Visit Singapore’s first Marine Park
One of the best things about Singapore is the day-tripping ability to nearby islands. Bintan and Pulau Ubin are good options, but if your kids are keen on marine life, you’ve got to visit Singapore’s biggest outdoor (and underwater) classroom – Sisters’ Islands Marine Park.
Encompassing the 40-hectare area of Sisters’ Islands, St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor, Singapore’s first Marina Park is now officially being established. Over the coming months NParks plans to invigorate this conservation initiative with the installation of educational storyboards, by planning dives, and hosting workshops.
Till then, here’s how to make the most of this unique environment:
Sign up for guided walk
This is already a hot ticket and sessions in August and September have been fully booked, but you can still book your spot for the walks in November and December – fastest fingers first! Each guided walk is open to a maximum of 45 people. Walks are not conducted in October. Ferry transportation is included.
Design your own day out
Be your own guide, get a group together and hire your own ferry. We’ve done it and it’s a cinch! You can charter a private boat from Singapore Island Cruise. A return trip for a group of 12 will set you back $400 and you’re guaranteed a spacious and comfortable seating lounge in exchange for the cash you splash. Chartered ferries depart from Marina South Pier, taking a brief 15 minutes journey to reach the Big Sisters’ island. Admission to the island is free.
History of the islands
Located to the south of Singapore’s main island, Sisters’ Islands consists of two small islands, Pulau Subar Laut (Big Sister’s Island) and Pulau Subar Darat (Small Sister’s Island), connected by a narrow channel. There are about 3 different legends surrounding how the Islands got their name and all of them end with the drowning of two beloved sisters, Minah and Linah that will forever be remembered by the 2 islands left behind to represent them!
What you’ll see
The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park is home to over 250 species of hard corals (32% of hard coral species found worldwide), more than 100 species of reef fish, about 200 species of sponges and 12 seagrass species. It is also the natural habitat of the rare Neptune’s Cup Sponge, unique to Singapore’s waters. The best time to see marine life active here (including clams, seahorses, sea urchins, sea cucumber, star fish and anenome) is when the tide is at 0.4 metres and below.
Snorkel at high tide
We’ve taken a dip here and loved it. The water is fairly calm and clean and can remain shallow till you walk out a fair way from shore. You’ll feel sea grass underfoot but if that’s uncomfortable, pack some reef sandals to protect your feet. Remember to pack snorkles and goggles so you can spot the sea life. Currents can get strong so keep to one of the sheltered bays. There is a toilet block with outside shower to rinse the salt off.
Pack a picnic
There are coconut palms and other trees providing perfect shade for a leisurely lunch. Alternatively, rock up early and bag one of the shelters with built-in tables and benches. There are no shops here, so you’ll need to bring provisions with you. If you want to be extra organized, pack the meat and firelighters to get a BBQ started in one of the pits available. It will take about 5 minutes to walk from the jetty to the nearest BBQ pit. Try not to leave any food unattended or you might come face to face with a long-tailed macaque.
Here’s a pic of some of our Honeycombers crew and their kids enjoying island life.
Go camping
Yes, you can stay overnight! First, you’ll need to obtain approval from the Sentosa Executive (South Islands Management). The camping permit takes approximately seven working days to process, and can be done via fax (6275 0161) or email ([email protected]). To register, simply submit your name, contact number, choice of island, camping dates, and the number of campers wishing to stay. Now it’s time to dig out the tent and sleeping bag!
Images: NParks