The Pulau Payar Marine Park is one of the most beautiful and exotic marine parks in Malaysia with

an abundant and colorful tropical marine life. This makes it an excellent destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The pleasant white beaches are also the perfect retreat for those who want to escape the business of urban living in cities. Besides diving, enjoy swimming in clear warm seas and sun-bathing on the glittery white sand. About 1.7km (1 mile) long and spread over only 31 hectares (76 acres), Pulau Payar is one of the four islands which make up the Pulau Payar Marine Park. Located in the north of the Straits of Melaka, the main island is 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi, about 40 nautical miles north of Penang and 28km (18 miles) off the coast of Kedah. Gazetted in 1985, it is the only marine park situated on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. The main island is narrow with the whole of the northwestern coast made up of rocky terrain with steep cliffs and wave-cut gullies. Much of the island is covered with verdant vegetation, while the few beaches are most inviting with white fine-grain sand.The other islands are mostly rocky outcrops with a dazzling underwater coral environment. Belying their diminutive sizes, the islands offer a variety of habitats. The corals are about the same as those found in the Indian Ocean.