Tiga Ruang is located on the northwestern side of Pulau Perhentian Besar just south of Tanjung Basi. It is a shallow dive site that consists of scattered coral heads on sandy bottom.
Staghorn and Table Corals colonized the shallower reef slope that ends at the reef crest just in 8 to 10 meters of water. Massive Brain and Boulder Corals scattered along the reef edge. Beyond that is flat sandy bottom that extends into the South China Sea.
Diving at this site begins and ends inside the shelter of the bay.
This is a good site to observe reef fishes, as there are plentiful of coral reef dwellers. Shrimp gobies and dragonets can be found in the sandy areas. Shellfish found in the sandy bottom includes pencil shells and auger shells. On some occasion the Queen Helmet Shells can also be found there.
Further into the sandy area is a habitat that harbors Tree Anemones, the Saddleback Anemone fish (Amphiprion polymnus) and Sea Hares.
Underwater currents at this site differ from Tanjung Basi. On a flooding tide the stream drifts from north to south into the channel between Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil. On an ebbing tide it is just the opposite. It is always best to dive with the tidal stream.
Tiga Ruang is a good site for beginners as well as experienced divers especially when visibility at deeper site is poor. It is also an excellent site for dive training at Perhentian Besar.
- Visibility : 6 -10 Meters
- Depth : 10 Meters
- Current : None to Mild
- Bottom Composition : Scattered coral heads on sandy bottom.
- Aquatic Highlights : Staghorn and Table Corals, reef fishes, Shrimp gobies, Dragonets, Pencil shells and Auger shells, Queen Helmet Shells, Saddleback Anemone fish, Sea Hares.
- Level : Good site for beginners as well as experienced divers especially when visibility at deeper site is poor. It is also an excellent site for dive training at Perhentian Besar.