NEWS - Emirates Diving Association

DIVING FAM TRIP JOURNAL
A MALAYSIAN DELIGHT
FEATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLY LANDES UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY ANTONIE ROBERTSON
Redang Island looking out from Pasir Panjang (Long Beach)
MISSION:
Perhentian, Redang and Bidong in Terengganu – Malaysia
EDA MEDIA TEAM:
Ally Landes EDA Magazine Editor, Writer, Photographer
Reema Al Abbas EDA Project Manager
Ralph Noblet Hotelier
Emmanuelle Landais Journalist
Antonie Robertson Professional Photographer
Warren Baverstock Professional Underwater Photographer and Writer
Marc Viloria Underwater Photographer and Diving Instructor
Kaw Fei Chin Middle East Division Manager – Discover Orient Holidays
SPONSORS:
State of Terengganu
Ministry of Tourism (Director Mr. Fathil)
Tourism Malaysia, Dubai (Director Mr. Tuan Razali)
Malaysia Airlines
ORGANISER/TOUR OPERATOR:
Tourism Malaysia, Dubai
Discover Orient Holidays
GROUND HANDLER:
Hedaco Travel & Tours
Royal Damsels taking refuge around a perfect yellow and orange fan coral
DAY 1 | 13 AUGUST 2010 | PERHENTIAN ISLANDS
On this particular FAM trip EDA had been invited by the State of
Terengganu to come and see what the diving in their region had to
offer. This diving territory was unknown to us and we gathered the EDA
team needed to set off on this new mission to discover diving in the
Terengganu region. We have all heard how global warming is presently
affecting the corals and it seems to be the same case everywhere at
the moment with coral bleaching being inevitable. The people of the
Terengganu region are worried for their underwater environment and
do take the coral bleaching epidemic very seriously.
Well we went to go and check it out for ourselves and see what
the diving had to offer in this region, which stemmed to be a truly
remarkable little diving paradise.
The first haul of our journey with Malaysia Airlines was to Pulau
Perhentian via KL and transit through to Kota Bharu. From there we
caught a coach to Kuala Besut Jetty and took a 45 minute boat ride to
Perhentian Island. The diving adventure starts from here and I’m going
to take you through my suggestions for your next diving holiday as we
found a little piece of heaven and have archived the memory in our
unforgettable file. It is a 12 hour journey time from Dubai so you do
need to take the remainder of the day to rest and get acquainted with
your little island once you reach it.
ABOUT TERENGGANU
* Terengganu is situated in north-eastern Peninsular Malaysia, and
is bordered in the northwest by Kelantan, the southwest by Pahang,
and the east by the South China Sea. Several outlying islands, including
Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Redang, are also a part of the
state. The state has a total area of 12,955 km². Its traditional way of life,
vibrant cottage industries and fascinating cultural pastimes give the state
its unique appeal. The islands of Redang, Perhentian, Lang Tengah, Kapas
and Tenggol are jewels in Terengganu’s crown.
The people of Terengganu generally speak Terengganese Malay, which is
distinct from standard Malay and Kelantanese Malay, except for those in
Besut district and Perhentian Islands who speak Kelantanese.
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia.
The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman (“Abode of
Faith”). The coastal city of Kuala Terengganu which stands at the mouth
of the broad Terengganu River is both the state and royal capital as well
as the largest city in Terengganu.
62 EMIRATES DIVING ASSOCIATION, SEPTEMBER 2010 SEPTEMBER 2010, EMIRATES DIVING ASSOCIATION 63