Pulau Dayang, Johor

[hypermount]

Hello good day people.

I'm new here although I registered with this forums long time ago. This is my first post

Ther're so many beautiful islands around Malaysia which are relatively unknown compare to the likes of Sipadan, Redang etc.

Do you guys have diving experinces in Pulau Dayang and nearby islands Pulau Aur etc?

Tell us about it. Thanks

 

[orangeBloke]

I like Aur and Dayang and they're good spots to go for a relaxing weekend away. Both islands are quite close together, only separated by a narrow strait of water and they're often used for dive training weekends but the sites don't get overly crowded

The accomodation varies depending on where you stay from the more basic rooms at Atlantis Bay on Aur (thought the food there is great) to quad shares on Dayang, to chalets at Divers lodge on Aur.

There are some nice dives and none are too far from either island. Sites include Captains point, Pulau Lang (good for day and night dives but avoid the triggers if they're nesting), the Pinnacles (though not many go there because of the distance) and the wreck of the Thai fishing boat off of Dayang which lies in about 35m or so and usually involves running into the shoal of 30 or so bump head parrot fish. Most of the sites in the area are simple enough dives but if want a bit more of a challenge you can try Rayners Rock which isnt too bad but not the best of places for beginner divers as the currents can get up. This site bottoms out at 40m and there were whale shark sightings there towards the end of last year

Have a look at http://www.spsj.com.my/spsj/island/aur/accommodation/ for a bit of a better look at whats there

 

[Zippsy]

It's a great weekend get-away for diving. It does rank close to the great dive sites off East Malaysia but you can't get to those places for 6-7 dives on a two day weekend! The season is starting soon for Pulau Aur, Dayang as well as Tioman but I'm going there on a recce dive trip this weekend. I'll let you know current conditions on Monday. (hey OB - Do you happen to work for a company whose name begins with a "P"? I think I know you.)

 

[Zippsy]

Well the winds at Tioman / Aur / Diyang didn't let the season start just yet. We dove around Tioman on Valentine's Day weekend. The 25 knot winds, strong surge (even at 50'!) and 3 -5 meter viz. made the trip challenging to say the least. About half of our divers suffered from seasickness. Having said that, the diving was fantastic and it was wonderful to get back in the water after a few months off for just about everyone on board.

I swear the fish react differently to divers early in the season. A lot seemed to be swimming up to us to check us out. We had the whole island to ourself too so bumping into divers was not an issue. Despite the limited viz, we saw a good variety of nudibranchs and crabs, a couple of cuttlefish, huge bumphead parrotfish, sharks and turtles, zillions of blue spotted rays and jacks, a lot of babies (angelfish, butterfly fish, etc.), some cool goatfish, groupers and shrimps. Everyone seemed to be glad they went - except for the one poor junior diver that had a cold and was feeling sick a lot more than he got to dive.

 

[Albion]

YOU SAW Sharks at Dayang!!!!

I am going this weekend Zipppppp's, sounds like its going to be fun! We went over to Bintan lest weekend for a break, the 50 minute ferry was fun, Terry and I tucked into some tiger's whilst everyone else had their heads in little blue barf bags, dont know what the problem was myself!!!!

 

[Zippsy]

Actually, the blacktips and nurse sharks were at Tioman. They were pretty small too. I should not say this (although many people will cheer), but we found one baby nurse shark and a tiny blue spotted ray in a fish trap and I opened a way for them to get out. We were at Pulau Jahat which I believe is outside the Marine Park. There's an angry fisherman looking for me at the moment.

 

[Zippsy]

I sit corrected! Pulau Jahat IS in a marine park (http://www.unep-wcmc.org/marine/coralatlas/10Coralsp270-7112.01.pdf) where fishing is prohibited. I still feel a little bad because I "thought" I was breaking my own rule but now I don't care what that fisherman thinks. Take that trap and shove it!

 

[hypermount]

thanks for the link and info guys! Got the idea the main island is actually Aur haha...shame on me, I din't know this.. Tioman and the islands are very popular destinations among singaporeans and west coast folks because of the distance.

Have you guys been to Redang? That's where I got my open water license last September...we're planning a trip to Dayang in early April so it's like 7 months I will get to dive again :O.

The reef sharks are pretty common in the east coast rite, I've seen many in Redang...

 

[hypermount]

It looks very good, Dayang+Aur! ....can't wait to go diving again.