Batu Kapal - Perhentian Islands

Batu Kapal, or 'Ship Rock', gets its name from that main pinnacle, which really does look like a ship breaking the surface. It’s off the northwest of Pulau Pisang, and we’ve always found it a solid, easy dive. The main draw here is the topography itself, a series of pinnacles dropping to 18 metres, with some nice walls on the west and north sides. Look closely at those walls for enormous gorgonian fans and some truly massive barrel sponges. It’s a great spot for beginners, with generally mild currents, and you'll often find a decent variety of reef fish darting between the rocks.

Location
Perhentian Islands, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
5.879100, 102.746300
Maximum Depth
18m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Tanjung Tukah Turtle Sanctuary

Best Time to Dive in Perhentian Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Perhentian Islands occur in June, averaging 31.2°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.3°C
  • February: 28.4°C
  • March: 29.1°C
  • April: 30.6°C
  • May: 31.1°C
  • June: 31.2°C
  • July: 31.1°C
  • August: 30.9°C
  • September: 30.8°C
  • October: 30.4°C
  • November: 29.8°C
  • December: 28.7°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Perhentian Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to Batu Kapal

Marine Life in Perhentian Islands

Home to 169 recorded species including 105 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 11 sea cucumbers, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Batu Kapal

Based on average water temperature of 30.0°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories