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Last updated on February 24, 2024
Just off Salang Beach, in the north of Tioman Island, Pulau Soyak is usually visited during boat trips. This rocky islet attracts turtles, rays and sharks, who appreciate its sheltered waters. The diversity of reef fish, including butterflyfish, angelfish and clownfish, is also worth the trip.
Pulau Soyak is a small islet off the northwest coast of Tioman. Although it is less than 500 meters from the beach of Salang Beach, it is difficult (and dangerous) to reach the islet by snorkeling from the beach.
The best way to access this location is therefore by boat. A choice of tour agencies in Tioman offer snorkeling trips combining a stop at Pulau Soyak, a stop at Coral Island, and another spot between Monkey Bay, Marine Park or Rengis (price per person RM85 in 2023).
You will enter the water from your boat.
The boats usually moor to the south of the island, where the seabed is shallower and more sheltered. This area is very pleasant, but it can also be interesting to snorkel all around the islet. Only consider this option when the current is light and the underwater visibility is good.
On the south side of Pulau Soyak, the reef is relatively shallow (↕6-12 feet/2-4 meters), while in the north and west areas the depth becomes more important as soon as you snorkel away from the islet (↕6-26 feet/2-8 meters). The seabed features rocks and corals in average condition. In some areas you’ll note nice patches of branching coral and tabular coral.
The reef at Pulau Soyak is visited by sea turtles, which are frequently seen feeding on the reef or swimming in the blue. Encounters with bluespotted ribbontail rays (take a look in the shadows of overhangs) and blacktip reef sharks are also common.
Pulau Soyak has an interesting diversity of reef fish, which includes several species of parrotfish, spinefoot, triggerfish and butterflyfish. Among the most beautiful fish that can be observed at this location are also the vermiculated angelfish, the cooperband butterflyfish, as well as the orange-skunk anemonefish.
At the bottom of the page you will find the list of marine species that have already been spotted by snorkelers in Pulau Soyak.
Current occasionally occur along the east and west coasts of Pulau Soyak, but rarely in the southern reef. Ask your guide for advice before snorkeling around the islet.
Day trips often include lunch. Check this point when booking.
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.
As of June 2024 this remain a good snorkeling location to spot turtles but the corals are all gone. Some parts are now fully covered with algae while others are either bleached or on the last stage of bleaching (coral exhibiting bright colors)
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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.
