Located approximately 16 km from Merang and covering about 203 hectares, Bidong Island (Pulau Bidong or Bidong Laut) once sheltered nearly 60,000 Vietnamese refugees at the height of the refugee crisis in 1978. The refugee settlement was officially closed in 1991.
During its operation, the island hosted longhouses, schools, vocational workshops, a church, temples, and even small bars—forming a temporary yet vibrant community for those who fled hardship in their homeland. This period remains an important chapter in Malaysia’s humanitarian and diplomatic history, making Bidong Island one of the most historically significant islands in the country.
Today, most of these structures have disappeared, leaving only traces of the past. Visitors may still find memorial monuments, several hillside gravestones, and an underwater boat graveyard, all serving as quiet reminders of the island’s remarkable history.
Although Bidong Island is not designated as a Marine Park, it has been gazetted as a Malaysian National Heritage Site and is carefully overseen by personnel from the Terengganu Museum. Visitor regulations are therefore similar to those of nearby marine parks to ensure preservation.
With no resorts or permanent developments, apart from the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Marine Research Centre, the surrounding waters remain exceptionally well preserved. Marine life thrives here, and it is not uncommon to spot schools of barracuda or even blacktip reef sharks near the Bidong jetty.
Come, gear up, and experience Bidong Island for yourself. Its history, natural beauty, and underwater wonders are best discovered first-hand—because words alone can never fully capture its charm.
Bidong Island includes several smaller surrounding islands, namely Pulau Karah (also known as Kapak), Pulau Gelok, and Batu Tengkorak, commonly referred to as Skull Island.
Together, these locations offer more than a dozen captivating dive sites, each with its own unique underwater landscape and marine life. Among the notable sites are:
- Vietnamese Wreck
- Underwater Heritage Replicas
- Mid Way Reef (Karang Seler)
- Karah’s Boulders Rock
- Skull Rock
Our Typical Itinerary
- 0730H Registration at Dive Center
- 0800H Equipment assembly
- 0830H Depart to Bidong Island
- 0930H First dive
- 1030H Surface interval
- 1130H Second Dive
- 1230H Rest, lunch and monuments walk
- 1430H Third Dive
- 1530H Depart back / return to Merang’s Jetty
Click here to view the package
DAY TRIP DIVING BIDONG ISLAND, TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA 