About 1.7km (1 mile) long and spread over only 31 hectares (76 acres), Pulau Payar is one of the four islands which make up the Pulau Payar Marine Park. Located in the north of the Straits of Melaka, the main island is 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi, about 40 nautical miles north of Penang and 28km (18 miles) off the coast of Kedah. Gazetted in 1985, it is the only marine park situated on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.

The main island is narrow with the whole of the north-western coast  made up of rocky terrain with steep cliffs and wave-cut gullies. Much of the island is covered with verdant vegetation, while the few beaches are most inviting with white fine-grain sand. The other islands are mostly rocky outcrops with a dazzling underwater coral environment. Belying their diminutive sizes, the islands offer a variety of habitats. The corals are about the same as those found in the Indian Ocean.

Within the shallow waters of the park are diverse and luxuriant coral formations of which at least 35 are of the hard varieties. Especially distinctive are the boulder corals located on the south-eastern coast of Pulau Payar. Beds of stag horn corals, sea anemones and sponges support a multitude of marine life around the islands.

The breathtakingly beautiful area known among divers as the Coral Garden is where you can observe colourful soft corals that cover most of the rocky underwater seascape. Diverse coral can also be observed around Pulau Kaca, especially  within areas to the north and northeast. Sunken boat wrecks offer good wreck dive.

Pulau Segantang, with it sheer cliffs is only the small tip of a bigger rocky mass that plunges over 10 metres (33 feet) before reaching the sea floor. The area has a different underwater environment with different coral formations.

Although the Pulau Payar Marine Park can be visited all year round, the best time is between March to September, avoiding rougher seas in other months.

The marine park has a Visitor's Centre, hiking trails, gazebos, picnic tables, barbecue pits and restroom facilities. The journey from Langkawi either by catamaran or speed boat takes about an hour and cost about RM220 and RM140 for children (3-12 years). The price includes lunch.

Slightly off the main island is a snorkelling and diving platform owned and operated by a private company. You can enquire about tours to the marine park from almost any of the Langkawi tour operators.

Note to visitors: Please read and understand carefully the strict regulations governing visits to the Pulau Payar Marine Park.

Photo credits : Jack Jackson (brittle star on corals) / Henrietta Van Den Bergh ( Diver over corals)