Want to learn or go diving but running short on leaves? Sotravel has just the solution for you!
Just a few short hours away from Singapore, Tioman is the best weekend getaway for new and old divers alike! Simply pop on a bus and a ferry and find yourself on an island with sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters.
This mini island getaway will have you forgetting all your stresses from your work week for a weekend. Treat yourself and take a breather from the rat race. Change the view of skyscraping buildings to that of blue seas, lushes green hills and FISHES! And get your diving license at the same time!
If you are reading this, then you’re likely looking to get your diving license or you just want a short diving getaway. Then look no further, because I think this Tioman dive trip is the trip for you.
Our Sotravel Tioman trip is perfect for divers of all levels. Be it if you are getting your first diving license or your advanced, or even fun dives! This trip offers both courses and fun dives. Dive with us on this peaceful island and forge new bonds with fellow Sotravelers in the blue waters of Tioman.
Dive vendor
Our Tioman dive vendor is none other than *drumroll please* Blue Reef Scuba! One of the chillest dive schools you will find in Singapore, it is run by Ashar!
Under Ashar, Blue Reef Scuba (BRS) has built a large community of divers in Singapore and has taught and issued the highest number of diving certificates in Singapore! With an easygoing yet heavy focus on safety, BRS is one of the most trusted diving schools around. So rest easy and enjoy a small instructor to student ratio of 1: 4 when you dive with BRS x Sotravel.
A highlight of joining one of BRS’s Tioman trips? After a long day of diving with BRS you will be rewarded with FOOD!!! On our last day, as part of BRS Tioman trip traditions, we will be feasting upon a delicious barbeque at our resort. With satays, chicken wings, fish, sotong, and so much more. This mouth-watering feast is exactly what is required after an accomplished two days of diving.
Over the course of the weekend, enjoy 6 dives over the span of two days. With our resort just 5 minutes from the jetty, where we board the dive boat and the cafeteria just 2 minutes away. Nothing is ever too much of a hassle on this mini getaway.
Island Reef Resort
So! What can you expect from accommodations on a small, remote island? Our rooms will be shared between 2-4 people, with your fellow Sotravel diving buddies! With 2 queen sized beds, AC and running hot water, the rooms have everything you might need for the simple pleasures in life.
We humbly ask for your understanding that the rooms are not those of a 5-star resort, considering we’ll be on a small, remote island. But with air conditioning, hot water, and a good night’s rest, isn’t that all we need?
Wi-Fi in the resort and on the island will be considerably weaker than what we city people are used to. So it is highly recommended that you get an eSIM for the weekend if you want to stay connected! Or perhaps it’s the perfect time for you to disconnect and go off the grid. Seize the opportunity to do that digital detox that you’ve been meaning to do.
How to get there from Singapore
Lucky us! BRS provides transport to and from Singapore so our weekend getaways to Tioman remain more hassle-free than ever!
Meet-up:
- Blue Reef Scuba’s shop, located at 12 Bussorah St, Singapore 199433
- Late afternoon/early evening
- Make sure to grab some snacks and water for the bus ride ahead!
After meeting up, we will head to the bus that will bring us through Tuas Checkpoint and then to Malaysia. After we cross over into Malaysia, we will pull up at a petrol station for a short break. So exchange some ringgit to buy some more snacks and water to last you the rest of the bus and ferry ride to Tioman. And don’t forget to hit the washrooms!
The next leg of the journey by bus will then take about 2-3 hours till we arrive at Mersing Jetty. From there, we will take Blue Reef Scuba’s very own boat, PRINCESS, and sail down to Tioman. This boat ride will take another 2-3 hours, depending on the sailing conditions.
Upon reaching the jetty in Tioman, our resort, Island Reef Resort, is just less than 5 minutes away on foot. We will then check in and sleep. Or… have some delicious Ramly burgers for supper and then head to bed.
Best time to visit
Tioman is open mostly all year round for diving except for the monsoon season that lasts from late November till Febuary.
So feel free to book a trip with us and pop over to Tioman for a short breather away from our hectic lives in Singapore. Spend a weekend chilling by the beach, lying under the stars, and of course… DIVE! Bask in the silence and weightlessness of the water and cruise through the blue, looking at the fishes.
Dive sites and things to spot
On this trip, we will be visiting popular sites in Tioman such as:
- Renggis Island
- Tioman’s Marine Park
- Pulau Tumuk
- Pirate Reef
With sheltered reefs in bays, marine parks, and even an underwater playground, Tioman’s dive sites offer a whole lot. Experience all kinds of diving in Tioman from drift dives, wreck dives, night dives, and so much more. The best part of Tioman is the range of difficulty that it offers, from beginner-friendly ones to intermediate sites. It is a perfect training ground for beginners and an underwater paradise for intermediate divers.
With resident black tip reef sharks, green sea turtles, cuttlefish, and even moray eels… these will be dives to remember! Tioman often gets looked over with other dive destinations just a few hours by plane away from Singapore like in Indonesia or Thailand. But this diving destination is not one to underestimate. With consistent visibility of 15-20m, Tioman is a severely underestimated diving haven, just a few hours away from Singapore.
Hearsay BRS has had quite a bit of luck spotting dolphins in the seas of Tioman too…
Post dive destination recommendations
While most meals will be had (and provided for) at the resort’s cafeteria, there are some stalls around the island for us to find more food to snack, munch, and feast on.
Make sure you bring some spare change if you do get the munchies. As one of BRS’s Tioman traditions is to pop down for supper on our second night! So get ready for a feast with Prata, Ice Limau, Teh Ping, and more.
Looking for some munchy snacks or forgot your toothbrush? Don’t worry, just a minute away from our resort is a mama shop with soap, snacks, and everything (or some things) you may need. Or treat yourself to some ice cream after a hot day of sailing on the high seas.
What to pack
Pack for your dive trip, just like any other beach travel destinations that you would go to!
- Beach towel
- Dry bag
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Swimwear (trunks/bikini)
- Rashguard
- Water bottles
- Medication (if necessary)
If you already have some of your own dive equipment, feel free to bring them as well!
What else to prepare?
Tioman is a marine park so upon entry, we will be paying 30 ringgit/person to enter this pristine marine park. On the way over in the bus, BRS will be collecting this marine park fee along with taking orders for any late night rambly burger orders.
There will also be a mama shop, a few eating places on the island, so feel free to change more money before the trip.
(Food is included in cost but from my own experience, most of us have gotten the munchies on Tioman for late night suppers and snacks.)
Open Water Course
Doing your Open Water on this Tioman trip? Here’s what to expect.
The OW course allows you to go up to 18m and will take 3 days. Before we even cross the border, we will be having a pool session for all you newbies to diving! It will likely be a weekend one or two weeks before our actual trip at Orchird Country Club @Yishun. There, you will learn the basics diving skills that you will need when we hit the open water. This will be the first day of your Open Water Course! The other 2 will take place on Day 2 & 3 in Tioman.
Your instructor will be showing you the dive gear you will use and how to use it, followed by some skills such as mask clearing, regulator recovery, BCD removal, and others. The best part about learning in a pool is that whenever you feel uncomfortable, all you need to do is stand up and take a breath before trying again!
An e-learning for your Open Water Course will be sent to your email before the start of the pool session! It is best to read up a little and mentally prepare yourself for what you will learn in the pool session. Remember to complete this e-learning before you embark on your dive adventure to Tioman though!
Advanced + Fun dive
Already have your OW? Get your AOW
So, you already have an OW diving license? Then maybe it’s time to get your Advanced Open Water (AOW) certificate that will allow you to go down to 30m!! Not just that, you will be able to learn new skills, go deeper, and even explore underwater wrecks!
The AOW course comprises of 5 dives, and the 5 dives are usually:
- Wreck exploration dive
- Deep dive (to 30m)
- Night dive
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Underwater Navigation
Known as the most fun diving course in existence, the AOW is a must take if you are comfortable in the water and are ready to upgrade your skills and diving experiences.
If you’re joining us for your advanced course or fun dives, then we will just be meeting at BRS’s shop on the first day of the trip and head straight into the Open Water. But for you advanced divers, don’t forget to do your e-learning before heading for the trip!
If you came to this article looking for an affordable, exciting and wet weekend getaway. Then! What are you waiting for? Book your trip now! I promise it will be a weekend to remember.
Sotravel 
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