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 January 1, 2024
The small coral reef facing the Tuna Bay Island Resort is one of the good snorkeling spots on the west coast of Perhentian Besar. Protected by buoys and well-sheltered, it allows you to snorkel in good safety. conditions. The reef, partly natural and partly artificial, is quite damaged. We still see a lot of fish there, such as clownfish, bumphead parrotfish and blue-ringed angelfish.
This site is located in the Perhentian Islands, along the west coast of Perhentian Besar, right in front of the Tuna Bay Island Resort. This area can be reached on foot via small paths through the jungle from Teluk Pauh (to the north, where the Perhentian Island Resort is located) or from Flora Bay (to the south).
If you stay at Tuna Bay Island Resort, Abdul Chalet, Beach Box Perhentian or Suhaila Palace, you will be right next to the spot. The snorkeling zone corresponds to the swimming area delimited by white buoys.
Water entrance is very easy, from the sandy beach. The spot is marked by buoy lines which prevent boats that dock on neighboring pontoons from entering the reef area.
The main snorkeling area corresponds to the swimming area delimited by lines of buoys. It is recommended not to leave this area due to the important boat traffic near the shore.
Tuna Bay features natural coral reefs as well as artificial reefs (metal structures partly colonized by corals) in the deepest parts. At low tide, it is difficult to snorkel in the center of the bay because the corals are outcropping on the surface of the water, but it is still possible to snorkel around the reef.
Tuna Bay corals are overall very damaged. Even if some patches of branching corals, Porites and digitate corals are still healthy, you will also find large areas of dead coral debris.
The reef areas host many sea anemones in which clownfish live. At least three different species can be observed on this spot: the Ocellaris anemonefish, the Clark’s clownfish, and the Tomato clownfish (see list of species at the bottom of the page).
Additional fish species that are easy to see in Tuna Bay include the beautiful blue-ring angelfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, and schools of large humphead parrotfish grazing on the coral.
You can also explore the Marine Park jetty, at the western edge of the spot (see map). Schools of thousands of fusiliers shelter in the shade of the platform and around the pillars, where silver moony and sergeant majors also abound. Stay away from the end of the jetty, which is not protected by buoys.
Visibility in the swimming area is quite good, and the sea is calm, except when a speed boat passes nearby.
This spot is the house reef of the Tuna Bay Island Resort.
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.
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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.
