Once again WWD has successfully organized an adventurous dive trip and this time, it was to the forgotten underwater gem of Malaysia . Tenggol Island is located in the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia and was once a Vietnamese refugee hideout back in the 70s. Most of the dive sites here are considered deep making it a destination only for the experienced divers.

We started off from Kuala Lumpur by bus, putting up a night in Kuala Dungun which everyone had the opportunity to experience the life in east coast and also get to know each other. Getting a taxi was a bit unusual; it is not a standard type but a personal vehicle own by the locals. Just ask anyone and for the right price, he would chauffer you to the destination.

As we reach the island, all the feelings of dreadful land travel disappear. Everyone could not wait to jump in especially when you can see the sandy bottom clearly at 12m depth. None of us could be bothered about lunch at all. Our first dive was from shore before making a boat dive at the House Wreck followed by a night adventure.

On the second day, we were faced with thermo cline as low as 27 degree but it did not stop us. The wall dive was great as there were lots of nudibranch that became our photography subject. At one point, all three cameras were snapping away the Pyjama nudi as if it was a celebrity. The safety highlight for this site was not to surface near the wall but out in the blue because of the waves.

Our final dive on day two was at Tanjung Gemuk, a location known for its current. Applying negative entry, we landed on the sandy bottom and the strength of the flow was pulling us to one direction. As we drifted, we could see plenty of chromis and damsels were playing on top of marvelous combination of hard corals while bigger fishes like the parrotfish and angelfish were feeding everyway. I was taking photo at a rock boulder and suddenly, Berenice, a meter away on the other side was trying to call for me. There was a giant moray sticking its head out curiously. Not long after that, we joined up with the rest in front and there was a titan triggerfish not far away. Luckily it did not come after us.

Just before we leave at noon on our last day, we were supposed to make our last dive at eight but everyone was so exhausted dragging it to an hour later. Instead of finding lots of nudibranch at Nudi Playground, Lawrence spotted two juvenile cuttlefish which became our photography highlight. I could tell everyone did enjoy themselves as the journey back to Kuala Lumpur was quite. The only sound you could hear from them are snores. Nine dives over 3 days considering only half day on arrival and departure was a good a number.

Two juvenile cuttlefish Lawrence found at Nudi Playground.