Shaped like a violin. That’s what makes Pulau Biola so unique. Violin Island. That’s its charming English name. But did you know its Malay name Pulau Biola actually means Violin Island? This tiny islet. Nestled off Singapore’s southwestern coast. It’s a hidden gem. A world of vibrant marine life and untouched coral reefs.
Pulau Biola. A small island. Only 0.4 hectares. Sandwiched between Pulau Senang and Pulau Satumu. Home to Raffles Lighthouse. It’s part of the New Southern Islands Live Firing Area. Declared in 1982. A place of both beauty and restricted access.
For divers. Pulau Biola is legendary. Its reefs are described as the most untouched in Singapore waters. A haven for marine organisms. A plethora of coral species. The island is also a sanctuary for rare plants. Pelir musang. Purslane. Mentigi. Critically endangered. Found in only a few other locations in Singapore.
But its history is even more intriguing. Long before Singapore’s British colonization. Pulau Biola was important. A navigational landmark. Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. A French cartographer. He marked it on a 1755 map. He depicted it as a violin or perhaps a lute. Its shape. Clearly visible. Even on an old map.
It was then called Isle la Viole. A speck above the Governor’s Strait. Its position. Precisely where it sits today. A testament to its enduring significance. A small island. Yet. It holds a big story. A story of nature. History. And a shape that resembles a musical instrument. A story waiting to be explored. Violin Island. A treasure. Tucked away. In Singapore’s southern waters.