Sibu Island, Tropical island in Mersing District, Malaysia
Sibu Island is a small island off the coast of Mersing in the state of Johor, Malaysia, ringed by coral reefs and edged with sandy beaches. The interior is covered in dense jungle, and the island has both a developed resort side and quieter, less visited stretches of coast.
In 1993, the island was incorporated into Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, a move that placed its reefs and sea life under formal protection. This designation slowed development and kept large parts of the island from being built up.
In the village of Kampong Duku, fishermen still build wooden boats by hand using methods passed down through generations. Walking through the village, you can see nets spread out to dry and small boats lined up along the shore.
The island is reached by ferry from Tanjong Leman Jetty near Mersing, and the crossing takes a short time. Avoid the monsoon months if possible, as many resorts close during that period and sea conditions can make travel difficult.
The east side of the island is lined with resorts while the west coast has almost no infrastructure and very few visitors ever reach it. Anyone willing to walk through the jungle can have that side of the island almost entirely to themselves.
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