Tioman · Malaysia · Pinnacle · Reef
Tiger Reef
Offshore pinnacle with barracuda, napoleon wrasse and blacktips
Area photo: TMbux · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tiger Reef is an underwater pinnacle standing in open water west of Tioman, starting at around 10 metres and running down to 22. Boulders on it are covered in hard and soft corals and barrel sponges, and the fish life is the draw: barracuda, napoleon wrasse and blacktip sharks. The current can sometimes become quite strong, so the site is rated for advanced divers.
Where it is and how deep
2.8907° N, 104.0603° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
This is a detached pinnacle rather than a fringing reef. The top of the rock sits at around 10 metres and the structure runs down to 22, so the whole dive fits inside a single recreational profile. Many boulders are stacked around it, covered in hard and soft corals and studded with barrel sponges, and the dive is spent working the rock rather than following a reef line.
Current sets the shape of the dive, and on this rock it can sometimes become quite strong, which is why operators want an Advanced Open Water certification. Barracuda and napoleon wrasse hold in the moving water, blacktip and nurse sharks pass along the boulders, and stingrays sit out on the bottom. Whale sharks are reported in the right season, but they are a rare piece of luck rather than something to plan a trip around. Visibility runs to 20 metres and more.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Barracuda
- Napoleon wrasse
- Stingrays
| 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
- The current can sometimes become quite strong on an exposed rock with no shelter around it, which is why operators require an Advanced Open Water certification.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Tiger Reef?+
The pinnacle starts at around 10 metres and goes down to about 22 metres, so the dive stays inside recreational limits from top to bottom.
Do I need an advanced certification for Tiger Reef?+
Yes. The rock stands in open water and the current can sometimes become quite strong, so Advanced Open Water is what operators ask for here.
Sources
- Tiger Reef Dive Site - Map & Review — Divezone
- Tioman Island diving overview — Divezone
In The Logbook
- Where to see reef sharks on your first divesBig animals · 14 min read
More dive sites in Tioman
Reef
Sloping reef and island-side pinnacles, dived off a mooring
Pinnacle
Twin rock islets over boulder coral, overhangs and small walls
Reef
Towering rock formations and walls to 30 metres, often drifted
Reef
Volcanic boulders stacked into tunnels, with a cave at 21 m
Reef
Boulders and overhangs sloping to a 30-metre sand bottom
Pinnacle
Coral-covered pinnacle with walls falling to 40 metres
Pinnacle
Untouched hard and soft coral on a rock topping out at 8 m
Easy shallow reef with blacktip sharks and green turtles
Similar dives elsewhere
Mild-current ridge at 5 to 18 m with feeding hawksbills
Boulder field from 24 to 36 m with near-constant current
A coral-covered pinnacle east of the Bidas, rarely on the schedule
A current-swept pinnacle from 30 m to within 5 m of the surface