LOCATION:
Pulau Kerengga is a series of rocky outcrops located to the southeast of the main island of Redang. Access from Pasir Panjang is by dive boats which will take about 10-15 minutes.

Diving depth is only 15 metres with a total bottom time of one hour. Because of the long dive time, I break this dive report into two portions: Kerengga - Part I and Kerengga - Part II.

DESCRIPTION:
The first portion of this dive will dwell mostly on the sights around the numerous centuries-old boulder rocks that could be found here. Different types of coral have grown and died on top of each other, creating a reef colony typically of 1-2 metres in height.

There are plenty of soft and hard coral specie to be found here, but the most astounding fact is probably the number of sea anemones that you can find here, including the magnificent sea anemones (Heteractis magnifica) of varying stages of growth. Naturally, you will also find rare species of clownfish apart from the common Amphiprion percula, such as pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion), and false-clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris). Other than that, you can see various types of hard coral such as brain corals, staghorn corals, lobe corals, flat corals,  as well as some specie of leathery soft corals, stinging hydroids and barrel sponges (Xestospongia testudinaria).

The fish variety is also quite decent. I saw peacock rockcod (Cephalopholis argus), eight-banded butterflyfish, big-eye emperor (Monotaxis sp.), slingjaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator), elusive blood-drop squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara, always hiding under the corals), etc.

This dive site marks the first time for your truly to see a turtle in Redang waters! After about 10 minutes of diving, I spotted a hawksbill turtle. As usual, the turtle was busy munching on the corals to be bothers about our presence.

MY RATING: