Expert: Winnie - 11/4/2009

Question
Hi, I am planning a second trip to Singapore and wondered if you could advise me on visiting the Islands nearby.  I know there are a lot of them.  Do you have any advice on which ones to go to?  In particular, I would like to go diving.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Louise

Answer
Hi Louise,

I wouldn't know about diving... Singapore is definitely no Great Barrier Reef.  We have such murky green seas that if there were any marine fauna beneath those waters, we sure wouldn't know anything about it!  You'd be better off exploring diving in the nearby countries instead.  The islands nearby that you can go to are Palau Ubin and St John's Island.  

Palau Ubin is a must-go if you would like to see kampong villages (even in the 21st Century, this island's inhibitants have kept most of the traditional housing intact!), mangrove swamps and some of Singapore's original flora and fauna.  There's also an Outward Bound camp there if you are feeling game.

St John's Island used to be an island for the purpose of quarantine; in the early days they used to deport leprosy victims there.  After such diseases were no longer rampant, St John's was left on its own and so pretty much all the original fauna and flora are completely intact and undisturbed.  Because it's so rich in nature, it's a number one spot for visitors who want to experience South-East Asian nature.

There are quite a few other islands off the shores of Singapore, but they are mostly used for military training (like marooning teenagers serving National Service on an island so they can learn to survive in what's essentially a jungle).

Both St John's and Palau Ubin are reachable by boat.  I'm not sure where the piers are, but I don't doubt that you can find that out online or through tourist info.

Cheers.