Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on September 13, 2023
Teluk Pauh beach is one of the most beautiful, and consequently one of the most visited places in the Perhentian Islands. The coral reef bordering its western end, as well as the shallow seagrass beds facing the beach, also makes it a great snorkel spot. Green turtles, dozens of colorful fish species and huge green humphead parrotfish can all be seen here. It is very easy to access: don’t hesitate to add it to your archipelago visit schedule.
Teluk Pauh Beach is located on the western coast of Perhentian Besar, the biggest island of two composing the Perhentian archipelago. The easiest way to the islands from the mainland is to take the ferry leaving several times a day from Kuala Besut.
If you’re staying at the neighboring island of Perhentian Kecil, you can take a taxi-boat from Long Beach (about 10 minutes to Teluk Pauh). If you’re starting from Perhentian Besar Island, you can directly walk to the spot from the numerous hotels located south of the bay.
Water entrance is from the beach. You can choose to enter the water either in front of Coral View Island Resort, to snorkel the reef areas, or at the pontoon’s right side, to snorkel the seagrass beds. Those two snorkel entries are separated by rocks that can be crossed using wooden footbridges.
The snorkel area encompasses a reef stretching off Teluk Pauh western end, along the rocky point closing the bay, as well as the seagrass meadows facing the beach.
The reef is about 100 to 150 meters large at its start. Further from the beach, water depth progressively increases, eventually reaching 14 to 20ft (4 to 6 m) in the deepest areas.
The seabed is at first covered with sand, but rocks and coral quickly appear when swimming further from the beach. Much of the reef is now rubble, with a few isolated areas trying to recover.
Porites, a kind of massive stony coral growing into homogeneous yellow blocks, are the most represented. Giant clams boasting different colors are inlaid in coral, you will easily spot them from the water surface.
Numerous fish species dwell on the reef. Parrotfish, wrasse, damselfish, butterflyfish, as well as several species of spinefoot can notably be seen almost everywhere on this spot.
But the true celebrities of Teluk Pauh’s reef areas are the huge green humphead parrotfish that can often be seen feeding on the reef. Those impressive fish with twisted silhouettes can grow up to 50 inches/130cm.
The sight of those peaceful giants gliding around you is one you will never forget. If lucky, you might even swim amongst a school of 10 to 20 of them.
After exploring the reef, head to the seagrass meadows facing the beach, visited by huge green turtles. They are often seen with shark suckers or juvenile golden trevallies following them. In this area, you may also encounter ribbontail rays and porcupinefish.
Two hotels are set on Teluk Pauh beach: Coral View Island Resort and Perhentian Island Resort. A few more hotels are a ten-minute walk to the south, such as The Barat Perhentian.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
July 2023. Sadly much of the reef is now rubble, with a few isolated areas trying to recover. Fish life much depleted as a result. So sad as 18 years ago this was paradise.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
