MY · Johor · 2.45°N 104.52°E

pulau aur

Offshore reefs, dive trips and small sandy bays well out in the South China Sea.

Best time
March to October. The north-east monsoon, roughly November to February, stops most boats, and the resorts and dive operators close for the season.
How long
3 days, 2 nights
Getting there
Drive about 4–4.5 hours from KL to Mersing, then several hours by boat. There's no scheduled ferry; the resort or dive operator arranges the crossing.
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MY · Johorpulau aur2.45°N 104.52°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Offshore reefs, dive trips and small sandy bays well out in the South China Sea.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPulau AurMY, Johor
KLpulau aur
≈ 324 km from KL, as the crow flies
Beach in Pulau Aur, Malaysia

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Pulau Aur sits about 76 km out from Mersing, far enough that the water is clearer than at the islands closer in. Divers come for the reefs and the chance of barracuda and rays; between dives there are small beaches, rocky headlands and its twin, Pulau Dayang, across a narrow channel.

Makan

  1. Resort mealsMeals come with the stay: rice, fish, vegetables and sambal.Map ↗
  2. Barbecue nightsGrilled fish or chicken on some evenings; check what your package includes.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. DivingOperators pick sites around Aur and Dayang to suit the current and your experience.Map ↗
  2. SnorkellingReefs close to shore in the bays. Go with someone who knows where the current runs.Map ↗
  3. The beachesSmall coves between the headlands, quiet between dives.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book the boat, room and dives together; don't turn up at Mersing jetty expecting a walk-on ferry.
  • Bring cash, medicines and anything else you need from the mainland. There's little to buy on the island.
  • Don't swim across the channel to Dayang. The current and boat traffic make it dangerous.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.