Pulau Kendi Coral Reef

Pulau Kendi is presently the only place in Penang where you can go snorkelling to admire its coral reef.

Water clarity of the Straits of Malacca around Pulau Kendi is seasonal. The best season to view the coral reefs of Pulau Kendi is between late October to late March. That is when you can enjoy superb clarity of the sea.

If you wish to go snorkelling in Pulau Kendi should do so in the company of an experience diver, someone who is familiar with the marine geography, not only for your own well-being, but also that he can help you appreciate the fragile ecology that you are visiting. As these are live corals, care should be taken not to harm or damage the them.

The following are photographs shot during the south-west monsoon season, when the water clarity is not so good. You can expect better pictures during the north-east monsoon season. Nonetheless, from these pictures, it is evident that there is a healthy growth of corals off Pulau Kendi.

Sea Urchin off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Cup Coral colony, Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Damaged Cup Coral, Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Giant damselfish (male), Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Goby, Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Goniopora coral off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Green Acropora coral with butterflyfish off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Green Acropora coral with damselfish (female) off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Green open brain coral off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Cardinalfish off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Brain corals off Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan

Another view of brain corals at Pulau Kendi
Photos courtesy of Thomas Aeruthayan