What could be more relaxing than a day spent swimming in cerulean waters and lounging on soft, sandy beaches?
Malaysia is a tropical paradise when it comes to scenic and idyllic islands. There are over 800 islands dotting its waters, and over 40 of these are gazetted as marine parks.
These parks are – as described on the official website of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) – “established to protect and conserve various habitats and aquatic marine life”.
Other than for conservation, the parks are also great destinations for day-tripping and island hopping.
Here are five marine parks that you can consider checking out on your next domestic getaway.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (Sabah)
Let’s start with Sabah, the state where most of Malaysia’s marine parks are located.
There are six parks: Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Turtle Islands Park, Pulau Tiga Park, Sipadan Island Park, Tun Sakaran Marine Park and, the largest in Malaysia, Tun Mustapha Park.
All managed by Sabah Parks, the easiest to visit for most tourists is the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
From the jetties in the capital city, Kota Kinabalu, you can take a 15- to 20-minute boat ride to the park. The five islands you can visit here are Pulau Gaya, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug.
Other than the typical island hopping and snorkelling, you can also book a stay at the luxury resorts on Pulau Gaya and Pulau Manukan.
Labuan Marine Park (Labuan)
Not far from KK, there is another marine park, located within the space of the Federal Territory of Labuan.
There is no longer direct access from KK to Labuan Marine Park, but you can still reach it by first taking a ferry from the city to Labuan. Then take a boat from the Labuan Marina Jetty to the park.
Like all the marine parks across Malaysia, except in Sabah and Sarawak (the latter has coastal national parks), Labuan Marine Park is managed by the DOF.
There are three islands that make up the park: Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Rusukan Besar and Pulau Rusukan Kecil. If you love diving, you’ll enjoy the American, Australian, Blue Water and Cement wreck diving sites that can be found within the park.
For a longer visit, you can book a stay at the resort on Pulau Rusukan Besar.
Sultan Iskandar Marine Park (Johor)
Johor’s main marine sanctuary, Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, is located off the coast of Mersing. According to the official Johor National Parks website, the park has six main clusters – Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Aur and Pulau Pemanggil – comprising 41 islands in total.
You can take a boat from the Mersing Jetty or Tanjung Leman Jetty to reach the main islands.
Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa and Pulau Sibu are popular for weekend getaways and snorkelling excursions, while Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Aur and Pulau Pemanggil are more for diving enthusiasts.
Other than visiting the islands, you can also brush up on your maritime knowledge at the Mersing Marine Park Gallery.
At this interactive educational facility, set within the Fisheries Department premises in the town of Mersing, you’ll get to learn about marine parks and ecosystems.
Tioman Marine Park (Pahang)
From Mersing, you can actually get to a marine park located in another state, namely the Tioman Marine Park in Pahang.
The ferry ride from Mersing Jetty to Pulau Tioman, the marine park’s main island, will typically take 90 minutes to two hours. You can check out the ferry information on the Pahang Tourism website.
Alternatively, you can take a ferry from the Tanjong Gemok Jetty. This jetty is in Pahang itself, but it can take longer, up to two hours and 30 minutes, to reach Tioman.
At the visitor centre, located in the island’s Kampung Tekek, you can learn about the marine park’s nine core islands: Tioman, Chebah, Tulai, Sepoi, Labas, Sembilang, Seri Buat, Gut and Tokong Bahara.
Pulau Payar Marine Park (Kedah)
Kedah Marine Park, better known as Pulau Payar Marine Park, is located 30m south of the Langkawi main island. It consists of four uninhabited islands: Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca and Pulau Segantang.
For a day trip to the marine park, you can check out the packages available on the Pulau Payar Marine Park website. It is stated here that the slots for the snorkelling and diving packages are limited to 100 per week.
So, you’ll want to book yours early.
Boat ride to the island from Kuah Jetty in Langkawi will take about 45 minutes.
Do note that the park is closed annually from March 1 to May 31 for preservation purposes.
By the way, depending on your luck, you might spot an Eden’s whale or two feeding within the park around May or June.
