Surrounded by the warm and gentle waters of the South China Sea, just offshore from the small sleepy fishing town of Dungun, sits one of Malaysia's better kept secrets - Tenggol Island.
Its surrounding waters, rich in marine life, is a veritable heaven for dive enthusiasts and its sheltered lagoon with an abundance of coral reefs makes it the perfect snorkelling spot.
Tenggol is one of the best places to muck dive - there is a large variety of nudibranches, shells and other macro life. Pelagic take shelter in the many submerged wrecks and what few turtles remain today choose to lay their eggs here.
The island's sole, secluded and sandy-white stretch of beach is home to three small resorts. Foremost among them is Tenggol Island Beach Resort which sits right smack in the middle. Accommodation is basic but clean and comfortable.
Packages range from RM390 (basic) to RM750 (diving) for a 3-day full-board weekend. Rooms can accommodate anywhere from 2 to 4 people comfortably. The more adventurous can also opt to camp out on the beach - sleeping under the stars with all the necessary comforts just a stone's throw away.
“Guests are treated to three buffet meals a day on the open-deck of the Sun Aroma Café and, weather permitting, barbeque dinners under the star-studded open skies.”
Getting to the island has just been made easier with the opening of a new Kuala Lumpur - Kerteh route by Firefly. From there it's a short 20 minutes car ride to the jetty in Dungun.
Alternatively, the drive from Kuala Lumpur takes five to six hours on the East Coast Expressway. Driving offers holidaymakers a chance to stop at the various small towns along the way like Cukai, home of the famous Hai Peng "kopitiams" (coffeeshop) and Bukit Tinggi for Chinese-style freshwater fish.