Introduction
Top class diving and snorkelling are among the charms of the Malay Peninsula's east coast.
This is a quiet and more conservative region than the more heavily populated west coast that lies on the other side of the jungle-covered Barisan Titiwangsa mountain range.
The east remains a less-travelled part of the country, but has plenty to offer - not least its stunning and largely unspoilt offshore islands, lined by some of the country's best beaches.
If you plan to dive or snorkel then the best time to visit is between February and September, in order to avoid the monsoon season when seas can be rough and some hotels are closed. Outside of this period, however, the islands are utterly beguiling.