by Lamvi Dao August 13, 2008
Hello my friends!
Over two years living on Bidong, I scouted almost every corner on the island; both land and under water. Well, except for the northern and eastern side, which were very dangerous to get there by foot and you can get forget how long it would take to swim around the island. (We did not have any boat.)
You are here because you are about to travel to Bidong or just to be curious what the fuss I am about to say. One more thing, leave the scuba gear at home, we dive without the gear. Can you?
Onto the secrets.
The best places for swimming are marked with white lines.
On the South side, this beach was called Zone C beach. It has small rocks and beautiful coral ground, which is right outside the white line. In good weather day, you see many small fishes like percula, clarkii, and biaculeatus. One time, I saw a three-foot wide jelly fish and its tails were at least seven yard long. You are right that I was very scared.
On the East side, it is much deeper and you find a lot of sea cucumbers. They are very yummy, healthy, and expensive. This area is very deep. On the right corner of this Eastside, it has a beautiful swimming spot with large waves, which you cannot see from the picture.
On the West side beach, you run into Group fishes and they live mostly along the west side of the island. There are also Boxfishes and Pufferfishes but do not touch them. Also on the West side, you find many schools of shiner. If you have a large net you can net thousands of them per round. There is also a heaven like tunnel, which is right before the West side beach. Once you go in there, you don’t want to get out.
On the South West corner, you may get lucky to see Lion fishes.
North
West 
East
South
http://www.tourism.terengganu.gov.my/historical/KT/pulau_bidong.htm#
On the Northwest corner (slightly to the south), it is a rocky area and has good ocean depth. You see many large corals. Some of them are so wide that you can park a car or two on it. This is where you have the most fun and the water is very clear. You run into many types of fishes, giant clams, sand sharks, schools of fishes and many more beautiful things. You need to scout from the West side upward to the Northwest corner to find a good place to spend your time. On this side of the island, it also has long tunnels that go well into the island. You need good light to go inside these tunnels and you may find many “artifacts” left over by the refugees.
What are about the North and Northeast areas? They are for you to find out. These areas open to the Pacific ocean, there are more fish and BIGGER ones. I mean SHARKS.
Squids
By accident, I “discovered” squid mating ground, which is below.
First, you need to know the mating season, have a one-meter arrow, long breath, good eye sign, and strategy. Are you ready? Enjoy your hunt.
Once you locate a squid, swim to it from behind and dive down. Thrust your arrow to its neck. Is that easy? Sometimes, they are mating: 1 arrow hits two squids. Yeah! I did it and the squids squeezed ink everywhere.
North
West 
East
South
http://www.tourism.terengganu.gov.my/historical/KT/pulau_bidong.htm#
Now, if you arrive Bidong on stormy season and you like waves, hit the South side and specially the Southeaster corner. If you don’t like waves, swim in the Southwest corner: the wind is blocked and the sea is much calmer.
Well, I have more to say but you gotta to have fun and I am so sad that I cannot go with you. Maybe one day?
1 Comment
Chac hoi do Lamvi pha lam phai khong? Nho luc lao tum lum nen mai den gio van con nho ro dao Bidong nhu ngay xua vay. Con tui nay con nho nen chang nho dao ra sso ca.