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This web page was created in July 1998, and last updated on 07 November 1998

Where is Pulau Pemanggil?

In the Malay language, "Pulau" means "island", so "Pulau Pemanggil" simply means "Pemanggil Island".

Pulau Pemanggil is located in the state of Johor on the south-east coast of West Malaysia.  The following maps from various websites will give you an idea of where it is:

- Where is Malaysia in the world?
- Where is Malaysia in Asia?
- Map of Malaysia
- Where is Johor in Malaysia
- The islands off Johor...

Pulau Pemanggil is part of a gazetted marine park: the Mersing Marine Park. 

More information about the Malaysian Marine Park programme is available at the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture website. 

The Malaysian Tourist Board also carries some information about diving in Malaysia.

Mako's main open-water scuba training base

During the "high-season", Mako Sub-Aquatics conducts open-water scuba training at Pulau Pemanggil.  It is an excellent training ground for novice divers it has relatively clear water, the dive sites are relatively shallow, and one can easily find some sandy bottoms to conduct scuba training... so that students don't break coral.

What's your comfort level?

Hotel Hilton, it ain't! 

From the photos further down this page, you will realise that it is essentially a very basic "kampong" (village in the Malay language).   Everything is pretty primitive... in fact, the most modern thing that recently turned up was a card-operated payphone (connected to the mainland via radio).  The boats are pretty basic too, being fishing boats adapted for diving by the addition of ladders.

The rooms have beds or double-decker beds, are clean and simple.   However, some often bring inflatable mattresses and sleep in corridors or under the open sky, which if you are lucky enough to have a cloudless one, is filled with stars at night!

Common toilets are very simple.  Water is cool, clear and fresh, but not potable (don't drink it without boiling), and is usually accumulated in huge cement troughs.  One has to scoop water from troughs of water for bathing or flushing.  Just be considerate and don't contaminate the trough by letting soap lather or other crap fall into it.

Between dives, divers often head for the small "coffee shop" for a refreshing glass of tea, Malaysian style: lots of milk and pretty sweet.   Alternatively, they lie about, relax, chat, have a bite to eat, etc...

Divers who come here have come to appreciate the quiet, peaceful, relaxing slow pace of life, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. 

The picture at the top of this page shows "Gunung Gajah" or "Elephant Hill", so named because the huge granite outcrop resembles the head of an elephant.

View of the Kampong Buau (Buau Village) from the jetty.  The village is on the western edge of this bay.  Right in front, about 300 feet from the beach, 60 feet down is a couple of rocky outcrops with good coral growth and lots of resident fish, including a moray eel.	The instructors room and storage shed (on the left), the dining area (on the right), and more chalets further down the path.
A peaceful sunrise... view of western "cape" of the bay from the village. A view of Gunung Gajah (Elephant Hill).	Down the path, one can find a few different stores selling meals, including "roti prata", coffee, "ice kachang".
A view of the bay and jetty... its a quiet morning
Nothing like a hike to the boats to stir up your morning...
A closer look at our diving platforms: you'd be surprised.  These fishing boats are remarkably stable as diving platforms, probably because of their design.  They don't pitch and roll as bad as some other boats.

Take a look at what some of Mako's dive trainees have placed on the web.  These pictures were published by Shafir and Lua Seet Chong. 

View of the western end of the bay at Kampong Buau ("Kampong" = "Village").  A lot of the basic skills are taught and evaluated in this bay as it mainly sand.  Nonetheless, there are a few big rocks that are home to a multitude of fish.	The same view of the bay at sunset.   Especially on longer dive trips (typically Thursdays to Sundays), one would find divers resting after a day's diving, watching the sunset, enjoying some dessert or our usual "Ramli" burger.
We dive on local fishing boats, fitted with ladders (for climbing out of the water).  We also have our own compressors so that we can charge our air cylinders after each dive.	Here is a photo of one group of Mako's trainee divers with Derrick Huang, a NAUI instructor at Mako.  Yet another satisfied (and hopefully safe) lot of divers.