Pulau
Kapas
Pulau Kapas and Pulau Gemia (located to the north of Pulau Kapas) are
merely 20 to 30 minutes by speedboat from the mainland off the coastal
town of Marang, 15 kilometres south of Kuala Terengganu. Water visibility
varies between 5 to 15 metres at best. The close proximity to the mainland
makes Pulau Kapas ideal for non-diving tourists.
Berakit
This reef is located on the eastern side of Pulau Kapas. Two large boulders
with coral growth are home to a number of reef fishes such as damsels,
wrasses, blennies and gobies. This is also a good site to observe groupers
and if lucky, bamboo sharks can be seen resting under crevices.
Japanese
Landing Craft Wreck
About 30 minutes north of Pulau Kapas is a Japanese landing craft wreck
lying upright at a depth of 25 metres. Divers descend by the anchor
line from the dive boat to reach the wreck. Sections of the metal hull
and the anti aircraft guns are carpeted with soft corals and is home
to a number of small marine animals.
Pulau
Gemia
North of Pulau Kapas is Pulau Gemia. The depth profile of the reef around
this island varies between 5 to 16 metres with hard corals carpeting
the seascape. Darting about the acropora hard corals gardens are chromis,
damsels, wrasses, and parrotfish. Occasionally, a school of bumphead
wrasses will graze through the coral rubble foraging for food.
Getting
There
Travel south of Kuala Terengganu to the coastal town of Marang. There
are daily boat transfers to Kapas Island with a travel time between
20 minutes by speedboat to almost 1 hour by refurbished fishing vessels
used for ferrying tourists.
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