The coral reef
Colourful tropical fish in protected water.
No machine-readable author provided. Shmunmun assumed (based on copyright claims). — Public domain · Koichi Shibata — CC BY-SA 3.0
A small island ringed by coral reef in the Strait of Malacca, about an hour by boat from Langkawi, and the best-known spot in the area for snorkelling among fish. The waters around it are protected, so tropical fish crowd the reef, and small, harmless reef sharks cruise the shallows close to the beach. The island is visited on full-day trips run by operators, which usually include hotel transfers, the boat, snorkelling gear and lunch, sometimes with a floating platform to swim from or an underwater viewing room. Overnight stays on the island are not allowed. A full-day trip typically costs around RM 300 per foreign visitor depending on the operator and what is included, with simpler snorkelling trips for less. Travel sources report that the island closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from the end of March to the end of May each year to protect the reef, with a weekly cap on visitors, so book ahead and check your date. The sea can be rough and trips are sometimes cancelled, and the boat ride is long for anyone prone to seasickness. For small children and weak swimmers, the floating platform and life jackets make it safe and fun.
Colourful tropical fish in protected water.
Harmless reef sharks in the shallows.
Safe entry to the water and an underwater viewing room.
Payar Island, about an hour by boat south-east of Langkawi
Yes, with a life jacket: the water near the beach is usually shallow and calm, and the platform and underwater viewing room show the fish without swimming. Seasickness on the boat can be an issue, so bring a remedy.