Want to dive without leaving Singapore? It's possible!
Pulau Hantu is located South of Singapore, and part of the Republic. It is famous for fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts because of its sheltered beaches, swimming lagoons and inviting waters. The island are also popular with campers and day-trippers who prefer a unique outdoor experience.
The island's name:
In Malay, "Pulau" means "island" and "Hantu" means "ghost". Therefore "Pulau Hantu" means "ghost island". However, you won't find any ghost there...
The explanation is much more rational: During the low tide, Pulau Hantu can be seen as one island with two large bays on the northern and southern side of the island. However during the high tide, the water level in the bays would rise and the mid-section of island (which is geographically lower than other parts) would disappear under the tide and resulting in two smaller islands. The disappearance and reappearance led to it being called "ghost".
But ever since stone and concrete embankments were built up, the island does not behave like a ghost anymore.
Activities:
The best site is the reefs located at the western shoreline of the island.
There is a large mangrove swamp but coconut plams and trees have been planted everywhere making it shady. Visitors can spend a whole afternoon exploring the swamp and at low tide, watch hermit crabs digging and mud skippers jumping from one mudflat to another, or even spot a starfish buried in the ground.
Popular with divers, the seabed around the island is shallow and flat and safe as a training and recreational area for newcomers. Migratory birds like cranes, herons and magpies can be seen here during certain times of the year.
Wildlife pictures: http://www.pulauhantu.org/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/torvaanser/
Some facilities, including toilets and fresh water on tap are available on the island.
However, there is no electric power.
Legend:
Pulau Hantu is also the place of a myth! There were once two great warriors locked in a fierce battle at sea. Many people died and the blue seas slowly became polluted with human blood, upsetting the Jinns at the bottom of the ocean. In anger, one powerful Jinn created a whirlpool and sucked the 2 warriors into the deep sea to drown them. Not deterred, they continued their battle. Suddenly, the Jinn sprayed water on one of them, and the o
ther warrior seeing his opponent blinded, thrusted his sword into his abdomen. At the same time, the wounded warrior forced his sword into the other man. Both collapsed and died.
The gods felt it was wrong for the seas spirits to interfere in human affairs, thus, the Jinn transformed the two warriors into islets so that their spirits can continue to live on them. As one of the warriors was smaller than the other, his islet was known as "Pulau Hantu Kecil" while the bigger one was called "Pulau Hantu Besar".
Accessibility:
Take a launch from West Coast Fery Terminal. Capacity per launch is 12 persons. A two-way trip costs about S$140.00 depending on the duration of stay. Duration of the ride is 30 minutes each way.
More info:
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