Pulau Besar

Pulau Besar is an island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. It is accessible by boat from Mersing town (approximately 30 minutes). The island’s highest point rises some 845 feet (258 m) above the sea level.

Pulau Besar is surrounded by many nearby islands, like Pulau Mensirip, Pulau Hujung, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Harimau. Even Pulau Tengah  on which Survival and Expedition Robinson was filmed, is close to Pula Besar. Divers will be able to dive at Jahat/ Aut, Sakit Mata, Mata Tikus and Rawa. The island is characterized by quiet, clean beaches of powdery white sand that promises an amazingly spectacular view. Crystal clear waters surround the island; Pulau Besar. The waters are so clean that visitors can even see the many reefs from the surface.

A local myth was about a fisherman couple who transformed into mermaids. This legend is so popular among the local folks that they believed at one time, a pregnant fisherman’s wife was craving for a kind of seaweed, that is plentiful in the Mersing waters. After eating, she turned into a mermaid and the heartbroken husband became one too after eating the same seaweed. Until today, it is claimed that mermaids floating in couples can sometimes be spotted eating seaweed around the island.

There are many interesting activities. One can go snorkelling, fishing, diving or take a trip to all the nearby islands. Visitors can trek through the woods to see the tropical plants and animals or visit a ‘kelong‘ to see the fishermen hauling up their nets laden with the bountiful harvest from the sea. The wild vegetation of the tropical jungle are rich in many different green colours and the sight of coconut palm dotting the landscape is a normal one. There are about 7 – 8 small villages that are still populated by around 100 friendly dwellers who are mostly fishermen. Pulau Besar is rising some 2,000 feet above the sea level. So this is one of the largest islands off the coast of Mersing.