The photo above is a Pulau Redang bay — illustrative of the island group, not Pulau Lima specifically.
Beyond the house reef, the Redang area is a little cluster of islands, and a boat day out is the best way to reach the better water. The standout is Pulau Lima, a small uninhabited island just east of Redang whose surrounding reefs and seamounts hold some of the richest marine life in the area — this is where snorkellers and divers get their best odds of bigger fish, including the occasional whale shark. Trips also take in other quiet snorkel spots and beaches away from the Long Beach crowd. It is the natural next step once you have done the house reef and the Marine Park Centre.
Where
Around Redang
Time needed
Half to full day by boat
Best months
Calm-sea mornings in the mid-season peak; conditions out at the seamounts need settled weather
Type
Activities
What it costs
Usually arranged through your resort or a local boat operator as a half- or full-day snorkeling trip; pricing varies with the boat and route, and is often part of a package. Confirm with the operator. Indicative.
What to expect
- Pulau Lima — the richest snorkeling and diving water in the area
- The best odds of bigger marine life, including the occasional whale shark
- Quiet snorkel stops and beaches away from the Long Beach crowds
- A natural step up from the house reef and the Marine Park Centre
Our independent tip
Pulau Lima rewards confident swimmers — the water is deeper and more open than the sheltered house reef and Marine Park platform, so it is not the place for a nervous first-timer or a small child. Pick a calm-weather morning, because the exposed seamounts get choppy, and go with an operator who watches conditions rather than pushing out in marginal seas. If you dive, this is the trip worth prioritising.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best island-hopping trip from Redang?
The standout is Pulau Lima, a small island just east of Redang whose reefs and seamounts hold the area richest marine life and the best chance of bigger fish. Trips usually combine it with other quiet snorkel stops away from Long Beach, arranged through your resort or a local boat operator.
Is Pulau Lima good for beginners?
Less so — the water around Pulau Lima is deeper and more exposed than the sheltered house reef and the Marine Park Centre, so it suits confident snorkellers and divers rather than nervous first-timers or small children. Beginners are better off building confidence on the calmer in-shore reefs first.
More things to do on Redang
Building the trip around this?
Sort the boat over from Merang, or pick a base for the night.