Pulau Payar Marine Park

Pulau Payar

If you are looking for a marine park at the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, head for Pulau Payar Marine Park which is located 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi Island. If you are coming from Penang Island, it is located 32 nautical miles north of Penang Island. It is also approximately 15 nautical miles west of Kuala Kedah. This island still remains pristine until today due to its status as a marine park.

Being a marine park means that you are not allowed to do the followings:

No fishing or killing of fish.
No collecting of corals or other marine organisms.
No collecting of sand, dead shells or dead corals.
No polluting or littering.
No anchoring on reefs.
No building or erecting any type of structure on the water.

Keeping strictly to these rules and regulations will ensure that this park will remain pristine for many years to come. Comprising an uninhabited islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca and Pulau Segantang, this park is surrounded by coral reefs and many kinds of endangered marine species. Payar Island is the biggest island in this park measuring 2 km by 1/4 km. The Marine Park Centre which provides information on the marine park is located in Pulau Payar.

Things To Do Here

Snorkelling, swimming and scuba diving are the main activities that you can do here. Being a marine park means that most of the marine life and vegetation in the sea are still thriving here. The popular diving site is known as Coral Garden and is located at the south-west of Pulau Payar where you will be able to see the bright and multi-coloured soft corals.

The fascinating feature of this park is that there are many artificial reefs built from old boats, concrete blocks and tires that have developed into mature reefs with plenty of sea creatures around them. Visibility on a good day can go up to 15 m.

Jungle Tracking is another activity that you can do over here. There are 2 trails that you can use to explore the flora and fauna of Payar Island.

Baby Shark Feeding will be a memorable experience to do for you and your children. See the video of shark feeding in Payar Island.

Floating Platform is designed for those who does not want to wet their bodies but still want to enjoy the marine life here. It is a platform called Coral Langkawi which is moored off this island. Measuring 49 m by 15 m, you will have to book a package tour in order to have the privilege of using it.

It has a tunnel shape chamber at the bottom of the platform 10 feet below the sea. There are also boats which have glass bottom for you to see the marine life and corals as you move along the coral gardens. This platform is also equipped with a snack bar, a dining area and a sunbathing area.

Other facilities provided in this park include picnic tables, barbecue pits, gazebos and restrooms.

Getting Here

As there is no facility for accommodation here, most visitors will plan to spend a day trip here and stay in the hotels in Langkawi Island or Penang Island. It takes approximately 50 minutes using catamaran or speed boat from Kuah Jetty in Langkawi Island.

If you are coming from Penang Island, the journey will take approximately 60 minutes. Another option of coming here is using the boat from Kuala Kedah in Kedah.

A conservation fee of RM5/adult and RM2.50/child are required to enter this park.