Sisters' Island Exploration

Hi Blog,

There was one thing which made my Feb of 2020 an exciting one - which is a trip to Sister's Island! :D TS, the organiser of our Pulau Hantu trip previously.

On my way to Marina South Pier where TS was gathering everyone, and nearer to Sister's Island.

So excited as you can see from my ugly face. Because to visit sister's Island, you need to charter a boat of your own, just like Pulau Hantu.

TS made an itinerary and things to take note of. (I just simply copy the whole content of what he had written so you can take it as you are going to)

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𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗲𝗻𝗱. It will see the marine park get an additional 500 sq m of reef area to support existing habitat enhancement & reef restoration efforts to conserve marine biodiversity.

Singapore's southern Sisters' Islands, together with its surrounding waters, has been designated as the first-ever marine park in the nation's history.

And when the tide goes low at Big Sister's Island, we can see many other marine life at the shores, without having to snorkel or dive, i.e. NEMO clownfish, sea anemone, brittle starfish, sea cucumbers, worm cast, moon snail, and nudibranch. And if you are really lucky, you might just chance upon a very rare sighting of a baby reef shark.

𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀: Unlike fireflies, glowworms, and other bioluminescent creatures, these brilliant corals don't glow on their own. Instead, they absorb one colour of light and emit light of another colour— a process known as fluorescence. Fluorescent objects absorb light at certain wavelengths, and then reemit it. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨.

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 UV 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙚'𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪.
Many corals (and sometimes other reef organisms, as you’ll see) fluoresce under UV light, and that lends to the reef a surreal and psychedelic feel if you SCUBA at night and bring a blacklight with you. In this case, the corals absorb the UV, which we can’t see, and they re-emit it in the visible wavelengths that we can, and so the corals appear to glow or emit their own light because they are. The effect is quite stunning. 𝗕𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗨 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀!

On 1633 𝙝𝙧𝙨, 𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙩 @ 0.4 𝙢. 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝘼𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖, 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨 & 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙨 & 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝 (𝙚𝙨𝙥. 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨) 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩.

We have limited slots available only, due to the size of the ferry.
This event is suitable for people of all ages. We need a min. 10 pax for this event.

Come explore with us, be our eyes, and see what other interesting life you get to see on Big Sister's Island. Singapore's very own Marine Park.

Program:
◙ Assemble at Marina South Pier & collect dinner pack
◙ Ferry to Big Sister's Island
◙ Compulsory briefing on Minimizing our impact on the island
◙ Guided Big Sister's Island & marine life at low tide
◙ Self-Heating dinner + tea/coffee
◙ Guided 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀
◙ Depart to Lazarus for Night Walk
◙ Ferry back

► You are to bring
✅ 1.5 litre of tap water
✅ Personal Utensil & Cup
✅ Insects repellent
✅ Torchlight
✅ Covered shoe
** Please do not use hammocks on the island.

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Arrived and it was unusual for my brain to process this scene because I was so used to arriving here in the morning but now I was here in the afternoon.

TS was gathering everyone and told me that there were a lot of members who cancelled this trip and had extra slots. Oh man, if I had known earlier, I would have asked my friends to tag along! It is bad when most of my friends keep on thinking that I don't jio them and forget what circumstances I am in. Sigh...

Back to the harbour :)

Today we will be taking different types of boat

Here was our chartered boat

let's sail off now!

The boat bladed through the sea to the unexplored island

Weeeeeee

Finally, there is a chance to see the back of Sir John Island and it seems like it is accessible.

Sister's Island was ahead. I read somewhere there was a legend behind the naming of the island. To summarise, two close sisters were living with their uncle and a group of pirates started to raid the town, then the chief pirate fell in love with the elder sister, and wanted to take her away in exchange for her uncle and sister's live. While she was taken away to the ship, the younger sister wanted to be with her sister and swam in the sea but drowned eventually. The elder sister saw the situation and decided to join her sister... Then a thunderstorm swept the sea and their bodies could not be found. After the stormy night, the villagers spotted two newly risen islands where the two sisters might have drowned; so they named those islands "sister's Island".

On the left (big Sister Island) and right (small Sister Island), both sisters look about the same size.

We were the first team sailing to Sister's Island and TS will lead another two more groups behind (some latecomers). As for me, I can't wait to step foot on that island!

But still a distance away...

Closer... Closer...

Safe Landed!

We will visit Pulau Subar Laut means Big Sister Island which is open for public-visit while Pulau Subar Darat means Small Sister Island is not open to the public due to marine animals living undisturbed on the island.

Look at how clean the seawater is (can't compare with other famous islands)

(Credit E for the picture) Smile everyone. For me, I finally made it.

Just like Pulau Hantu, thin trees reached the sky and looked like this island had an autumn season

Check out the island residents - monkeys. Hope I wish to bring Hantu-monkey here to return to his clan.

The monkeys just chilled and looked out for potential victims who brought food in colourful bags.

A simple message from NEA for Park Etiquette we should have

Welcome-sign stands in front of a thick wood :)

A simple path and island layout, you won't get lost on this island

based on TS's info, when we landed at Sister's Island around 330pm which was the time when low tide was about to start, that was the time for me to start my exploration alone!

What a clean sand as compared to Pulau Hantu!

Those plants somehow interested me... for the ecosphere.

Most of the corals and marine creatures were exposed

I am really impressed with how clean the shore is. Let me show you what I had found.

Weird green plants like

Many corals spotted - clearly in front of me

The water was so CLEAR, you could see a pistol shrimp and it was everywhere

Hmmm, Portidae or mushroom type Coral. With the help of this link, I can name it properly.

Massive Coral and it was everywhere! Just look at how big is this! It took them many many years to grow to this size!

Look! What did we find here?

A giant Hermit crab! it was not shy in front of me

but when it was picked up, it would hide within the shell. I guessed it is very camera-shy

Even another one and also a camera-shy

I guess once it is in water, it will feel comfortable in its own space; just like myself... living in my own space.

:) Thanks for saying hi

As I walked further...

I noticed one massive coral overturned. So I helped to its upright position.

ooo A red thing XD

More corals in different colours, sizes and shapes spotted

I had arrived at the edge of the lagoon and now it was at the lowest peak of low tide.

It seemed deserted but in fact... here is filled with life forms.

Oops I deleted and lost that video :-(

Listen to the sound of this place. Did you hear a lot of snapping? Yes, those were from the piston shrimps.

OH OH! Something came out!

It is a hairy crab!

Looks like a Chewbacca! Hahaha!

a giant sea anemone spotted

Looking back from where I stood. I had walked that far!

Spotted a lot of these weird marine plant-like creatures.

OOOO! This snail owner is a big gastropod (Calliostoma virescens) and when it died, Hermit crab took over.

Sea Roach, just like isopod. They are cute.

Time to return to the shore as the second group is coming.

TS gathered everyone and had a simple briefing session

TS told us there were other places to explore while it was low tide.

OH! Another lagoon.

Did you see something special?

ooooo! Sea Star hiding in the sand

Let's check the little feet of a Sea Star

OH! it is the same sea anemone which I saw in Pulau Hantu if you can remember.

Spotted another Hermit Crab and it is so cute.

Sea cucumber is everywhere

The kids claimed they found Clownfish but I better leave them with their parents than a weirdo comes into their zone.

OH man! Sea slut! Not Slut! I meant Slug.

Some simple and small coral in blue.

Another smaller sea slug

OH MY GOD! I can't believe to see a life Bobbit Worm in SG!

(Images from one of the visitors) They witnessed that Bobbit Worm was about to attack the sea slug and lucky, the sea slug escaped from its jaw.

Caught a smaller crab and tried my best to engage with other visitors. But they are interested in this guy :) I become its wingman.

Wow! This is one BIG coral!

Some of the beautiful corals too

Exploring :) What a scene when we just simply awed by whatever the shore showed to us.

Windy and clean water are a reward to me

I was trying to video the Hermit Crab steps out from its shell but it is TOO shy.

I guess I will take it when they are in the water. Here is a smaller hermit crab.

(Image from one of the visitors) They spotted Clown fish :D But got irritated when they kept on saying "Nemo Nemo"! THIS IS A CLOWNFISH! Don't ask why it is a CLOWN! WHO IS STUPID TO NAME IT THIS WAY or WE ARE STUPID TO DON'T GET IT?!

Lastly, a cute sea hare :3

There is something simpler on the land too.

And complex ones - family of monkeys

There is one toilet but no working water system. Just washing your legs will do. If you need to shxt, it is best to do it before you come to Sister's Island because you can't flush it and the smell will stay... be considerate.

I tried the shore near the harbour and this place looks rather rocky.

Here, you can see the great formation of the ancient rock which grows and washes for years.

I returned to the first lagoon and the water resided a lot.

At least, I got a chance to find a sea urchin. :) Nice :D

Beautiful Sunset at Sister's Island

Sadly, TS wanted to use my UV torch to show the visitors the luminous corals but we needed to leave this island by 730pm and this month, the sun will set later... it was so bright, that my UV torch won't work well. So I just had to show the visitors the photos taken from Hantu.

Time to go to Lazarus Island for dinner where monkeys aren't around

Let me show you around

Families, couples and friends. me a nerd smiling and entertaining myself. LOL

Time to sail to Lazurus Island

Pitch dark and this timing is perfect for viewing the corals under UV torch

Here we will have to sail past St John Island

My First time witnessing ST John Island at night and now I was so excited because got to visit Lazurus Island at night too!

Bluewater turned into black. Scary :3

loud music can be heard from this bright yacht

The only place where there are lamps located at the harbour of Lazarus

After that, it will be a pitch dark path waiting for you

In fact, you don't even need a torch. Miss Moon was leading the path.

We gathered near the toilet (the only toilet) to have dinner

meanwhile, the wealthy youngsters were having fun with loud music and partying their lives

Thanks TS for cooking this for me.

I walked to the beach and brought a couple to the beach, then told them to come to Lazarus Island in the daytime. :) I hope both of them do well in the future.

It was 930pm, time to go back to Singapore.

Thanks TS and some visitors for being approachable :) it was not easy for an introvert to feel happy and I hope you will enjoy the trip as I do too.

Jeff