Tioman · Malaysia · Wall
Soyak Trench
Boulder-flanked sand trench dropping to about 60 metres
Area photo: TMbux · CC BY-SA 3.0
Soyak Trench lies about five minutes by boat west of Soyak Island, where a sandy channel flanked by boulders drops to around 60 metres. It is a deep dive rather than a reef tour: the boulder sides give the descent structure, and the published depth puts the bottom of the trench well beyond recreational limits.
Where it is and how deep
2.8759° N, 104.1435° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The ride out from Soyak Island takes about five minutes, and the dive begins with a descent into the gap between the boulders that flank the trench. The bottom is sand, and the rock on either side gives you something to follow and to judge depth against on the way down — useful, because the trench keeps going to around sixty metres and it is easy to lose track of a descent over featureless sand.
How far down you go is a planning decision rather than a feature of the site: the deepest sand is beyond recreational limits, so most dives turn at whatever depth the certification and gas plan allow and then work back up along the boulders. The shallow part of the ascent and the safety stop are done in open water above the trench, with a marker up for the boat.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Tioman: Northeast monsoon brings rough seas and closed resorts November-January; calmest conditions and best visibility run May-September.
Know before you go
- Depth is the main hazard here: the sand bottom runs to about 60 metres, so the dive needs a hard turn depth and a gas plan agreed before you get in.
Sources
- Soyak Trench - Scubago — Scubago
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