Pulau Langkawi Sports & Outdoors

I went diving for a day in Langkawi but it was a bit disappointing. No photos I'm afraid as my digital camera had gone wrong. The location was Pulau Payar Marine Park situated in the northern part of the Straits of Malacca, 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi and which encompasses the islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca.

Considering its location, and the fact that just a little further north in Thailand there is a some great diving, the diving here did not meet expectations. That will teach me to have expectations in the first place!

The first dive was on an artificial reef that looked quite new. The Goodyear Reef, as its name implies, is just a load of tyres that have been sunk for corals to grow on. The coral growth has started but has a way to go yet before the tyres are covered. I saw some large box fish and some carpet-patterned wrasse or groupers among other stuff.

Probably the highlight of the day was lunch. This was on the small island of Pulau Payar where shark feeding on the beach is a daily ritual. Food is taking into the shallows where several small, blacktip reef sharks come in to feed.

The second dive was at Pulau Kaca. This was a real reef at least. I saw pipefish, tuna, barracuda, boxfish and a blue-spotted stingray.

An entry fee of RM5.00 for adults and RM2.50 for children is charged for admission into the marine park which will normally be included in the price of your diving package.

The advertised price for the trip, including transfers and lunch, was 220 Ringgits but I was given a discount of 40 Ringgits straight away without asking. They are so desperate for business after the bombing that everything is on offer.

Equipment: Equipment was provided but it was awful. This was the first time I had not been 'measured up' before the trip for gear. I arrived at the dive site where they looked me up and down and handed over the necessary equipment. It was adequate but I can't say any more than that. Foolishly I did not take my own mask and the one they gave me leaked like hell. It rather spoils the dive when you are clearing your mask every 3 minutes.

Honestly speaking, diving is not top-notch over here. Viz and coral life can be better. But this is a good place to dive if you love lobsters, barracudas, sharks and bannerfish. There's lots of these little fellas out here. Check out the giant barracuda and the giant grouper if you happen to be at the house reef.

Equipment: Arranged my dive trip with EastMarines at Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.
A two tank dive cost me about RM220.
The staff were very friendly, professional and re-assuring.

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this time our in Langkawi , i decide to play golf with my daugther Sabrina..as now she is 24 h/cap for 12 years old girl.hm not bad haH ...Overal The course is frindly with big green and fairway ..the scenery is beautiful but the green need to be maintained .Play in the morning so you can breath fresh air and cool climate

Equipment: Rental club is varies from rm 50 to 100 depend whats club you want to rent.green fees is around rm 100

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The 18-holes par-72 course is designed by Max Wexler and is located on the foothills of the Gunung Raya...the rather short course measures 5,879m from the blue tees... with the 1st Nine at 2,828m and the 2nd Nine at 3,015m... The 1st Nine is rather flat while is 2nd Nine is more undulating with water coming into play at many holes...

The green fees at RM200 per golfer and RM30 per shared buggy is a bit expensive... Charges are applicable on both weekdays and weekends... The course is open 7-days a week...

Equipment: The club has a rather well equipped pro shop... There are also the upgraded male and lady changing room...

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Pantai Tengkorak is the only beach worth such name in Langkawi - waterwise. The water is actually clear and with a blue-turquoise colour. The beach itself is small but lovely. What sets this place apart, water quality aside, is that it is largely tourist-free. The beach is visited almost only by local families - and it is a very friendly place.

There's nothing there, except the beach: no bar, no restaurat... just a toilet. On Christmas Day there was a woman selling some water and some fruits, but I don't believe she goes there very day, when everyone is at work.

Equipment: A swimsuit. Because local people bathe fully dressed, maybe it's not such a bad idea to swim in a t-shirt.

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Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach on the island: a 2 kilometres long stretch of sand, coconut and casuarina trees, and a long row of vars, restaurants, hotels, bungalows and discos to keep people entertained.

This is the place (honestly) where you can find a pizzeria run by a briton who thinks that pizzas do come with bolognese sauce on top, just to give you an example. I found it overcrowded and depressing... the worst beach on the island, with the nurkiest water.

Equipment: A swimsuit and not much else.

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Tanjung Rhu is regarded as one of Langkawi's best beaches, and I surely agree with it. The beach is wide, white, sloping and fringed by many casuarina trees and few palm trees. Most of it is a public beach.

Out in the middle of the sea there are some interesting limestone formations that remind vaguely of Phi Phi Islands - however the water quality here isn't quite the same. It's possible to walk out to the formations at low tide, while swimming there is not recommended due to strong currents.

Tanjung Rhu is also the starting point for trips along the Kilim river (for the infamous eagle feeding), limestone caves and mangrove swamps.

Equipment: You just need a swimsuit.

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I am fond of Pantai Teluk Burau, not only because it's where we stayed but also because the scenery is breathtaking... scenery-wise it's the most beautiful place I saw in Langkawi. The coastline, especially at low tide (when you can walk out to nearby Burau island), is at times rugged - then it opens up to an amazing bay and a long white sandy beach fringed by lush tropical vegetation. The rainforest is only a few yeards away.

As for the water: not really excellent (yet better than panntai kok and pantai cenang) - it's quite dark in colour, not because it's murky but because it's rich in plancton (I think). Generally speaking it's not very transparent, making snorkeling impossible

Equipment: A swimsuit is all you need.