A huge rock in the shape of a lion on Pulau Aur is known as Batu Berhala and according to legend was formerly home to an 'orang bunian' or a good spirit. The 'orang bunian' was believed to have stashed away a horde of cargo from a shipwrecked Chinese junk in a secret cave within Batu Berhala. Those who believed in the good spirit and required help would perform specific rituals to appease the sentient being and when satisfied with the offerings, a door would spring open from the face of the rock. A tunnel led into the cave filled with everything one would wish for. The only other condition was that everything borrowed from the cave must be returned after their use had expired. However due to the second nature of most human beings, many never returned the items taken. Disappointed with such behaviour and disrespect, the orang bunian left Batu Berhala never to return.
From Kampung Berhala, the village facing Pulau Dayang, one can take short trek up a well-trodden path to the back of the rock until you come to the base of the monolith. Then be careful for there will be a little extra work on climbing, squeezing between rocks and even climbing up a chimney. The rock surface can be slippery so please take precaution. If you wish to visit the other village to the back of the island, there is a coastal walk from Kampung Berhala right across, with well maintained steps most of the way. The trek takes approximately 1 hour each way and also takes you through some great views so bring along some water and camera for a longer than expected trek!
Diving at Aur
1. House wreck, Pulau Dayang
(dive difficulty: openwater and above)
Date: 28th October 2001
Time in : 0730 out: 0815
Decomp stop: - Depth: 10m(30') - 26m(80')
Current: none
Visibility: 5m(15')
On our last day at Aur, we decided that we shouldn't go too far for our first dive of the day so we opted for the house wreck instead. The house wrecks are actually two Thai fishing boats, confiscated by the Malaysian Marine Patrols for trespassing into Malaysian waters. The resort owners bought over the boats, unplugged the holes and sank them to create artificial reefs. We descended from the buoyline, which took us down about 80' (26m) to the first wreck. A group of squirrelfish and some fusiliers hung round the hull. This hull is pretty much what's left of the boat. Even after 2 years, coral growth has been extremely slow here, virtually non-existent actually! Between the 1st wreck and the 2nd wreck was sandy bed with little sproutings of hard coral. A pharaoh cuttlefish came along our way in search of an early morning feed. A large brown moray made its home under a few large blocks of concrete. From here, it is a short way to the jetty where a large school of fusiliers swarmed around divers upon ascent.
2. Pulau Pinang
(dive difficulty: openwater and above)
Date: 27th October 2001
Time in : 1430 out: 1510
Decomp stop: 15' 3min Depth: 20m(60')
Current: none
Visibility: 6(18')
Visibility was fairly poor on descent, so we kept to a depth of about 20m. A pleasant, easy dive where encounters with 2 huge pharaoh cuttlefish just five minutes into the dive was a real treat. Small patches of trunicates(sea squirts), soft hand corals, tennis ball sponges, sea whips & a few harp corals litter the area as were stag horns, table corals and a rather impressive bommie coral. Parrotfish, wrasse, titan triggerfish, fox face rabbitfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, fusiliers, map puffer, a large batfish at a cleaner station and lots of dacyllus, a shy barramundi, a large coral trout (grouper) resting under a table coral - all almost oblivious of us and going about their own afternoon routines. Superb introduction to the P.Aur dive sites.
3. Pinnacles 2, Aur
(dive difficulty: openwater and above)
Date: 27th October 2001
Time in : 1610 out: 1645
Decomp stop: 15' 3min
Depth: 18+m (50+')
Current: mild
Visibility: 5m(15')
One of the more popular sites at Aur. Pinnacles 2 is about 1/2hour by boat from P.Dayang and just a little distance from P.Pinang. Descending by buoyline to the bottom, we headed off on an anticlockwise direction round the pinnacle, taking us through sea whip gardens & plots of soft dendronepthya sp. This dive location is home to a large variety of juveniles - juvenile barracudas, lots of young groupers, fusiliers etc. the chromydia nudibranchs are often spotted on boulders and sometimes beautiful clusters of eggs are found close by. Just look out for colourful looking ladies' garters.
4. Rayner's Rock, Aur
(dive difficulty: openwater and above)
Date: 28th October 2001
Time in : 1000 out: 1040
Decomp stop: 15' 3min
Depth: 20m
Current: manageable
Visibility: 6m(18')
A 15min boat ride from Pulau Dayang Resort landed us at Rayner's Rock. We descended and drifted with the current taking us through a landscape of boulders, hard corals with a myriad of familiar denizens ie parrotfish, wrasse, seastars, dacyllus, damselfish, giant clams, puffers, batfish, butterflyfish. The rest of the time as we headed back round the boulder we had to swim against current and if there were any whale sharks, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins or even manta rays- well, the visibility surely cloaked them well from us! Rayner's Rock, however, is reputed to be the best place to chance upon the beautiful creatures mentioned.
Packing Checklist
- Swimsuit
- Snorkelling gear - mask, snorkel, fins, booties, life jacket (prescriptive mask if required)
- Diving equipment - mask, snorkel, fins, booties, regulator and octopus, BCD, dive table, dive logs, marine life ready reckoner, dive computers, knife, lycra or 3mm skin suits, gloves, underwater torches, dive watch - it's advisable to bring your own kit as rental can be expensive. If you require dive equipment best to inform the operators upon booking of package. Equipment rental is charged separately.
- Dive card
- Life jackets especially for children
- Waterproof pouches, torch
- Clothing - shorts, t-shirts, sarong, towel , light dress
- Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser, after-tan lotion, shampoo, soap, women's sanitary products, shaving foam and shaver, comb
- Sun block, mosquito repellent, mosquito netting, hammock
- Travel journal, reading material
- Binoculars
- Prescriptive medicine, dietary supplements, motion sickness tablets
- Some resorts require you to bring your own blankets and bath towels
- one more, leave your Ego behind!
Amenities
There is electricity on the island and run on normal 240V but may not be on 24hours
The general phones are at the reception and some resorts allow overseas call. However there is no Internet service on the island.
The resorts do not carry such facilities - Photo Developing There are no developing shops on the island. If required, Mersing town has 1 hour developing shops.
A few resorts will be able to change US dollars and Singapore Dollars.
The staff at all resorts can speak English but if need to, it will be best to talk to the reception for any enquiries, requests or grievances.
The resorts do sell some toiletries and some t-shirts and island souvenirs but nothing to shout about. The villages have sundry shops that can provide your basic needs such as toiletries, snacks, towels. DO NOT BUY any souvenirs made from corals, shells and other marine animals such as starfishes. Anyone found in possession of such items will be fined RM5,000. If the villagers don't know better, advise them not to exploit their environment. Even dead corals - the bleached ones sometimes found washed ashore should be left where it is found. Did you know that hermit crabs do not grow their own shells? ..they inhabit abandoned or empty shells. For all you shell collectors out there, have a thought for these poor, homeless creatures. Leave those shells where you found them!
If you're staying at the 'dive resorts', food and drinks are available. Beers are available at select resorts. Bring your own if need be. There are little cafes at Kampung Meriam.
Island Activity 
Getting There and Away
Best Time to Go