Pulau Kapas ;) by noor syafinaz norazizan

Pulau Kapas is a little island that is not more than 20 minutes away by boat from the sleepy village of Marang, Pulau Kapas(Cotton Island) basks idyllically as it has for over 270million years. This little haven in the South China Sea and just off the Terengganu coast is a pleasant getaway for the locals during weekends. Pulau Kapas is a small island, just over 2km long and 1km at its widest point. Since it is so close - only 6km from the mainland, visitors seldom stay overnight. If you prefer to spend a longer time on the island, there are a variety of accommodations available on the island best suited to most travellers although non rivalling exclusive resorts such as 'Banyan Tree' or the 'Aman' resort establishments. The resorts here provide satisfactory amenities and service which of course, the aforddable price. Most resorts are clustered together on two strips of white sandy beaches facing the mainland, whereas the rest of the island is largely forested harbouring lots of small mammals, birds, insects and reptiles.

    On the edges of the island, colourful reefs extend out into the deep, blue sea where a host of marine life continues to build and live in these rich, exuberant gardens of the sea. In its history, Pulau Kapas began to take shape some 270million years ago when the sea level was way below what it is now. In the deep of the sea, there are pretty fishes are specific to coral reefs which mean that they live nowhere else except in coral patches. As a marine park, the coral reefs and its marine inhabitants have been given full protection from any adverse activity that may destroy their habitat, and that includes fishing. With such foresight from the local authorities, the reefs are left in its pristine state that host an abundance of beautiful coral inhabitants such as the parrotfish, pufferfish, angelfish, damselfish; eels; giant clams; rays, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and nudibranchs. This is the place to really indulge in snorkelling. There is a wonderful snorkelling spot around the rocky outcrops just to the southern end of the long stretch of beach. The water here is shallow and it is best to wear a lifejacket. For new snorkelers, they should  bring along a lifejacket and a pair of fins and never, ever step on corals.