In the movies tropical beaches are always pictured the same: blue-green crystal clear water, flawless sand and coconut trees swaying in the breeze. Unfortunately real life isn’t like that… well, not unless you seek out the D’Coconut Lagoon in Pulau Lang Tengah, Terengganu.

This picturesque resort is a stunning location for the perfect quite getaway. When translated from Bahasa Malaysia, Pulau Lang Tengah means an “Eagle resting on the middle island”. Lang Tengah is a small island between the much bigger sister islands of Perhentian and Redang. D’Coconut Lagoon has two isolated and idyllic stretches of pristine white sandy beach which offer tranquil ambience and at the same time delivers a unique ensemble for marine life and nature lovers.

The east and west wings at D’Coconut Lagoon house 49 rooms, including three cabanas, with a serene and breathtaking view of the sea. All rooms come complete with air conditioning, attached bathroom with hot water shower. Some rooms even come with a luxurious bathtub for a perfect soak in paradise.

The restaurants are nestled among tall coconut palms and rainforest setting with an idyllic view of the lagoon and turquoise crystal clear waters and serve popular Malaysian and western cuisine. Both east and west wings are each equipped with one swimming pool. The quiet and peacefulness of D’Coconut Lagoon make it a haven for honeymooners as well.

This jewel off the coast of Terengganu is a famous and sought after snorkelling and diving spot – fit for both the avid diver and rookies. The resort manager, Azmi, who is also a certified diver, took time out of his busy schedule to regale us about the many underwater treasures one might find. “You are sure to come across black-tip sharks, bumphead parrot fish, clown fish, anemones and sea slugs. The corals here are well preserved as no fishing or jet skiing is allowed on the waters…this will damage the marine life,” he said. Other underwater species you can see here are scorpion fish, hermit crabs, pipe fish (family of sea horses), bamboo sharks, nurse sharks – also known as catfish – as wellas yellow box fish (think SpongeBob Squarepants).

There are about 15 dive sites and seven snorkelling sites around Pulau Lang Tengah. Nearby Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Bidong, offer more than 30 dive sites at shallow to medium depths. According to Azmi, there are two deep-diving areas at Pulau Lang Tengah reaching a maximum depth of 32 metres while others are between 18 to 24 metres deep. While there, one can opt for scuba diving lessons to be a certified diver under the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). It just takes four days to be certified. Night diving excursions are available for those up for a challenge. Encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks and barracudas and leopard sharks are almost assured around the tiny coral island. The dive centre is well equipped with experienced instructors and knowledgeable dive masters who are more than willing to take you to the dive spots around the island.

For those who prefer subdued activities such as reading or board games, D’Coconut Lagoon is the place to have a lazy weekend. If you want to have a bit of a work out, go bush walking within the lush jungle which surrounds the lagoon.

Those planning to visit D’Coconut Lagoon will happy to know that a newly built spa will be open come early May. The Coco Spa will have a team of professional Balinese masseurs to offer the best aromatherapy and massage treatments to make your holiday all the more enjoyable.

There are various ways to get to Pulau Lang Tengah. The closest departure point to the island is from a town called Merang, about 38 kilometres north of Kuala Terengganu. Kuala Terengganu is accessible from most major towns or cities either by road or by air. The journey from Kuala Terengganu airport to Merang takes 25 minutes by taxi. Speedboat transfers are merely 40 minutes from Merang. Express coaches leave Kuala Lumpur and Singapore respectively at 8.00pm or 10pm and arrive at Kuala Terengganu at 6.00am. Alternatively, visitors can fl y to Pulau Redang airstrip and transfer via speedboat to Pulau Lang Tengah with special arrangements. Travel time is about 15 minutes.

Aside from D’Coconut Lagoon in Pulau Tengah, there is also the D’Coconut Island Resort situated on the island of Pulau Besar , Johor. Formally known as Pulau Babi Besar and gazetted as a Marine Park, visitors to D’Coconut Island Resort will be able to visit the nearby islands of Pulau Mensirip, Pulau Hujung, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Harimau, and even Pulau Tengah as an alternative for snorkelling and diving.

For more information or reservations, call the Kuala Lumpur Sales & Reservation office at 03.4252 6686, 03.4296 5753 or email sales@dcoconutlagoon.com or visit www.dcoconutlagoon.com