FAQ


Getting here

Can you pick us up from Kota Bharu airport?
We can arrange for a driver to meet and greet to you and take you to the ferry port of Kuala Besut. The charge is just RM 30 per person, which can be cheaper than a taxi. Just contact us with your arrival time and we will arrange this for you. This service is not available at night-time.

Which airport is closest to the Perhentians?
Kota Bharu airport is the nearest to the Kuala Besut ferry ports.

Are ferrys still running from Tok Bali?
Not any more.

Can you organise the ferry transfer for us?
Yes we can. We can email you a ferry ticket and add the cost to your room bill. The ticket is the same price as if you bought it in Kuala Besut (RM 70).

Tell us about catching a ferry from Kuala Besut.
There are many operators that run boats to the islands and you will probably get approached by touts trying to sell you a ticket. The touts may give you false information in order to sell you a ticket as they get a commission for every customer they get..

If you purchase a ticket yourself then you should ask if the boat is a speedboat. Do not get mis-sold a ticket by anyone falsely claiming their boat is a fast one.

What ferry company should I use?
We recommend 3 due to the quality of their boats and service. They are:

- M.D. Traveller Enterprise (just off the main road in Kuala Besut, opposite the Nan Hotel)
- The Watercolours Office* (At the end of the main street in Kuala Besut)
- Bahtera Layar Abadi, which is signed from the main street

*We do not own this boat, but they operate from our office.

We can email you tickets for any of these operators so you can turn up with ticket in hand. Just contact us to request this service.

What time do the ferries run?
The ferry boats from Kuala Besut do not have fixed departure times. However, they leave at regular intervals from around 7am. Ferries rarely leave Kuala Besut after 4.30 - 5pm.

In the very low season ( Feb and October) it may be advisable to contact us regarding ferry departures as there can be as few as 2 ferries per day. If you email us your travel details we will be able to give advice on ferry times as we can contact the ferry operators for you.

For your convenience, we are able to email you ferry tickets that can be paid for at our resort. This is a free service: the return tickets are RM 70 (the same as if you bought them yourself at Kuala Besut). This has the advantage that we will inform the ferry operators of your arrival time, so you won't arrive to see the ferry heading off without you.

The journey to the islands takes just over 30 minutes. The ferry boatman will ask you where you are going so he can drop you directly at our resort.

What is the nearest bus station to Kuala Besut?
It is possible to get a bus directly to Kuala Besut from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
- From Kuala Lumpur you can get a bus directly to Kuala Besut (Mahligai).
- Buses from Singapore stop in Jerteh, from there it takes 20 min by taxi to Kuala Besut.
The nearest city is Kota Bharu. There are taxis and buses available from Kota Bharu to Kuala Besut. The town of Jerteh is also very close.

What is the nearest train station to Kuala Besut?
Unless you want to visit Kota Bharu then get off at Tanah Merah. It is closer than the Kota Bharu train station (Wakaf Bharu). A taxi to Besut takes under 1 hour and costs RM 60-70

We will not arrive in time to catch the last ferry. Where should we stay?
Try these places. Both of these hotels are below RM 100 per night.

Weather and Seasons

How is the weather at the moment?
There are no weather forecasts for the Perhentian Islands. If you would like today's weather then just give us a call.

Does it rain all the time during the monsoon season?
No - there are sunny intervals. However, the duration of the sunny and rainy periods is very variable.

Are you open during the monsoon season (1st November to 31st January)?
Yes! Watercolours Paradise offers reduced rates during the monsoon season because the restaurant offers a limited choice of food and mealtimes.

Can I dive during the monsoon?
I'm sorry but we do not dive during November, December and January. This is due to the poor visibility and rougher seas experienced during this time.


Resorts and Restaurants

Is your resort a luxury resort?
It's difficult to get 'luxury' on the Perhentian Islands, but we certainly offer comfortable at our Watercolours Impiani resort, which has spacious, a/c rooms. Our well-established Paradise resort is budget, with standard 'island style' rooms with fan cooling. We now also have a limited number of a/c rooms at Paradise.

How do I book a holiday with Watercolours?
Please contact us with the dates of your desired stay at Watercolours. We will then provide you with details for making a deposit to secure your booking and method of payment (credit card). We can arrange your transfers, accommodation and diving.

I do not want to give my credit card details to you to make a deposit.
We ask that you provide your details in 3 seperate emails, 3 seperate texts, or verbally by phone in order to minimise fraud. We have not had any fraud to date!

What shall I bring with me?
Beachwear and light clothing are advisable. You might also want to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. However, don't worry if you forget these as you they can be purchased from Watercolours.

Can I pay by credit card or travellers cheques?
We accept visa and mastercard. It is very difficult to change travellers cheques on the islands.

Is there a Bank or ATM on the islands?
No. There is also no Bank or ATM in Kuala Besut or on the islands.

Do you offer Western or Asian food in your restaurants?
We offer a choice of both styles in both of our restaurants. If you have any special dietary needs then please contact us and we will do our best to make you smile.

Tell us about the food!
Our restaurants are known for offering a high quality western and asian food, including barbeque and pizza. The 'specials' menu changes daily at both our resorts. If you are worried that you will not be catered for please contact us - we will do our best to make you happy.

Is alchohol available on the islands?
There is a lot of people who think it is not. Beer and wine is actually quite freely available at many establishments. Drunkeness is quite frowned upon by Malaysians but drinking alcohol is widely accepted.


Diving/Snorkelling/Activities

What shall I bring with me for diving/snorkelling?
If you don't have any diving/snorkelling equipment then we offer everything you might need for rental.

Can I dive during the monsoon?
I'm sorry but we close our dive centre during November, December and January due to the poor visibility and rougher seas experienced during this time.

Can I learn to dive in my native language?
Our Instructors and Divemasters speak a range of languages. Our diving page is updated every season to show the languages we offer.

Can I do a diving course in a shorter/longer time?
We do not recommend trying to shorten course times as you will not get the full benefit of our instruction. Please contact us with your details and we will give you our recommendation.
If you wish to take your diving course over a longer period of time (with days off in-between) then we can most likely accommodate this. Please contact us to make sure.

What is the best month for diving?
Visibility fluctuates throughout the season. However, there is no distinct period where the diving can said to be at its best. If the monsoon streches out a bit then February and October may have poorer conditions, although it can also be great weather!

What else can I do on the island?
If diving or snorkelling is not your thing then we also offer canoes for rent or take you on an island tour. Should you wish to remain on firm ground then you can explore the jungle paths… or just relax on the beach or in our beachside restaurants.

I have downloaded the medical statement and answered 'yes' to one of the questions.
Please contact us. We will email you some advice. We may recommend you visit a doctor to get clearance for diving. There are dangers relating to some medical conditions and diving.

Can I get a job at your dive centre?
If you are an Instructor or Divemaster then email me with your CV and photo. If you wish to become a Divemaster then please look at the diving pages of this website and contact us with your questions.


Miscellaneous Stuff

Can I access the internet from the islands?
Yes, we have satellite broadband at both of our resorts. The price is a little more than on the mainland (RM 10 for 30 mins) due to the cost of the satellite link service.

I have seen some of the images from your website elsewhere. Why is this?
The images you see on this website are all taken by us or by people we know. We have noticed a lot of them springing up on other websites, particularly diving ones.

Are there any dangerous creatures on the islands?
Well if you are not bitten by a snake then the chances are the sharks will get you !

That's a joke by the way - you really don't have to worry. You might be advised to bring some mosquito repellent as you can get some in the early evening in some areas but that'll be the only bite you'll get.

Do you have 24 hour electricity?
The is no power supply from the mainland to the islands so all resorts on the Perhentians have a generator. At Paradise the electricity is generally provided 24 hours. In the low season we sometime turn it off for a few hours a day. At Impiani we turn off the generator mid-morning and mid-afternoon. It runs throughout the night and at lunchtime.

How do I say 'thank you' in Bahasa Melayu?
Smile and say 'Terima kasih' and you will get a smile back.

Is there anything I can bring you guys?
We get asked this a lot and we are certainly very happy you guys care about us. In fact, we have pretty much everything we need here on the islands so there is no need to bring us a gift. Just let us know how you enjoyed your holiday with us and we will be very happy!

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