Ever heard the tale of two islands born from sisterly love? Welcome to Big Sister’s Island.
Big Sister’s Island is one of Singapore’s Southern Islands. It sits just south of the main island. This beautiful place is reachable by boat. You can catch a ride from Marina South Pier or West Coast Pier.
Big Sister’s Island is also known as Pulau Subar Laut in Malay. It covers about 39000 square meters. It faces the open sea.
The legend of Sisters’ Islands tells of two orphaned sisters. Their names were Minah and Linah. They lived with their uncle. One day, Linah met pirates. The pirate chief wanted to marry her. The sisters were torn apart. During a storm, Minah drowned trying to save Linah. Linah then jumped into the sea. The next day, two islands appeared. These were where the sisters were last seen.
Another story says the sisters were blown onto two separate islands during a storm. A third version says God turned them into islands. This ensured they could be together forever. People say that every year there are storms on the day the sisters became islands.
Today, Big Sister’s Island is open to the public. Little Sister’s Island is not. This is because it houses a turtle hatchery.
In 2014, the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park was established. It spans 160000 square meters. This includes the waters around the islands. The park also covers parts of St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor.
The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park is managed by the National Parks Board. It allows visitors to learn about Singapore’s marine habitats. You can enjoy guided walks. Divers can explore dive trails. A Marine Park Public Gallery is on St. John’s Island. It showcases Singapore’s marine biodiversity.
Snorkeling is popular here. Many come to picnic and camp. Big Sister’s Island even has long-tailed macaques.
Big Sister’s Island is home to rich reefs. You will find many corals. Common sea life includes hard corals, nudibranchs and octopus.
You must travel via St John’s Island to reach Big Sister’s Island. The ferry ride takes about 40 minutes. It is a great way to see more of Singapore’s southern islands.
Enjoy the peace of Big Sister’s Island. Remember the legend of sisterly love. This love created these tranquil islands.