Perhentian- Season Finale

Surprise, surprise — we managed to squeeze in one last trip before the monsoon rolled in! And guess what? It was literally the final weekend before all the resorts closed for the season.

We’ve always loved going to islands during the off-season. Fewer tourists, quiet beaches, and that feeling like the whole island belongs just to us. Lucky for us, our boatman gave the green light — the weather was still calm, and monsoon seemed to be keeping its distance a little longer.

So we gathered a small crew of 12 sea lovers who were just as eager to catch the last waves of the year. We convoyed all the way to the jetty and arrived around 8pm. Honestly, it felt like the longest drive ever — we couldn’t speed up since we wanted to keep everyone together.

The next morning, we hopped on the 8AM boat and checked in early at Sharila Resort. Thankfully, it was Friday — meaning they turned on the generator during Friday prayers. From 12–2pm, we got our glorious hours of electricity and air-cond before heading out for our Rawa freedive/snorkelling trip with the legend himself, Bang Man, our favourite boatman in Perhentian.

That afternoon, we explored Pulau Serenggeh, Pulau Tokong Burung, and Rawa Island — each one showing off a different shade of blue. We caught the sunset from the boat, stomachs growling because most places were already closed. Dinner turned out to be such a heartwarming surprise — the staff at Sharila cooked us fish using whatever ingredients they had left. It wasn’t fancy, but it was delicious, and the gesture meant everything. We ended the night full — of food and gratitude — swapping photos and laughing over the day’s dives.

The next morning, we took the boat to Redang Island, where we met our coach doing his usual Level 1 course. Not wanting to disturb his class, we slipped away to the Bus Wreck for a quick warm-up session — getting those gills ready again!

Then came one of my favourite parts — Turtle Point. I saw a massive turtle gliding gracefully underwater. I took a video, but honestly, the footage doesn’t do justice to its size or how peaceful that moment felt.

After that, we stopped for a simple lunch near Laguna Redang — Bang Man had packed food for all of us, and it hit the spot. We continued to Pulau Lima for a short exploration and ended the day diving at the Plane Wreck in Lang Tengah Island. Unfortunately, visibility wasn’t great, so I didn’t get any good shots there. But that’s okay — it gives me a reason to come back when the water clears up next season. I will try my best when the day comes ~

Before heading back to our chalet, we made a quick grocery run to buy ingredients for dinner at Kampung Nelayan— fish, spices, vegetables and whatever we could find still open. That night’s dinner was hands down one of the best — fresh fish cooked with love, laughter filling the air, everyone starving but happy.

It was the perfect way to close our 2025 season. What made this trip truly special wasn’t just the dives — it was the people. Everyone was patient, helpful, and supportive throughout the journey. We really took care of each other, and that’s what makes this community so strong.

Things I Learned from This Trip 🌊

• Always bring a waterproof speaker — every island trip deserves background music.

• Learn some simple sign language — makes communication easier when your snorkel’s still on!

• Take turns using the buoy, and move aside when it’s not your turn.

• Pack plasters or band-aids — coral cuts happen when you least expect them.

• Floaters can be your best friend when your legs start giving up.

And that’s a wrap for our last island adventure of the year.Thank you to everyone who made it happen — and to the sea, for always calling us back.

See you all in 2026 for the next freedive season! 🐠💙