Hidden away on the east coast of peninsula Malaysia and part of the Terengganu archipelago are Pulau Kapas and Gem. They may not be as big and famous as their larger neighbours, Redang and Perhentian but they are an idilic little island getaway for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur for a long weekend and squeeze in a little bit of scuba diving.

kapas & Gem: overview

The beautiful little Pulau Kapas and its even smaller next door neighbour, Pulau Gem are probably best known for their pristine white sandy beaches rather than for their scuba diving. Kapas takes its name from the Bahassa word for cotton (kapas) due to the pristine white sandy beaches it is famous for. They are incredibly popular with local Malaysians looking to get out of the busy cities for a weekend getaway and in recent years their popularity has been on the rise and led to overcrowding from day trippers and the inevitable litter and pollution this brings with it. However, the islands do offer some great accommodation options with private beaches so you don’t have to worry about the other tourists and can relax in your own private paradise. Scuba diving won’t be the main reason you travel here, however it is a nice by product of a tropical island getaway.

Diving at kapas & gem

Don’t get me wrong, the diving here isn’t amazing, but it is nice a chilled - a great place to head to and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet as well as squeeze in a cheeky dive. Due to its proximity to the mainland, just 10 minutes boat ride the visibility isn’t great so be prepared to make sure you don’t lose your dive buddy.

Octopus Reef

A gentle little dive site, located just off of Pulau Gem, it doesn’t offer huge number of Octopus unfortunately.

Life: White eyed moray eel, clownfish, nudibranchs, wrasse, parrotfish, pufferfish, porcupine fish, angelfish

Depth: 18m

Kapas Wreck

Located in the bay just a few minutes from Aqua Sport Divers, this wreck offers a great opportunity to explore

Life: Blue spotted stingray, baby barracuda, wrasse, parrotfish, scorpionfish, lionfish, nudibranchs, pufferfish, porcupine fish, angelfish

Depth: 13m

Coral Garden

Located near Octopus Reef, near Gem island

Life: Clownfish, nudibranchs, wrasse, parrotfish, angelfish, some nice coral, cuttlefish, grouper, pufferfish, porcupine fish

Depth: 14m

Southern Tip

One of the best dive sites around Kapas with some great corals.

Life: Honeycomb moray eel, clownfish, nudibranchs, wrasse, parrotfish, cuttlefish, pufferfish, porcupine fish, angelfish

Depth: 12m

Getting There

The best way to access Pulau Kapas and Gem is from the jetty at Marang, in Terengganu. For those coming from Kuala Lumpur its just a 4.5 to 5 hour journey along the E8 highway by car. There is secure parking available and a number of boat operators affiliated with various hotels/guesthouses who can take you on the short 10 minute boat ride from the mainland.

where to stay

There are a number of reasonably priced options on Kapas and just one resort operator on Gem where you can stay. The Gem Island Resort is the most expensive, and also most luxurious of the options on the islands and is great for those who want to secluded island getaway. Kapas Turtle Valley is also another fantastic option with amazing home cooked food, probably the best on the islands. Other options also include Quimi, KBC which although they don’t have websites can be found on facebook with the cheapest rates.

who to dive with

There is one dive centre on the island, the fantastic Aqua Sport Divers who can be found on Facebook. They offer equipment hire and guided diving as well as courses. They also really care about the environment and regular run beach clean ups to help stem the tide of plastic waste that washes up.

time to visit

Best time to visit is March to October like the rest of the east coast of peninsula Malaysia.

costs

Low to mid range depending on accommodation. Kapas Turtle Valley and Gem Island Resort are the most expensive options, but also offer the most in terms of comfort and the best food. For those on a budget there are plenty of options where you can stay very cheaply such as Quite and KBC.

Kapas & Gem