POM POM Island Resort

The scenery is unbeatable, with crystal clear 'glass-like' water, and it's not crowded, so it's quite peaceful. However, the signal on the island is really bad, and there's no Wi-Fi. It's best suited for a relaxing getaway where you just want to unwind.

Pretty good overall! The facilities are a bit old, but it's still a great stay. Turtles are everywhere, and there are plenty of fish. You don't have to worry about safety at all if you're bringing kids.

This is such a relaxing island, perfect for a vacation! 🌴 We went during the rainy season, which is considered off-peak, so there weren't many people. Every day at noon, there's a boat to pick up and drop off guests. We stayed for three days, and compared to peak season, it felt like there were never more than 20 guests in total. It's incredibly suitable for families with children, with shallow beaches, 🏖️ turtles, lush greenery, and an exceptionally beautiful natural environment! There are three hotels on the island, and Dragon Pearl seems to have the best facilities. They offer water villas, beach villas, and garden villas. The rooms are spaced appropriately, so you won't be bothered by neighbors. The beach villas have loungers on the porch and under the coconut trees in front, as well as hammocks, giving it a private beach feel. All rooms are equipped with life jackets 🦺, and upon arrival, there are clear signs in both Chinese and English advising guests to always wear a life jacket when in the water and to avoid swimming after 6 PM. The beach is large, the shallow water area is extensive, and the water is incredibly clear – like jelly! You can see the bottom even in two to three meters of water, making it perfect for snorkeling. Every day, island-hopping boats come to snorkel near the pier, where there's a clownfish nest. You can spot turtles daily from the pier, and the island even has a dedicated turtle hatching program, with occasional lectures and release events for baby turtles. The front desk and dive center can also arrange activities like scuba diving 🤿 and snorkeling. This was my first time trying scuba diving here, and because there were so few guests on the island, I got one-on-one instruction from the coach. I saw two turtles up close, truly within arm's reach! I even swam alongside a turtle during the ascent – incredibly lucky! For snorkeling, a dedicated staff member accompanied us with a swim ring 🛟, actively searching for turtles throughout the sea. The service for these small, boutique groups was fantastic! The island's front desk has Chinese-speaking staff, and while the dive center coaches speak English, you can always understand them through gestures and simple explanations. The reception area has a restaurant and a small shop, so the facilities are quite complete and convenient. Perhaps because it was the off-season and there were so few people, the meal options were a bit simple, but the food was delicious and definitely plentiful enough to fill you up. Finally, regarding the season, the rainy season wasn't bad at all. It didn't rain every day. We stayed for four full days, and it rained twice. The first time was at noon, a heavy downpour, but it was a thunderstorm that passed quickly and didn't disrupt our afternoon island-hopping and snorkeling. The second time was on the day we left; the rain was quite heavy, starting around 4 or 5 AM with loud pitter-patter sounds and thunder and lightning ⛈️ that you could hear from inside the room. It rained on and off for most of the morning. The temperature dropped a bit, but it was actually quite comfortable without the scorching sun. The waves were a bit stronger than usual, but I have to commend Dragon Pearl Hotel's location; as we walked along the beach, we could clearly see that the wind and waves calmed down significantly in front of the hotel. Even with the rain, the island-hopping boats for snorkeling kept coming. It was an incredibly comfortable trip! It's definitely worth visiting and worth revisiting!

This used to be called Pom Pom Island Dragon Pearl Resort, but now it has a new name. It's a 45-minute speedboat ride from Semporna jetty. This is a private island, free from tour groups and local disturbances. There are very few people on the island, so it feels like you have the whole island to yourself for three days, with only the sound of the waves for company. The 'jellyfish sea' lives up to its reputation. The shallow waters are vast and incredibly clear, even at two to three meters deep, where you can easily see coral and schools of fish. Every photo you take looks like a wallpaper. Sea turtles and clownfish are frequent visitors. The beach is spacious, and there are sun loungers and hammocks right outside the beach bungalows, giving you a true private beach experience. This time we stayed in a beach bungalow. The facilities are indeed dated – wooden structure, and electricity relies on its own system, with two short power outages every day (something to consider if this bothers you). However, the cleaning was very thorough. The ant problem was quite prominent, so remember to put away all food. The room comes with life jackets, and upon arrival, guests are reminded to wear them when swimming and that swimming is prohibited after 6 PM. Safety warnings are visible everywhere. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are buffet-style, with very limited choices and ordinary taste. The only fruits available are watermelon and papaya, rotated daily. Perhaps because there are so few guests, the food replenishment is also slow. Don't go with high expectations; just consider it as a way to refuel. Tips: There's no WiFi on the island, and mobile signal is sporadic. The service is neither good nor bad, not particularly enthusiastic. The facilities are old, but the scenery and tranquility are its strong points. If you're looking for luxury and comfort, I'd advise against it.

The room was very clean, and the hot water supply was consistently stable, which is a rare find in Malaysia, especially on an island. The island scenery is beautiful, and you can enjoy free snorkeling. It would be even better if the facilities were a bit more comprehensive and the variety of food could be increased. Overall, it was a very good stay.

Compared to other islands, this place offers incredible value for money. It's a 45-minute boat ride from the mainland, quite a distance, but the water quality is far superior to those popular overwater bungalows just a few minutes offshore! The shuttle service and Chinese-speaking butler were both very patient. The whole island is quite large, and even though it was off-season, it's definitely worth a visit. Next to the restaurant, you can rent snorkeling gear for 20 MYR a day, so you can go snorkeling anytime, or book island-hopping tours to nearby islands.

The environment is absolutely fantastic, no doubt about that, it's just that the facilities are indeed old. The buffet taste is decent, acceptable. Another thing is that you can't access the sea directly from your room.