Welcome to Pulau Aur /Pulau Dayang and Pulau Pemanggil
There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and know about the trips and packages. We hope you enjoy our sites and take a moment to drop us a line to know more about our leisure trips.
OPEN WATER / ADVANCED OR SPECIALTY COURSES?
Additional Information
Considering, to plan courses to be conducted at Pulau Aur or Pulau Dayang?
Conducting a scuba diving course at Pulau Aur or Pulau Dayang offers an exceptional opportunity to learn and explore in some of the most stunning underwater environments in the South China Sea. Both islands are renowned for their crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and rich marine biodiversity, making them ideal locations for beginners and experienced divers alike.
Pulau Aur, with its expansive coral gardens and sheltered bays like Teluk Miriam and Sebukang Bay, provides calm and safe waters perfect for mastering essential diving skills. The variety of dive sites around the island, including shallow reefs and deeper channels, ensures a progressive learning experience tailored to different skill levels. The serene beaches and natural surroundings also create a relaxing atmosphere for theory sessions and rest periods between dives.
Meanwhile, Pulau Dayang offers equally impressive diving conditions, with famous sites such as Batu Ronchek (Rayner’s Rock) and Teluk Terang. The island’s clear visibility and diverse marine life provide stimulating and rewarding dive experiences. Students can enjoy practicing underwater navigation, buoyancy control, and marine life identification while immersed in breathtaking natural beauty.
Choosing either Pulau Aur or Pulau Dayang as the venue for the scuba diving course means combining professional training with an unforgettable adventure. The peaceful island settings foster focus and learning, while the vibrant underwater world inspires a deeper appreciation for marine conservation. This course is not just about gaining certification; it’s about connecting with the ocean in one of the most beautiful diving destinations around.
MAP OF PULAU AUR AND PULAU DAYANG , JOHORE, MALAYSIA
PULAU AUR, JOHORE, MALAYSIA
Aur Island, or Pulau Aur, is one of Malaysia’s lesser-known gems — a stunning, remote island located about 65 km off the east coast of Mersing, Johor. It’s part of the Johor Marine Park and is especially loved by divers for its crystal-clear waters, thriving coral reefs, and vibrant marine life.
Reaching Aur Island takes a bit of effort: from Singapore, you’d drive to Mersing Jetty (around 3–4 hours), then take a boat ride of 3 to 5 hours, depending on sea conditions. The journey is longer than to nearby islands like Tioman or Dayang, but the reward is a quieter, more pristine destination with far fewer crowds.
The diving here is exceptional — visibility can reach up to 30 meters, and the reefs are home to schools of barracuda, trevally, batfish, parrotfish, turtles, and even the occasional reef shark. The island’s underwater terrain features steep walls, coral gardens, and rocky outcrops that make for exciting dives.
Because the currents can sometimes be strong, it’s a favorite spot for experienced divers, but beginners with an instructor can still enjoy the shallower, calmer sites..
PULAU DAYANG, JOHORE, MALAYSIA
Pulau Dayang is another beautiful island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia — and it’s actually Aur Island’s closest neighbor. In fact, Pulau Dayang, Pulau Aur, and a few smaller islets form part of the Johor Marine Park, a protected area known for its excellent diving conditions, crystal-clear waters, and healthy marine life.
Getting there is similar to reaching Aur Island. From Singapore, you drive about 3–4 hours to Mersing Jetty, then take a boat ride of 4–5 hours, depending on sea and weather conditions. Because of the long travel time, visitors typically stay for a 2–3 day diving trip, often arranged by dive operators who include transport, accommodation, and dives in a package.
Pulau Dayang is a diver’s paradise, with visibility that can reach 20 to 30 meters on a good day. The reefs are rich with hard and soft corals, turtles, reef sharks, trevallies, barracudas, and plenty of smaller reef fish. The underwater terrain is a mix of gentle slopes, coral gardens, and granite outcrops, making it exciting for both novice and experienced divers. The nearby dive sites shared with Aur Island — like Rayner’s Rock, Telok Jawa, and The Pinnacles — are some of the best in Peninsular Malaysia.
Above water, Dayang is quiet and laid-back. The island’s main beach is a stretch of soft white sand lined with a few basic chalets and dive lodges. There are no large resorts, shops, or nightlife — just the sound of waves and the occasional hum of dive boats. Meals are usually included with your stay, served in simple canteens run by the dive operators.
PULAU PEMANGGIL, JOHORE, MALAYSIA
Pulau Pemanggil is a wonderful destination for scuba diving because of its rich marine biodiversity and relatively untouched coral reefs. The waters surrounding the island are clear and calm, which makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced divers. When you dive here, you’ll encounter colorful coral gardens, schools of reef fish, and sometimes larger pelagic species such as barracudas or trevallies passing through. The underwater landscape is varied, with rocky outcrops, sandy bottoms, and coral structures that provide shelter for countless marine creatures.
One of the unique aspects of diving at Pulau Pemanggil is the sense of exclusivity. Unlike more commercialized islands, the dive sites here are not crowded, so you often feel as though you have the ocean to yourself. This solitude enhances the experience, allowing divers to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the underwater world.
The island’s remoteness also means that the reefs are healthier and less disturbed, offering a more pristine environment to explore.
Most visitors arrange their dives through the resorts on the island, such as Lanting Beach Resort, which provide equipment, guides, and boat trips to the best spots. Night dives are also possible, giving divers the chance to see nocturnal marine life in action.
The combination of clear waters, abundant marine species, and peaceful surroundings makes Pulau Pemanggil a memorable destination for scuba diving enthusiasts.
Diving at Pulau Aur / Pulau Dayang, Johore, Malaysia
Descriptions
Diving around Pulau Aur and Pulau Dayang is considered some of the best in Peninsular Malaysia, especially for those coming from Singapore. The two islands sit side by side in the Johor Marine Park, surrounded by deep, clear waters of the South China Sea. Because of their remote location — about 65 km off Mersing — the reefs here are healthy, colorful, and less disturbed than those near more developed islands like Tioman.
The underwater visibility is usually excellent, often ranging between 15 to 30 meters, and even more on calm, sunny days. The seas are typically clear blue, with rich coral formations and a mix of reef slopes, boulders, and drop-offs. The marine biodiversity is impressive: divers often encounter schools of fusiliers, trevallies, and barracudas, along with turtles, batfish, sweetlips, and angelfish. On deeper dives, you might spot white-tip reef sharks and occasionally even manta rays passing through.
The dive sites around Aur and Dayang cater to both intermediate and advanced divers, mainly because of the stronger currents that can appear around certain points. However, beginners can still enjoy the shallower, calmer reefs under the guidance of instructors. The conditions make for dynamic dives, with the chance to experience both gentle coral gardens and thrilling drift dives.
Some of the most popular dive sites include:
- Rayner’s Rock – A famous site between Aur and Dayang known for large granite boulders, vibrant coral growth, and big schools of fish. Currents can be strong, but it’s one of the region’s highlights.
- Telok Jawa – A gentler site great for beginners, with shallow coral gardens, hard corals, and plenty of reef fish.
- The Pinnacles – A deeper site favored by experienced divers, featuring towering rock structures, sea fans, and pelagic fish.
- Crocodile Rock and Captain Point – Known for varied terrain and opportunities to spot turtles, groupers, and barracudas.
Because of the depth, visibility, and occasional currents, dives here feel more adventurous and rewarding than at many closer-to-shore locations. The water temperature is warm year-round, usually between 27°C and 30°C, and the best time to dive is during the dry season (March to October), when the seas are calmest.
In short, diving at Pulau Aur and Pulau Dayang offers crystal-clear water, vibrant reefs, and thrilling drift dives — ideal for divers seeking pristine sites and marine life encounters away from crowded destinations.
Rayner Rock
Rayner’s Rock is the signature dive site between Pulau Aur and Pulau Dayang, famous for its towering granite boulders, clear blue water, and rich marine life. Visibility often reaches 15–30 meters, and currents can be strong, making it ideal for experienced divers or confident beginners under supervision.
The site teems with life — trevallies, fusiliers, barracudas, turtles, and reef sharks are common sightings, while the rocks are covered with colorful corals and sea fans. Depths range from about 10 to over 30 meters, and dives here often include thrilling drift sections due to the currents.
Because of its beauty and vibrant ecosystem, Rayner’s Rock is considered a must-dive highlight of the Aur–Dayang area — adventurous, scenic, and full of marine action.
Teluk Jawa
Teluk Jawa is one of the more relaxed and beginner-friendly dive sites around Pulau Dayang. Located close to the island’s main beach, it offers calm waters, gentle currents, and good visibility, usually between 10 and 20 meters, making it ideal for training dives or easy leisure dives.
The site features sloping coral gardens with a mix of hard and soft corals, home to clownfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and small reef critters like nudibranchs and shrimp. Because it’s relatively shallow — most dives range from 5 to 18 meters — divers can take their time exploring without worrying about depth or air consumption.
Teluk Jawa is often used for Open Water courses or check dives before heading to deeper sites like Rayner’s Rock. Despite being a gentler site, it’s still full of color and marine life, offering a peaceful and scenic introduction to diving around Dayang.
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles is one of the more dramatic dive sites around Pulau Aur and Pulau Dayang, known for its tall underwater rock formations that rise from the sea floor and create a playground for marine life. This site is best suited for experienced divers, as depths can range from 15 to 35 meters, and currents can be moderate to strong.
The underwater landscape features coral-covered granite pinnacles, overhangs, and swim-throughs, providing shelter for a variety of creatures. Divers often see turtles, reef sharks, schools of fusiliers and snappers, and colorful reef fish. Sea fans, gorgonians, and sponges add vibrant colors to the dramatic rock formations.
The Pinnacles offers a more adventurous and dynamic dive compared to shallower sites like Teluk Jawa, with excellent visibility often between 15–30 meters. Drift diving around the pinnacles can be exhilarating, allowing divers to glide past walls and swim-throughs while observing the bustling marine life. It’s a must for those looking for a thrilling, visually stunning dive in the Aur–Dayang region.
Crocodile Rock and Captain Point
Crocodile Rock and Captain Point are two popular dive sites in the Aur–Dayang archipelago, each offering unique underwater experiences.
Crocodile Rock is named for its jagged, rocky formation that resembles a crocodile’s profile. It’s a mid-depth site, usually ranging from 12 to 25 meters, with moderate currents that attract schools of trevally, barracuda, and fusiliers. The rocky terrain is covered in soft corals, sponges, and sea fans, and the crevices are home to moray eels, nudibranchs, and smaller reef fish. It’s ideal for divers who enjoy exploring rock formations with abundant marine life.
Captain Point is slightly deeper and more exposed to currents, making it better suited for intermediate to experienced divers. Depths range from 15 to 30 meters, with drift dives providing opportunities to see turtles, reef sharks, large schools of snappers, and pelagic fish. The site features coral-covered boulders, overhangs, and small walls, creating dramatic scenery and excellent photo opportunities.
Both sites are less crowded than Rayner’s Rock or The Pinnacles, offering a more relaxed, nature-focused dive while still showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Aur–Dayang marine park. They’re perfect for divers who want variety—from rocky habitats to open-water drift dives—on a multi-day trip.
Diving at Pulau Pemanggil , Johore Malaysia
Pulau Pemanggil’s diving scene is relatively low‑profile compared to Tioman or Redang, but that’s part of its charm. The most talked‑about site is the Pemanggil Wreck, lying on the eastern side of the island. It’s an old, unidentified shipwreck that has become a living reef, covered in corals and sponges and attracting schools of fusiliers, snappers, and sometimes larger predators like barracudas. Because the wreck sits at depths of around thirty to forty meters, it is best suited for advanced divers who are comfortable with deeper dives and currents.
Around the island itself, there are several reef wall sites that don’t always have formal names but are known locally as “East Reef” or simply “Pemanggil Reef.” These walls and rocky outcrops are home to hard and soft corals, nudibranchs, and reef fish, with visibility often ranging between ten and thirty meters. The reefs are relatively untouched, so divers often remark on the healthy coral growth and the sense of solitude compared to busier islands.
Another highlight is the chance to do night dives, where the reefs come alive with nocturnal species such as crabs, shrimps, and hunting cuttlefish. The remoteness of Pulau Pemanggil means dive groups are small, giving you the feeling of having the ocean to yourself. Resorts like Lanting Beach Resort typically organize trips to these sites, and local guides know the best spots depending on tides and conditions.
In short, the named site you’ll hear most often is the Pemanggil Wreck, while the rest of the diving is centered around unnamed reef walls and coral gardens that are equally rewarding. Together, they make Pulau Pemanggil a destination for divers who want something off the beaten path, with a mix of mystery, adventure, and tranquility beneath the waves.
Pemanggil Wreck
The Pemanggil Wreck is the signature dive site of Pulau Pemanggil, located on the island’s eastern side. It is an old, unidentified shipwreck that now serves as an artificial reef, covered in corals and sponges. The site lies at depths of around 30 to 40 meters, making it suitable mainly for advanced divers. Visibility is generally good, ranging from 10 to 30 meters, and the wreck attracts schools of reef fish, trevallies, fusiliers, and sometimes larger pelagic species like barracudas. Smaller creatures such as nudibranchs and crustaceans also thrive in its sheltered areas. What makes the Pemanggil Wreck special is its combination of mystery—since its origins are unknown—and its exclusivity, as Pulau Pemanggil is far less visited than other Malaysian islands. Diving here offers both adventure and tranquility, with healthy marine life and a sense of solitude beneath the waves.
East Reef or Pemanggil Reef
The “East Reef” or “Pemanggil Reef” refers to the coral reef system that surrounds Pulau Pemanggil, particularly on its eastern side. Unlike the more famous Pemanggil Wreck, which is a deep dive site, the reef areas are shallower and more accessible, making them suitable for both intermediate and advanced divers.
These reefs are characterized by healthy coral growth, including both hard and soft corals, and they provide shelter for a wide variety of marine life. Divers often encounter reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, along with smaller creatures like nudibranchs and crustaceans. The reef walls and rocky outcrops create interesting underwater landscapes, and visibility is usually good, ranging from 10 to 30 meters depending on conditions.
Because Pulau Pemanggil is relatively remote and less visited than islands like Tioman, the reefs here feel pristine and uncrowded. Dive groups are small, which enhances the sense of exclusivity and allows divers to fully appreciate the tranquility of the underwater environment. Resorts on the island, such as Lanting Beach Resort, typically organize trips to these reef sites, tailoring the experience to the diver’s skill level and interests.
In short, East Reef or Pemanggil Reef is the go‑to spot for coral exploration around the island, offering vibrant marine life, clear waters, and a peaceful atmosphere that makes diving here both relaxing and rewarding.
OPEN FOR BOOKING! PULAU HANTU SINGAPORE WATER
We are open for booking!
PULAU HANTU SINGAPORE (LOCAL DIVES)
Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Specialty Courses,
GET INTO A GROUP OF 4 TO 6 PAX OR GO SOLO OR BUDDY AND LEAVE THE REST TO US!