110 miles from Singapore
On the mainland, the port of Mersing has a river entrance to a jetty where fuel and water can be taken onboard. The south bank jetty is the main ferry terminal to Tioman.
The narrow channel is buoyed and has leading markers. The entrance sand bank is about one mile wide and very shallow. The rule of thumb is to effectively assume that the sandbars dry at datum.
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There are plenty of ferries to follow in if you are unsure of the access depths. Moor alongside the fishing boats and expect other vessels to tie alongside you. Put out plenty of fenders. If you absolutely must stop here and can put up with the roll, we suggest stay out of the river, drop anchor in 4 metres outside and go ashore by dinghy.
Mersing is a small, crowded, busy river and the main ferry transit point to Tioman and some dozen smaller islands. Offshore but close are Pulaus Tinggi, Rawa, Besar and Seri Buat. All offer reasonable anchorages, depending on prevailing winds.
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10 miles from Mersing
There is good holding in 8-10 metres in front of the resort which has a jetty and a long covered walkway running parallel to the beach and rocky headland. This is one of the first resorts built in the area and is owned by a nephew of the Sultan of Johor.
[read more]It’s easy to spot from a distance since the name of the island is carved into the mountain backdrop. To the north are a number of very small islets and drying rocks, which offer snorkelling and diving opportunities. The Rawa Island Resort has a great dive centre; spa and speedboat transfers back to Mersing take only 30 minutes.
[/read]8 miles from Mersing
Safe anchorage can be found on the east or west coast on Pulau Besar (formerly Babi Besar or Big Boar Island) according to the prevailing winds in 6-8 metres. Our spot is off the fringing reef and jetty near Aseania Beach Resort on the southwest beach. A few low-key bungalow resorts and restaurants can be found ashore.
Two miles to the north are the twin islands of Pulau (Babi) Kechil, joined by a shallow 5-metre reef, which offers excellent snorkelling. On the southern Kechil is a small resort with concrete jetty and walkway. Depending on the swell daytime anchorage in 3-6 metres is possible south of the wide beach and opposite the jetty at 2°28.402N, 103°57.377E.
