When:  June 2014            Weather:   Hot   30C

Pictures:  Leica M9P 35 summilux, 21 super elmar, pentax W210 underwater shots

In Kuala Trengganu for a meeting, we took the opportunity to take the ferry over to Redang Island…one of the most renowned snorkelling and diving sites in Malaysia. From the Shahbandar jetty, it was a 1.5 hour ride in an airconditioned ferry to the jetty on Redang where the Laguna Redang Resort was.  The resort was fine and the food served was very decent.

Our package included three snorkeling trips and so we headed off for our first snorkel in the afternoon…..and the second the next morning at the Marine Park.  I would say that the waters are wonderfully clear and there was plenty of colourful and live coral.  The only issue is that there are about two hundred people going out on about 6-7 boats so logistically there’s a lot of waiting around and crowded snorkelling.  After the second of these outings, we decided to hire a private boat to do a round the island trip stopping at isolated parts to snorkel and watch the sunset….highly recommended..

triggerfish        

live coral

clown fish in anemone

giant clam

clear waters

sunrise

admiring the sunrise

After admiring the sunrise, there is a walk that winds around behind the resort and all the other resorts to the end of the beach where some bird watching can be done….there weren’t many species but the pied imperial pigeon was quite magnificent…

pied imperial pigeon

kite

swallow

private boat tour

sunset

dawn on the last morning

Redang Island has wonderfully clear waters, beautiful coral, colourful fish in a special setting…but if I were to do it again…I’d stay at the Berjaya Redang resort which is quieter and away from the crowds….turtles also swim in the still waters of the bay right in front of the resort.  I would also pay a little more and hire a private boat to do the snorkelling trips.