FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often about our
Tioman Island, Malaysia teen adventure.
Still have a question? Send us an email or submit an inquiry online.
We’re always happy to help.
01.
DO I NEED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?
No previous SCUBA diving, sea kayaking, or international travel experience is required.
First-time divers can work toward their PADI Open Water certification, while participants who are already certified can continue developing their skills. We also teach the kayaking and expedition skills participants need before setting out along Tioman’s coast.
Participants should arrive ready to be active, try new things, contribute to the group, and spend plenty of time outdoors.
02.
DO I NEED TO BE A STRONG SWIMMER?
Participants need to be comfortable in the water and meet the swimming requirements for their PADI course.
Because this trip includes SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, and sea kayaking, participants should feel reasonably confident in and around open water.
Families with questions about swimming ability should contact us before registering so we can talk through the requirements.
03.
HOW DOES THE SCUBA CERTIFICATION WORK?
Participants who are not already certified work toward their PADI Open Water Diver certification with professional dive instructors on Tioman Island.
Already-certified participants can work toward an Advanced Open Water certification, provided they meet the course requirements.
Training includes the required knowledge development, skills practice, and open-water dives. Certification is earned by successfully completing the requirements of the applicable PADI course.
04.
IS SCUBA DIVING SAFE?
SCUBA diving involves inherent risks, which is why our diving is conducted through professional dive operators and instructors following established training and safety standards.
Participants learn the necessary skills progressively before completing open-water dives, and dive plans take into account conditions, participant experience, and the requirements of the certification course.
Wild Traveler leaders remain involved with the group throughout the program while professional dive instructors manage the technical diving instruction.
05.
ARE THERE MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SCUBA DIVING?
Yes. Participants will need to complete the required medical screening for their SCUBA course.
Certain medical conditions, medications, or answers on the screening form may require clearance from a physician before a participant can dive.
Families receive the necessary forms before departure, and we strongly recommend completing them early so there is time to obtain medical clearance if needed.
06.
HOW PHYSICALLY DEMANDING IS THE TRIP?
Malaysia is an active trip.
Participants should be comfortable with full days outdoors in tropical heat and humidity, swimming and snorkeling, kayaking, carrying personal equipment, and hiking on steep and uneven jungle trails.
The Gunung Kajang hike is one of the more physically challenging days of the program. Participants do not need to be exceptional athletes, but arriving with a reasonable level of fitness will make the experience more enjoyable.
07.
WHAT IS THE SEA KAYAK EXPEDITION LIKE?
Before setting out, participants learn and practice the paddling and safety skills they will need.
We then load our boats and travel along Tioman’s coastline toward Mukut and the Dragon Horns, stopping along the way to explore, snorkel, hike, and camp.
Our exact route and plans can change depending on weather and sea conditions.
08.
HOW ARE PARTICIPANTS SUPERVISED?
Wild Traveler leaders travel with the group from our meeting at LAX until we return sixteen days later.
They are responsible for overall supervision, group management, and the participant experience. For specialized activities such as SCUBA diving, we work alongside professional local instructors and guides with expertise in those activities.
Participants also take on increasing age-appropriate responsibility for themselves, their equipment, and the group as the trip progresses.
09.
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE GETS SICK OR INJURED?
Wild Traveler leaders prepare for medical issues and changing conditions as part of every program.
Minor illnesses and injuries can often be managed within the group. If someone needs additional medical attention, we will arrange appropriate local care and communicate with their family.
Because parts of the program take place on an island, access to advanced medical care is different from being in a major city. Our leaders and local partners plan accordingly and can modify activities, arrange transportation, or evacuate a participant for additional medical care when necessary.
10.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
We provide a trip-specific packing list covering clothing, footwear, personal items, and equipment needed for the different parts of the program.
Specialized SCUBA equipment is provided through our dive operator, and group equipment for the kayak expedition is arranged as part of the program.
Our Gear Recommendations page also includes examples and suggested options for items that can be difficult to choose.
11.
WHAT WILL THE GROUP BE LIKE?
Wild Traveler trips are intentionally small-group experiences.
Participants travel, eat, explore, and take on challenges together throughout the sixteen days. Most teens arrive without knowing everyone else, and learning to live and travel well with the group becomes an important part of the experience.
Wild Traveler leaders remain with the group throughout the program.
12.
DO I NEED ANY VACCINATIONS TO TRAVEL TO TIOMAN ISLAND OR SINGAPORE?
There is no single vaccination recommendation that applies to every participant. We recommend that families review current CDC travel guidance for Malaysia and Singapore and speak with their healthcare provider before departure.
Participants should be up to date on routine vaccinations, and the CDC may recommend additional travel vaccines based on vaccination history, itinerary, and individual health considerations. We will also provide families with current pre-trip health information before departure.
13.
WHAT PASSPORT, VISA, AND HEALTH PREPARATION DO I NEED?
U.S. passport holders currently do not need to obtain tourist visas in advance for this itinerary. Participants should have a passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival in Malaysia. Malaysia and Singapore also currently require travelers to complete digital arrival forms shortly before entering each country.
Travel-health recommendations can change, so families should review current guidance and speak with their healthcare provider or travel-health clinic before departure.
Wild Traveler provides families with current travel-document and entry information before the trip. Participants traveling on passports from other countries should confirm the requirements that apply to their nationality.
14.
CAN I CALL FAMILY DURING THE TRIP?
Participants will not have regular unrestricted access to their phones during the trip so they can be more present with the group and the experience.
There will be opportunities to check in with family, and participants can contact home at other times if there is a reason they need or want to.
Families can also reach Wild Traveler leaders throughout the program if they need to contact the group.
15.
ARE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
Yes.
Round-trip group airfare is included in tuition. The group flies together from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur and returns to Los Angeles from Singapore.
Participants are responsible for getting to LAX at the beginning of the program and traveling home from LAX after the group returns. Detailed arrival and departure instructions are provided before the trip.
16.
WHAT WILL OUR DAYS BE LIKE?
There really isn't a typical day.
One morning might begin with a SCUBA dive over a coral reef, another with loading kayaks for a day along the coast, and another with hiking through rainforest or working alongside the Juara Turtle Project. Conservation activities depend on what the project needs during our visit and may include beach patrols, nest monitoring, hatchery work, habitat projects, or assisting with turtle releases when timing allows.
There are also slower moments for swimming, exploring Juara, sharing meals, playing games, and spending time together.
17.
WILL WE DO LAUNDRY DURING THE TRIP?
Yes. We will have opportunities to wash clothes during the trip, so participants do not need to pack sixteen days of clothing.
Our packing list will explain what to bring and how much.
18.
HOW DO WE TRAVEL?
Wild Traveler leaders meet the group at LAX and fly with participants to Kuala Lumpur.
From Kuala Lumpur, we travel across Peninsular Malaysia to Mersing and take a ferry across the South China Sea to Tioman Island. After our time on Tioman, we ferry back to the mainland and continue south to Singapore before flying together back to Los Angeles.
Wild Traveler leaders remain with the group throughout the journey.
19.
WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
Food is a big part of experiencing Malaysia and Singapore.
Participants can expect a mix of Malaysian dishes and familiar options, with influences from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other Southeast Asian cuisines. Rice, noodles, vegetables, chicken, seafood, fruit, soups, and curries are all common.
We also take part in a Malaysian cooking experience during our time on Tioman. Families should provide complete information about allergies and dietary needs during enrollment so we can determine whether they can be accommodated.
20.
WHERE DO WE STAY?
Accommodations change as we travel.
We stay in a mix of hotels, locally run accommodations, and simple island lodging, with a night camping during our sea kayak expedition.
On Tioman, our accommodations put us close to the communities and environments we are there to experience rather than separating the group inside a large resort.
