Pulau Hantu (Ghost Island)

The Basics

Backed by the petrochemical tanks and towers of nearby Pulau Bukom (Bukom Island), Ghost Island doesn’t offer the most attractive photo backdrop. But local scuba divers love what’s under the water. Macro photographers thrill to gaudily colored sea slugs and nudibranchs, while seahorses, cuttlefish, pipefish, and Spanish dancers, named for their scarlet mantles which twirl like a flamenco dancer’s skirt, can also be seen.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Hantu Island will mainly be of interest to experienced scuba divers with an interest in muck diving and/or macro photography.
• You can walk across the lagoon between the two islands at low tide. Wear swimming shoes to protect against coral and keep an eye on the tide to avoid being stranded.
• Both islets have shelters, and there’s a public bathroom on Big Ghost Island (Pulau Hantu Besar).
• There are no shops or cafés on the islands. Bring everything you need for the day, including food and plenty of water.
• Pulau Hantu is not wheelchair accessible.

How to Get There

Hantu Island lies just off Bukom Island (Pulau Bukom) to the south of Singapore, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) southwest of Sentosa Island. While public ferries run to Bukom from Pasir Panjang, there is no service to Hantu. Hire a boat on the West Coast Pier or join a dive trip.

When to Get There

The waters around Hantu Island are far from clear, and visiting after rain can reduce visibility to just 3–6 feet (1–2 meters). Aim to visit on a clear day, although dive trips usually only run on weekends.

Diving in Singapore

Singapore is such a compact nation that many locals head to neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia for clearer waters, fewer big ships, and more by way of marine life. But if you want to dive the island itself there are options. Besides Pulau Hantu, Sisters’ Island Marine Park (Pulau Subar Laut) offers a couple of dive trails, with coral and sea fans, as well as a shallow wreck suitable for more advanced divers.