Crisp KRF Kak Mie: Redang Island Marine Park

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Redang Island Marine Park - Part 1

Redang Marine Park - Part 1- Pulau Pinang

Do not confuse by the name of Pulau Pinang in this article, because I am not telling about the State of Pulau Pinang or Penang as it used to be. I am telling about the other Pulau Pinang which is situated in the southern part of Redang Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. This island is the second biggest island after Redang Island and hosted the renowned National Marine Park.

Pulau Pinang Marine Park is located in southwest of main island of Redang

Even though the clusters of islands in Redang Island have already being gazetted as a marine park, the island of PulauPinang is often referred to as Pulau Redang Marine Park. This island is located just south of the main island and near the main island jetty. A rather misnomer since the whole set of islands in Terengganu is actually a marine park, not just this particular Pinang island. Rather, the administrative office and/or the center of Terengganu Marine Park is located on this small island with facilities for the personnel and staffs to stay, hence the name. In fact, there are several other marine parks beside the main island such as Pulau Kerengga, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Yu and other small islands near the main island.

jetty at Pulau Pinang Marine Park

the welcoming board of the Marine Park

If you are coming here with your family for the first time and would like to have a snorkeling experience, this Pinang island is where most tour operators will take you. If you are staying at any of the resorts on the main island, you can rent the snorkeling equipments for RM10 to RM20 per day. Guests of Berjaya Redang Beach Resort has good packages with price ranging from RM30/adult for a 2.5 hours trip inclusive of all snorkeling equipments. Laguna Beach Resort also has their own boat to take you here. The cheapest of all perhaps the snorkeling equipments provided for rent by Redang Mutiara Beach Resort. I personally recommend this resort if you are seeking for cheap budget resort in Redang Island. Besides, this resort has its own jetty and sole control over the beach for its guests (some other resorts have to share the beach, making the beach is over crowded and no privacy at all).

view of Redang Mutiara Beach Resort

However, if you prefer a brand new mask and the tube, you should purchase your own from any of the supermarket in the city before coming here. Price of a snorkeling adult set excluding fins range from RM60/set onwards. Life jacket is recommended to be worn at all times during your snorkeling here especially if you have children

the jetty of Redang Mutiara Beach Resort

another spectacular view of Redang Mutiara Beach Resort

Do not forget to bring some bread with you before you go into the water. The moment you throw the bread into the water, the instant will be for many colourful fishes that come to you.

snorkelers feeding fishes bare hands

Fishes species that abound here include the various kinds of rabbitfish, parrotfish, grouper, scissortail sergeant and the moon wrasse. You can see all of them because the water is crystal clear.

fishes fighting for bread

beautiful mermaid playing with fishes

You may feed them bare hands with bread. Then, you will remember these moments forever.

Towards the right hand side of the Park, you will be able to see a shipwreck which you can go to. However, it is quite a distant from the beach and is not recommended for children who are still new to snorkeling. Corals and anemones can be seen thriving at the Marine Park. While snorkeling, be careful not to step on them as you could destroy them and hurt yourself in the process. Most tour operators will take you here for a total time of 2 to 3 hours. This place could be quite crowded during the peak season from June to September.

Apart from snorkeling, the Park is also famous with scuba diving spots where divers can winess various species of corals, anemones and other living species around them.