Staying Safe in Perhentian Islands
Part of the Perhentian Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Perhentian Islands Guides.
The Perhentians have essentially no crime and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The risks are all a function of being on a small island with no infrastructure: there is a clinic and no hospital, the sea crossing is in an open speedboat over twenty kilometres of open water, the jungle paths are unlit and steep, and anything serious means a boat to the mainland and then an ambulance. Diving accidents in particular mean a long journey to a chamber.
Medical
There is a small clinic on each island and no hospital. Anything beyond a cut or a stomach upset means a boat to Kuala Besut and a drive to Kota Bharu, which after dark or in rough weather is slow. There is no decompression chamber; the nearest are on the mainland, a substantial journey away, which is a real argument for conservative diving and for dive insurance covering evacuation. Bring any medication you need and a basic first-aid kit including antiseptic for coral cuts, which infect quickly.
The water
The speedboat crossing is over open sea in a small vessel and gets genuinely rough; it is also fast and wet. Check that life jackets are available. Currents around the islands are mostly mild but exist between the two islands and off exposed points — snorkel where you were directed and keep the boat in sight. Coral cuts and sea urchin spines are the common injuries; reef shoes help on the rockier entries. Jellyfish appear seasonally. Blacktip sharks are harmless and are not a hazard.
On land
The jungle paths between beaches are steep, rooty and completely unlit; walking Long Beach to Coral Bay after dark without a torch is how people turn an ankle. Monitor lizards are common and harmless. Monkeys raid unsecured rooms. Sandflies on some beaches produce bites that itch for days and are worse than mosquitoes. Mosquito-borne dengue is present in Malaysia year-round. And the sun on white sand and water is stronger than it feels — sunburn is the single most common complaint on these islands.
Practicalities
Bring your cash; running out is the most likely problem you will have. Terengganu is a conservative state and, while the islands' tourist establishments are relaxed, modest dress off the beach and discretion with alcohol are appropriate. Malaysia's drug laws carry mandatory death-penalty provisions for trafficking and are enforced. Do not swim after drinking. And confirm your return boat — being stranded because the operator has no record of you is an avoidable and common frustration.
Staying Safe at a glance
| Medical | A clinic, no hospital — the mainland is a boat and a drive away |
|---|---|
| Diving | No chamber on the islands — insure for evacuation |
| The crossing | Open speedboat over 20 km — check life jackets |
| Night walking | Jungle paths are steep and unlit — carry a torch |
| Most common complaint | Sunburn; then sandfly bites and coral cuts |
| Most likely problem | Running out of cash |