familiarise my throat with dry oxygen—an excellent way to refresh my diving skills. 

Renggis Island (Depth: 6-14m)

Renggis Island is one of the most popular dive sites, and I understand why now. 

Located in front of Berjaya Resort, this dive spot is famous for exciting sightings of black-tip reef sharks and green turtles swimming around the island. With a depth of about 15 m, it is perfect for diving and snorkeling. 

You’ll be able to enjoy the hard coral formations viewing from up close or from the top.

When I did my OWD, I didn’t have any prescription masks, so everything around me was blurry. I knew it was pretty, but it was pixelated in my eyes.

Now, with an ultra-HD diving mask, I could see how beautifully the corals were lined up between soft and hard corals. We did see one Hawksbill turtle feeding on the corals peacefully, but unfortunately, we didn’t see any black-tip reef sharks for the day. 

This is also where we had our graduation dive, a moment I’ll never forget, and where my husband surprised me with a unique underwater proposal. You can read more about this unforgettable experience here. 

Obligatory Read: My Underwater Engagement at Tioman Island 

Soyak Island (Depth: 5-15m)

Soyak Island has a distinctive feature: you’ll find a lot of underwater pinnacles surrounded by both soft and hard corals! As you kick your fin and glide slowly from one place to another, there will be diverse marine ecosystems welcoming you!

Descending to Soyak Island was challenging. The visibility was poor, and I struggled with equalizing. It required extra time and patience to descend safely without causing any harm to my ears. 

Despite the low visibility, I was thrilled to spot some moral eels, a giant fat grouper hiding away from us under a dark shady area under some big rock, and a puffer fish so tamed that it accompanied us for a particular time while swimming around us back and forth. 

Initially, I thought the puffer fish was agitated, but to my surprise, it didn’t inflate. It seemed to be enjoying our company, playfully swimming around us!

We also saw spotted lionfish, a few turtles, and, of course, defensive clownfish standing their ground and protecting their anemone home. 

For a more advanced diving experience, you can opt to dive at the Soyak Wrecks dive site (often paired up with a dive at Soyak Island), which goes up to 26 m. 

LRT Coach Reef (Depth: 5-18m)

The LRT Coach Reef at Monkey Bay was exciting and unusual for me. With two sunken LRT coaches at about 16-18m, this artificial reef acts as a breeding ground for marine life. 

It was submerged in July 2024. As time passes, both LRT coaches have attracted a variety of marine species. As I swam around coaches 1709 and 3007, I could see schools of smaller fish hovering around the coaches, seeking shelter in small crevices and hidden spaces of the structure!

It felt like going to work in diving gear with fishes! The only thing I forgot was my TnG card :-P.

For information, this was the only attraction over here. So, if you’re an advanced diver and looking for something more thrilling and challenging, I do not recommend this site unless you’re planning to shoot some content. 

Trust me, you’ll end up bored if you don’t have a camera. I’d come back here again, but maybe after a few years, when it is much livelier and the marine life is present.

Suggested Read: Hiking Mount Kinabalu

My stay at Kampung Genting was really worth it. It was the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. There is a place for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a diver or not. 

Besides scuba diving in Tioman, there are other activities you can do, such as island hopping Tioman, spending a day going for 18-hole golf Tioman Island, or hiking Gunung Mukut via ferrata for some adrenaline rush!

One of the things I love about Kampung Genting is its peacefulness. It’s not overpopulated with tourists, especially on the side where we stayed. This tranquility allowed us to fully recharge, as one should on a holiday.

As I reminisce on diving in Tioman trip, I find myself eagerly looking forward to my next visit to Tioman Island. There’s something about an island that always makes it an excellent choice for holidays. Wouldn’t you agree with me? 😉

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