Around 2,500 visitors gathered at Tanjung Rhu yesterday morning to witness the rare “split sea” phenomenon, a once-a-year natural event that transformed the coastline into a walkable sandbank and revealed vibrant marine life beneath shallow waters.
The spectacle began at about 7am and lasted for roughly 90 minutes, during which the extreme low tide exposed a 1km stretch of sand linking Pantai Tanjung Rhu to Pulau Kelam Baya. Normally submerged under waters as deep as 2.5 metres during high tide, the seabed became accessible, allowing visitors to stroll across while observing marine ecosystems up close.
Many seized the opportunity to record the unusual sight, capturing images and videos of starfish, seahorses, octopus and coral formations visible along the exposed seabed.
Rosemah Abdul Hadi, 28, from Kampar, Perak, said the experience offered a rare chance to appreciate marine habitats at close range. “I saw so many types of sea creatures, including starfish, seahorses and even octopus. It truly made my holiday in Langkawi worthwhile,” she said.
Another visitor, Ruzita Mohd Salleh, 30, from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, said she deliberately booked accommodation near Tanjung Rhu to fully enjoy the event. “I arrived very early and was among the first to walk along the sandbank. I managed to take plenty of photos of marine life around Pulau Kelam Baya,” she said.
Langkawi Development Authority deputy chief executive officer (planning and development) Wan Kamarul Faisal Wan Kamardin said the phenomenon had been actively promoted as a tourism attraction over the past five years and continued to draw strong public interest.
“An estimated 2,500 visitors, including locals and tourists, arrived as early as 5.30am to witness the extreme low tide and experience walking along the 1km sandbank,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Marine Department Northern Region director Abd Majid Rais confirmed that sea levels around Langkawi dropped to approximately 0.1 metres during the phenomenon, enabling the rare natural occurrence to take place.
