Sisters' Islands

The Sisters' Islands are made up of two small islands.

Big Sister Island, or Pulau Subar Laut, is about 3.9ha and faces the open sea and Small Sister Island, or Pulau Subar Darat, is only 1.7ha and faces the mainland.

The origin of the islands' name came from a legend. A widow had two beautiful daughters, Minah and Lina, who were very close and inseparable. One day, as Lina was fetching water from a well near the sea, an Orang Laut (sea people) chief saw her and fell in love with her. He took her against her will in his sampan and the two sisters were separated.

Just then, a huge storm broke out and the sea turned black. Minah drowned in the choppy waters as she tried desperately to swim to the sampan. On seeing this, Lina managed to free herself from her captor and jumped into the sea after her sister.

The next day after the storm had passed, the Orang Laut were shocked to see that two islands had formed at the spot where the sisters had drowned.

The Sisters' Islands boast rich marine life as well as a variety of hard and soft coral reefs. It is not uncommon to encounter a giant clam, octopus or sea horse. The white sandy beaches and inviting blue waters make snorkelling at the islands a popular pastime.

The islands are also favourite spots for camping and picnicking.

Getting There
Hired boats.

Tel: 1800-SENTOSA (736 8672) / 65 6275 0388

Related books
Isles of Singapore