PULAU Gaya, one of the five islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, offers plenty of marine attractions and is a haven for divers.
There are over 25 different dive sites, with pretty coral reefs and a plethora of underwater life.
The 49sqkm park was established in 1974 and named after our first prime minister.
Initially, there were only two islands (Gaya and Sapi) under the park but since 1979, it has expanded to include three more islands (Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug).
The reefs here lie in shallow waters with little current, making it an ideal location for novice divers.
Yet, the diverse and sometimes rare marine creatures also make it an interesting dive location for experienced divers and underwater photographers.
My first leisure dive was at Clement’s Reef on Sapi Island and my dive buddy-cum-instructor for the day was Daniel B.
The visibility was good and we came across a colourful array of fish, barracudas, shy moray eels, a variety of nudibranch and anemone fish.
Surprisingly, I didn’t see as many bleached corals and sea urchins as I had seen in Pulau Tioman, indicating the pollution factor here was less.
We ambled along for an hour, teasing many a puffer fish and soaking in the spectacular marine life before ascending and heading to Padang Point for lunch.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Allure of Pulau Gaya
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