All photo from previous page are from the two dive spots within easy reach of Singapore – Tioman and Dayang / Aur.

Dive season is between March and beginning of December.

    Tioman is a bigger island with a number of villages and beaches along its west coast. As most dive spots are at the upper end of the island, Salang Beach at the north is the best base for diving. There are a number of dive operators and lots of accommodation. And Tioman can be reached by public transport.

Best known sites: Tiger Reef, Marine Park (14 shipwrecks) and further out Golden Reef and Magicienne Rock

    Dayang and the sister island Aur can only be reached by organized tour and cater mostly to diving and fishing. The dive spots are very close to the island so the trips are rather relaxing.

Best known sites: Reyners Rock and Pinnacle II

    How to go: Organized:

Both spots are easiest reached by joining a dive shop in Singapore:

The one we join normally is Big Bubble Centre www.bigbubble.com

The tour starts Friday night around 19:30 by bus or van. After crossing over to Johor and dinner along the road we reach the jetty at Tanjung Leman or Mersing at Midnight. There you go on board of the dive boat where you can have a nap till you arrive at the Island between 03:00 and 06:00 AM.

Catch some more sleep and after breakfast you get your first dive. Two more dives after lunch, night dive, some beer at the beach and the Saturday is gone.

Two more dives Sunday Morning and after lunch you are back on your way to the mainland. With no delays on the road you should be back in Singapore by 21:00.

On such trips open water dive courses are also conducted.

    How to go: On your own:

To reach Tioman by public transport from Singapore:

Take bus SBS 170 over the border to Johor Bahru bus terminal. Get there on the bus to Mersing or get a blue taxi for around 80RM, takes around 2.5h.

At Mersing you get the ferry which takes really long or you may catch a speed boat.

Our favorite dive shop at Salang Beach is Dive Asia.

We prefered to stay in the beach huts at the northern end of the beach very simple but sea view.

Eating: Barbeque of fresh fish along the beach – really good.

For the way back it is a bit tricky to find out the schedule for the ferry / speedboat and in Mersing you have to go to the bus terminal in the centre of town to catch a blue taxi again.

In any way it takes you at least half a day to make the journey so if you have just a weekend it is quite a rush.

Be aware of public holidays in Singapore or Malaysia – things get crowded.

    Alternative for Dedicated Divers: Live Aboard Tour

Lots of dives and the best dive sites north of Tioman + Wreck diving!

We went with the guys from Professional Divers.