Sembilan consists of
nine islands; Rumbia, Pulau Lalang, Pulau Saga, Pulau Buluh, Pulau Samak, Pulau
Nipis, Pulau Agas, Pulau Miskin and Pulau Nyamuk. All of them are inhabited, so
you will find an oasis of peace. The islands are located nearby the town of
Lumut, and also nearby Pangkor
Island. The boat takes you to the islands in an hour and a half. Most people
visit the island during a day trip. Usually a group of friends or a family
rents a boat at the small harbor and they visit the island for a nice picnic.
Some leave very early in the morning to catch fish in the area and then prepare
and eat the fish during lunch at one of the nice secluded beaches at one of the
islands.
There
are several dive sites around these islands, which range from about 5m – 40m in
depth, and have a prolific marine life. Besides the rich and beautiful coral
reefs, it consists of a wide variety of saltwater habitants including Turtles,
Barracudas, Moray Eels, Scorpionfish and a whole lot more.
The
main disadvantage of this area is poor visibility, which is rarely above 15m
and often as low as 3m. Many types of Nudibranch as well as other macro
critters like Shrimps, Gobies, Blennies, etc. are hard to be spotted except by
the eagle-eyed diver.
One
of the most popular dive sites is at White Rock – with its lighthouse and steep
walls that drop to 40m in depth, and are covered in coral and seafans. Large
schools of fishes such as Snapper, Trevally, Parrotfish, Angelfish, Morish
Idols, etc can also be seen.
 |
| White rock |
The
best time to dive here is November to March – the opposite season to the east
coast of Malaysia, which makes it a popular destination for divers.
FESTIVAL
Sembilan Islands is the setting for an annual fishing safari, a competitive event held in conjunction with the lavishly celebrated Lumut Pesta Laut – a popular festival that takes place in Lumut every August.
All
9 islands are uninhabited and accommodation is unavailable, while only Pulau
Lalang has fresh water supply and accessible beaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment