PULAU TIOMAN MARINE PARK

The Pulau Tioman Archipelago which is off Pahang is about 32 nautical miles northeast from Mersing, Johore and consists of 9 islands i.e. Pulau Tioman, Pulau Labas, Pulau Sepoi, Pulau Gut, Pulau Tokong Bahara, Pulau Chebeh, Pulau Tulai, Pulau Sembilang and Pulau Seri Buat.

Beautiful beaches and sheltered bays are to be found here for those wanting a quiet hideaway from stressful urban lifestyle. Scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving and snorkelling are by far the most popular activities in the park's clear waters.

The rocky outcrop of Pulau Labas features some of the best reefs in the area and is well known for its splendid multicoloured soft corals. For the experienced diver, the Tiger Rock which has a large submerged reef is an attractive site with strong sweeping currents which bottoms out at 30m between Pulau Labas and Pulau Sepoi.

The Magicienne Rock which is another submerged reef is located north of Tioman and lies in 10m of water. It is rarely visited which makes it worthwhile to dive where giant manta rays have been sighted.

A trip to the few outlying islands from Pulau Tioman namely Pulau Tokong Bahara and Pulau Gut is marvellous as they offer the best of nature's unspoilt reefs.

There are also artificial reefs which consist of a tyre reef, a boat reef and a recreational reef which can be very popular with divers. The recreational reef is made up of 720 cuboid units of concrete measuring 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2m and is located at Telok Air Batang at a depth of 25m and is adjacent to the Marine Park Centre.

Pulau Tioman Marine Park provides golden opportunities for a wide variety of exciting activities for visitors.

The Pulau Tioman Marine Park Centre located at Tanjung Mesoh is the third and largest in Malaysia. The centre is well furnished with various facilities such as a main office building with an exhibition hall, staff quarters, laboratory, jetty, camping sites, gazebos, barbeque pits and restroom facilities for visitors.

This centre acts as a focal point of administration and management which also provide the right environment and facilities for researchers and education seminars. Exhibitions, slides and video shows on a variety of subjects including educational material on endangered marine species are the attractions at the centre to help promote greater understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of Malaysia's natural marine heritage.

To ensure greater protection to both the natural and artificial reefs, mooring buoys are being introduced. These buoys are located at strategic areas to provide mooring points for boats thus avoiding the use of anchors which can destroy corals.

The nearest point of departure is from Mersing, Johore. A fast ferry service connects Pulau Tioman to Mersing and Singapore. Regular flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Pahang and Seletar, Singapore are also available.

BY ROAD

• 5 - 51/2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing.
• 21/2 hours drive from Singapore to Mersing

From Tanjung Gemok, Pahang or Mersing, Johore - daily departure (21/2 hrs journey)

Fare: Adult RM25.00 - one way
Child RM15.00 - one way

From Singapore - daily daperture expect Wednesday (From March to October Only)

BY AIR

	Kuala Lumpur		-	Pulau Tioman
	Pelangi Air/Berjaya Air	-	daily
	Tel:  03-2624448/03-2452828

	Kuantan			-	Pulau Tioman
	Pelangi Air		-	daily
	Tel:  09-555055

	Singapore		-	Pulau Tioman
	Pelangi Air		-	daily
	Tel:  02-3366777/02-3366566
                

Pulau Tioman Marine Park can be visited all year round but the best time to dive and snorkel is from the month of April until October because the monsoon season is from November to March. Visitors who wish to use the recreational facilities are required to register at the Pulau Tioman Marine Park Centre.

Pulau Tioman Marine Park was conceived with the long term objective of preserving and enhancing valuable marine resources and the fragile marine ecosystem so that the public can enjoy it in perpetuity. Monitoring of visitors' activities is one of the important aspects in managing the Marine Parks. Marine Park Rangers will always patrol the park waters to ensure that the marine ecosystem is adequately protected.

Activities which do not harm or destroy marine resources such as snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming and underwater photography are permitted and encouraged.

Activities that may cause a negative impact to the marine environment are controlled in order to ensure the protection and enrichment of Malaysia's marine resources.

• Collecting, removing, destroying or having in possession of any marine resources such as shells, molluscs, corals and tropical fishes (aquarium fish) whether dead or alive.

• Possession and use of spear guns or spearfishing equipment and harpoon.

• Use of fish traps (bubu), poisons and electricity of other methods to catch fish.

• Anchoring of boats directly onto the reef (Please make use of the orange coloured mooring buoys found within the marine park for mooring of boats)

• Littering and disposal of waste/rubbish

• Removing and/or destroying any structure such as buoys, notice boards etc.

• Constructs or erects any building or other structure within the Marine Park Area

• Fishing within the Marine Park Area, that is 2 nautical miles from the shore of Pulau Tioman, Pulau Labas, Pulau Sepoi, Pulau Gut, Pulau Tokong Bahara, Pulau Chebeh, Pulau Tulai, Pulau Sembilang and Pulau Seri Buat.

Note: The Director-General of Fisheries may impose any conditions as he deems fit for any purposes whithin the Marine Park Area.