Snorkelling with sea turtles (0:10 - 2:00)
Turtle trip is not included in resort package, so this need to book on the same day that you want to go for the trip at snorkelling center after 2pm. You'll be inform about the trip when you're at Marine Park. The trip only available around Aug-Oct when the sea turtle is back to lay eggs.
It will cost you RM40 per adult and RM20 per children above 4 years old. Below 3 years old will be free. Even if you just want to hang out on the boat to see the sea turtles you will need to pay the same amount.
We head out by boat about 5pm and it takes about 15mins to reach the shore near Tarras. It's on the open sea so there's no beach front to rest. The water is deep for sure. The person in charge will lure the sea turtles up to the surface by feeding them squid, so even if you just sit on the boat to watch, you'll be able to see the sea turtles. Of course if you want a close up, best is to jump into the water and swim together with the sea turtles.
There are kids mainly above 8years old that join the snorkelling fun. Kyle can't swim but with life jacket and snorkling mask he got no problem snorkling and moving around in the water. The sea turtles are quite huge and it is advisable not to touch them or put your hand in front of the sea turtles' mouth as it might mistaken your hand for food.
We get to spend close to an hour there before heading back to the resort.
There are pop up stall along the beach that offers the same trip. I'm not sure how much it will cost but i think it is possible to haggle for price if you book the trip from the pop up stall.
Snorkelling at the beach front (2:01-3:06)
Along the long beach, there are 3 spots for snorkelling. One in front of Laguna Redang Resort, another 2 are on the left and right of Redang Lagoon Resort. There are boey surrounding the area that you're allowed to snorkle and it is highly advisable that you don't snorkle out from the boey barricade and also don't snorkle our form the 3 snorkelling spot as there will be boat coming in and out so it is very dangerous.
I personally never snorkle in front of Laguna Redang Resort, as according to big boss, there's not much fishes and it is full of seaweed.
On the left side of Redang Lagoon Resort, it is recommended for the kids, as it doesn't have many rocks and it is very far out shallow and lots of colourful fishes so kids that doesn't know how to snorkle can just stand and enjoy the fishes swimming around their legs.
On the right side of Redang Lagoon Resort, is where you can find baby shark. It is full of rocks so you may need to go far out a bit to get to the deeper area for a comfortable snorkle.
There are lots and lots of fishes here.
In any case that the waves is too rough or weather is not suitable, there will be red flag raise on snorkelling site. When the red flag is up means no going down to the water.
Also be careful of big monitor lizard around the hill side near the water.
Snorkelling at Marine Park (3:07-4:00)
It is compulsory to get Marine Park ticket at RM5 per person be it adult or children when you going into Redang. And the resort will arrange a 15mins boat ride to Marine Park for snorkelling. For Redang Beach, everyday 9.30am there will be a trip there so you just need to gather at the snorkelling center at 9.30am together with your ticket and you're good to go.
Bring along your life jacket, snorkel mask and anything else that you need in a waterproof bag as you'll be walking into the water a certain distance before you get to board the boat, so depending on the tide at times the water level is above the head.
You will not allow to wear slippers, so unless you have a soft shoe which i highly recommend to get one, you'll need to be barefooted.
You'll be given 1 hour and 30mins or so to snorkle around the Marine Park. There will be a pool of water for you to wash off, after snorkling before you board the boat back to the resort. Also there are designated locker just for Redang Beach patrons to use if you need to.
There's a beach, so bringing along the kids to play sand castle or just walking around the shallow water to look for fishes would be great.
Scuba discovery (4:01-4:54)
This is not included in the resort package. You do not need to know how to swim (as long as you're brave and calm) or have any experience in scuba diving to go for this discovery underwater. It cost each person RM170 and you definitely need to prebook it when you place your booking for the resort, as it is usually full cause it is a 1 to 1 coaching.
We booked ours when we reached the resort on the 1st day but it is full and we only get the slot on the last night of our stay. Lucky enough.
Go over to the dive center at 4.30pm and the instructor will bring you into a room and give a briefing on what they will bring us to do and how we should do it. It is a very detail explanation, then you will wear the scuba gear and walk 2mins to the sea (left side beside Redang Lagoon Resort) and there will have a small training by the instructor on how to breath using the snorkle, how to blow out water from the mask, the basic sign language to communicate under the sea and how to not freak out if you see shark hahahaha.
Once you pass the basic training then the instructor will bring you under the water. All you need to do is keep calm, do the basic like blowing your nose to unblock the ear, blow the water off the mask, watching nemo, and get crazy when jelly fish floats near you. The instructor will always be on your left side and in case anything just sign them, and they will help you.
This is so much fun and i definitely recommend anyone and everyone to go for it. And if you got hook, you can plan your trip next to get a license for scuba diving.
Swimming Pool
If the kids got bored of the beach, there are 1 small baby pool and 1 small adult pool in the resort, so the kids can have fun playing and swimming in the pool. It is usually crowded so go early in the morning.
Please do not:
1. Please do not feed the fishes anything. You may see people feeding it, and convenience shop selling bread for fish but please do not feed the fish. It is not advisable to feed the fish as it will ruin the eco system.
2. Do not litter on the beach, please keep the place clean.
3. Do not take home any corals, dead corals, sand from the sea.
There will be a following post about the Resort itself and what else you can do there beside going into the water all day long.
