Snorkelling

With crystal clear water and an abundance of marine life only edges from the shore, it is no wonder that snorkelling is one of the favourite activities of holiday-makers on Redang. Three day / two night packages that resorts offer here include at least three snorkelling excursions in the vicinity of Redang.
A popular stop for the snorkelling outings is the Marine Park Headquarters on Pulau Pinang (not to be confused with the urban Penang on the West coast). The jetty and the artificial reef structures are covered in coral and thanks to the fact that visitors often feed the fish; there are astounding numbers of colourful fish that congregate here. There is a wreck nearby lying at around 8-10 metres deep but as part of it protrudes above water, it can be partially explored without scuba equipment.
Even if you don’t hop on a boat, some of the best snorkelling spots – Tanjung Tengah and Tanjung Mak Cantik – are right in front of Pasir Panjang beach. The southern side of Tanjung Tengah has been nicknamed ‘Shark Bay’ as it acts as a nursery for baby black-tip reef sharks. Keep an eye out for the resident Moray Eel, the turtle and be overwhelmed by the numerous reef fish and species of coral.
The sheer amounts of visitors and careless practices have resulted in damage to the coral and consequently the marine life around Redang. To ensure that you keep yourself safe and do your part to contribute to the conservation of these incredible ecosystems, keep the following in mind:

• Touching or standing on coral damages or even kills them and re-growth takes years
• Control your buoyancy carefully. Use a life jacket and only use fins if you are completely confident that you will not accidentally touch the coral.
• Do not litter. Some animals (like turtles) may mistake plastic bags for food and choke to death.
• Stay within the designated areas so that you do not cross boat paths and get hit
• Do not touch or disturb any marine life. You may hurt them, and some of them may hurt you. Keep your distance from Triggerfish as they may be aggressive, especially when guarding a nest
• Keep yourself protected from the sun
• When renting equipment, ask for assistance and tips from your resort to ensure a good fit (especially of your mask)

Scuba Diving

There are 21 popular dive sites with 3 depth profiles and good visibility around Redang. The island is situated within the so-called coral triangle (with Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines at the corners), which has the highest density of marine species anywhere in the world. Prepare to be dazzled.
The diversity of the dive sites around Redang means that there is something here for the beginner and the experienced diver. Most sites are within minutes from the resorts by boat.
For those that want to try scuba diving for the first time or those that want to expand their skills, there are plenty of PADI/NAUI dive centres on Redang, mostly located within the resorts, which can offer training and certification.
Below are some of the dive sites around Redang and what you can expect to find:

• Tunnel point – stacked boulders create tunnels, expect to see gorgonian fans, bumphead parrotfish, barracudas, jacks and nudibranch.
• Tanjung Tokong – look out for turtles (the site is close to the turtle conservation project), jacks, snappers, napoleon wrasse, fusiliers, nudibranch and flatworms. Be careful of rough seas.
• Chek Isa – accessible from Pasir Panjang and popular for night dives with plenty of nocturnal species such as eels, squids, lobsters and cowries. Angelfish, parrotfish, wrasses, groupers and scorpion fish are also often found here
• Mak Cantik – accessible from Pasir Panjang with beautiful coral gardens. Apart from the regular reef dwellers, look out for nurse sharks, white-tip sharks and large rays.
• Tanjung Cina Terjun – popular with macro enthusiasts with plenty of eels, lion fish, scorpion fish, stone fish and puffer fish. You can also spot leopard sharks, cat sharks and bamboo sharks here.
• Pulau Kerengga – calm waters, popular with novices and for snorkelling. Many rays and plenty of shrimp and crab, especially during night dives.
• Pulau Lima – a little bit of everything and one of Redang’s most popular sites. Hard coral, soft coral, macro, nocturnal and pelagic life can all be found here, including the elusive whale shark in season.
• Terumbu Kili – one of the top sites of Redang. Beware of strong currents but be rewarded with sightings of black tip sharks, turtles, barracudas, jacks, snappers, fusiliers, jellyfish and schools of yellowtail
• Pulau Ling & Batu Chipor – two massive, mushroom-shaped coral heads (23-24 m in diameter) dominate the topography; strong currents are sometimes present. You will find angelfish, cardinal fish and Moorish idols.
• Pulau Ekor Tebu – steep granite boulders covered in hard corals. Trevallies, black tip reef sharks, pompano, barracuda, batfish and possibly eagle rays are often spotted here.

Remember to practice eco-friendly diving: control your buoyancy, take only pictures and leave only bubbles.

Jungle Trekking

Redang Island has a rich eco system above ground as well. Behind the famous beaches, dense green jungle takes over. The dipterocarp forest that covers the majority of the island is home to giant trees and rare species of orchards. Along the Sungei Redang (Redang River) you can find the largest mangrove forest on an east-coast island in Malaysia,
There is not only a diversity of plant species, but also a variety of small fauna. These include the elusive mouse deer, macaque monkeys, lizards, rodents and bats. Domestic goats and sheep have also been introduced to the island by the villages that call Redang home.
You can explore this side of Redang by taking one of the well established jungle trails that cross the island, in the company of a guide or on your own. One trail stretches from behind the Coral Redang Island Resort on Pasir Panjang to the Berjaya Resort in Teluk Dalam and the other connects Pasir Panjang to Teluk Kalong where the Redang Kalong Resort and Mozana Chalet are situated.
Remember to take along plenty of water and insect repellent of you want to head into the jungle. It may be a sweaty walk, but there is a fascinating world waiting to be explored. Opting for a guided walk may prove to be even more rewarding as your guide exposes the mysteries of the jungle and the traditional uses of plants to you.

Other attractions

• Redang was made famous as the location for the hit Chinese comedy Summer Holiday. The Mo Mo Cha Inn (More More Tea Inn) featured in the movie was renovated and rebuilt and now houses the souvenir shop of the Laguna Redang Resort.
• Redang is not only a quiet holiday getaway. Over weekends and during peak season, when the resorts fill up, there are plenty of lively bars and some beach discos in the evening.
• Get pampered and rejuvenated at one of Redang’s Spas. Treatments include traditional massages, body wraps and scrubs using natural ingredients and facials.
• Three species of marine turtle come ashore on Redang Island to lay their eggs. The Turtle Rehabilitation and Research group conducts research and protects nests on Pasir Chagar Hutang. The beach is off-limits to visitors but you can sign up as a volunteer for their conservation programme.
• Redang’s beaches are perfect for a game of beach volleyball or soccer, sunbathing or leisurely strolls.