Spots among attractions
Other than Mersing Jetty, Tanjung Leman Jetty is the entry point to Pulau Tinggi and its nearby islands.The jetty is a two-hour drive from Johor Baru and 45 minutes away from Mersing, Johor. For details on Pulau Tinggi or Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, visit www. johorparks.gov.my/en/parks/ taman-laut-sultan-iskandar. To learn more about e-waste and how to properly dispose of it, visit www.doe.gov.my/hhew/ not confident about working on the ghost net however play an equally important role, scouring the reefs and under the jetty for any e-waste or trash to collect. In total, 80kg worth of ghost nets and trash are collected at the end of our dive. invites me to tag along on an impromptu visit to a cluster of islands nearby, collectively called Lima Islands, which I of course accept. It takes 20 minutes by speed boat to reach Pulau Lima from Pulau Tinggi, and the scenery that awaits is well worth it. Pulau Lima, or at least the first two islands out of the five that make the cluster of Lima islands, is a tiny tropical paradise that seems to have been overlooked by humans.
The two islands are close to each other, with a narrow channel of shallow turquoise green water separating the two. A fringe of coral reef stretches around the island and is visible even from the surface. There is a powdery white sand beach on the second island, which is a known turtle nesting area. The island is slowly becoming a destination for snorkelling, with visitors making a stopover from Pulau Tinggi or nearby Pulau Sibu.
There is talk of gazetting the islands into the marine park island group, but nothing concrete as yet. Taking in the beauty of the island’s landscape, I wholeheartedly see the need to ensure its continued preservation.
Without a doubt, environmental sustainability is a key issue throughout the islands of Johor, and after having seen firsthand the effort put in by the Johor Department of Environment, Department of Marine Parks Johor, Sultan Iskandar Marine Park as well the volunteer work by recreational associations such as Co-op Diver Johor, the natural charm of these islands can continue to be enjoyed by visitors for many more years to come.