From the deck of the boat, the two Perhentian islands - Besar and Kecil - appear as a mirage shrouded by clouds.

BBC: The perfect trip: Singapore and Malaysia

The closeness of the main coral beds to the shores, combined with the water's float-friendly salinity, make the sea around Perhentian Besar and nearby Kecil excellent for snorkelling.

BBC: The perfect trip: Singapore and Malaysia

On Perhentian Besar - the larger of the two islands - the main hub of activity ('activity' consisting primarily of lounging on the beach, swimming and watching fishing boats roll by) is a quarter-mile stretch of beach between Abdhul's Chalets and Tuna Bay Island Resort.

BBC: The perfect trip: Singapore and Malaysia