This spot has been added by

Anne
Anne

31 spots added - 1235 photos shared

Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form
Accommodation nearby

Last updated on

Bunot Beach is a jungle-fringed white sand beach, often listed as one of Tioman Island’s most beautiful beaches. Fringed for more than 500 meters by a coral reef, it gives access to a large snorkeling area featuring scattered living corals. Reef fish such as butterflyfish and Ocellaris clownfish are easy to spot at this location.

Staghorn coral and damselfish in Bunot Beach
Bunot Beach reef features nice patches of branching corals.

How to get to Bunot Beach snorkeling spot?

Bunot Beach is a remote beach on the west coast of Tioman. You can reach it:

  • By land from Tekek (Pulau Tioman’s marina) and the Berjaya Tioman Resort. The beach is about 5 kilometers south of the village, and 2.5 kilometers south of Berjaya Tioman Resort. The road is paved to the Tioman Horizon Condotel (which seems unoccupied), and then you have to continue on foot for 10 minutes to reach the beach.
  • By land from Paya. Once past the Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort, a path goes deep into the jungle. From there, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to walk to Bunot Beach.
  • By boat, either by water taxi or by organizing a private tour.
Bunot Beach snorkeling map, Tioman.
Bunot Beach snorkeling map, Tioman.

Water entrance for snorkeling Bunot Beach

You can get in the water wherever you want from the sandy beach. Underwater visibility is not always excellent on this spot. The southern part is often the most recommended because of the clearer waters than towards the north.

Bunot Beach reef snorkeling exploration tips

Bunot Beach stretches over 500 meters. Corals are found all along the beach, but the southern part (Paya coast) often offers better underwater visibility.

Ocellaris anemonefish in Bunot Beach, Tioman
The highly popular Ocellaris anemonefish is easy to spot at Bunot Beach, including at shallow depths.

From the beach, the seabed slopes gently down to 6 to 35 ft/2 to 5 meters in the reef areas. Many healthy coral patches (including branching coral) are found on the reef flat, but there are also many dead corals and debris.

Sea cucumber Bunot Beach
Detail of a sea cucumber.

Bunot Beach reef is home to magnificent sea anemones (Heteractis magnifica) in which photogenic Ocellaris anemonefish live. There are also many parrotfish, Eastern-triangular butterflyfish and Eightband butterflyfish, monocle bream, wrasse and several varieties of damselfish to spot in the shallows.

Giant clam at Bunot Beach
Many giant clams are found in the massive porous coral.

Sea urchins abound in the flat, but they are usually found deep enough not to risk stepping on it.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

Bunot Beach has no equipment or restaurant. It is a nice place for picnics, but watch out for the monkeys which can be aggressive.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth15ft/5m over the reef
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • Potential DangersSea urchins, crown-of-thorns starfish
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyNo

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.