Pirate Reef - Tioman Island
Pirate Reef sits at a shallow 16m, making it a good spot for newer divers finding their fins. We often find schools of yellowtail snappers here, along with the occasional moray eel peering from a crevice. It’s a gentle introduction to Tioman’s fringing reefs, a nice second dive of the day when you're just looking for a relaxed swim.
- Location
- Tioman Island, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 2.826500, 104.159000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 16m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Pulau Tioman Marine Park
Best Time to Dive in Tioman Island
The warmest water temperatures in Tioman Island occur in May, averaging 30.7°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C
- February: 28.3°C
- March: 29.1°C
- April: 30.6°C
- May: 30.7°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.7°C
- August: 29.5°C
- September: 29.6°C
- October: 30.3°C
- November: 30.0°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Tioman Island
- ANN TONG - 4m (wreck)
- Bahai - 15m
- Bahara Rocks
- Bali Hai Divers House Reef (reef)
- Bamboo SeaSport - 5-18m (reef)
- Batu Katoaka (reef)
- Batu Mumbang - 16m
- Berlabuh - 20m
- B&J
- Blue Heaven Divers
- Bugis - 19m
- Bunker (reef)
- Captain point
- Coral Garden (reef)
- Courier (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Pirate Reef
Marine Life in Tioman Island
Home to 118 recorded species including 75 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 8 sharks & rays, 7 seagrass & algae, 5 sea cucumbers, 3 other.
Notable Species
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Forest Halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus) - Reef Fish
- Blackstripe coris (Coris pictoides) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Curryfish (Stichopus vastus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Star Blaasop (Arothron stellatus) - Reef Fish
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Redspine Threadfin Bream (Nemipterus nemurus) - Reef Fish
- cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Recommended Packing List for Pirate Reef
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C, currents 20 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