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Located at the south tip of the Perhentian Islands, Shark Point is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the area. If it is named after the blacktip sharks that are often seen around the drop-off, this spot boasts many other wonders: sea turtles, angelfish, clownfish in sea anemones, and hundreds of other reef fish. If you visit the islands, don’t hesitate to pay it a visit, especially since confident snorkelers can reach the spot by swimming from the beach.
Shark Point, Flora Bay
The western tip of Flora Bay. If you want to snorkel this spot from shore, it will be your water entrance.

How to get to Shark Point snorkeling spot?

Shark Point is located at the southern tip of Perhentian Besar Island, just west of Flora Bay.

Most snorkelers get to the spot with one of the many boat tours offered by local tour operators. This spot is for example included in the “5 spots” snorkeling tour, which in one day stops at Shark Point, Fish Point, Coral Garden, Turtle Point and Fisherman Village (from 25$pp.).

Nevertheless, it is possible for confident swimmers to enter the water east of Flora Bay beach, and to snorkel along the rocks to the spot, which is easily identified by the presence of boats. Just keep in mind that you have to be able to swim the 400 to 500m distance between the beach and Shark Point, and then come back.

To reach Flora Bay, the water entry point if you want to reach the spot by yourself, there are 3 options :

  1. to stay in Flora Bay, in one of the several beachfront accommodations;
  2. to walk to the beach by a path in the jungle which starts from the north of the island (from the back of the Perhentian Island Resort), in about 1 hour.
  3. to walk to the beach by a jungle trail that starts from behind the campsite located before Teluk Keke. The trail is a bit more difficult to find but very beautiful and shorter. It also allows arriving right at the water entry point.

Shark Point Flora Bay snorkeling map, Perhentian Islands

Water entrance for snorkeling Shark Point

If you are on a tour, you will enter the water from the boat.

If you explore this spot from the shore, you will enter the water from the east side of Flora Bay.

Shark Point snorkeling exploration tips

Departing from the shore, you will first swim over about 200 meters of shallow flats, made of sand and damaged corals. This area may allow nice sights, such as small sea turtles, sergeant majors, damselfish, huge schools of parrotfish, trevally and jacks. Some giant clams can be noted here and there, as well as moray eels in the crevices.

Coral reef at Shark Point
Bright colored Dendronephthya noted at reef.

As you snorkel towards the wall, the water becomes deeper, the seabed is colored with corals, and the fish are more numerous and bigger. Then swim along the drop off, where the depth varies from 15 to 30ft/5 to 10 meters.

Wrasse, titan triggerfish, snappers, blue ring angelfish, wrasse and clownfish are easy to spot at reef. It is also in this area that you can encounter sea turtles, as well as the blacktip reef sharks.

Blacktip reef shark in Shark Point
A blacktip reef shark in Shark Point.

Note that if Shark Point is renowned for its sharks, they can be seen in other locations around the island, and that they are not always present at this spot.

At Shark Point, watch out for boat traffic, as well as for the many other snorkelers.

Hawksbill sea turtle in Shark Point
Hawksbill sea turtles are common at reef.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

There are a dozen hotels and restaurants in Flora Bay. If you take part in a boat tour, lunch is often included. Check with when you book.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth30ft
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach or a boat
  • Potential DangersBoat traffic
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersHigh
  • Access costsFree (from shore) or from 25$pp. (boat tour)

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

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.