Seeing Singapore Sooner than Never: UBIN SERIES 3: Environs of Pulau Ubin

UBIN PART 3: Environs of Pulau Ubin

In the 3rd part of the Ubin Series, we cover not Pulau Ubin itself, but the environs of Pulau Ubin. As we know, the surroundings of Pulau Ubin is dotted with Fish Farms. It has a lifestyle of its own! Moreover, next to Pulau Ubin its another island Pulau Ketam. The Environs consist of:

1) Southern Environ

2) Northern Environ

3) Pulau Ketam & Ketam Channel

Southern Environs of Pulau Ubin

An offshore Fish Farm in Singapore (2017)

After hitting Pulau Seletar etc in a kayaking trip in 2017, we went pass a few of our very own local off shore Fish Farms (kelongs), did a Mangrove kayak at Pulau Ubin as well as by passed Pulau Ketam! Who knew that these places were so lively!

Little did anyone know that here, in the middle of our own waters there are so many fish farms! Most of them can be found here:

1.395092, 103.964270

Many of these farms are floating houses where fishermen fish and stay. Did you know, there is even a floating Kelong restaurant "Smith Marine" that you can dine at?

So kayaking along these kelongs, some of them really own many dogs and they start barking at you as you get close. Whoa! In any case, enjoy the pictures!

Kelongs seen from a distance (2017)

We went close up to one of them. Woof Woof! The dogs will scare you off! (2017)

Woof!

This is how it looks like with many kelongs. What a bustling local fishing trade Singapore have! (2017)

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Update (16 Feb 2020): Smith Marine

So apart from some of the kelongs we can see in the northern shores of Singapore, you can dine at one of the Kelongs called Smith Marine!

Smith Marine Floating Restaurant (2020)

To get to Smith Marine, you can berth alongside the restaurant on your kayak or boat. If you dont have any of these, you can arrange a boat service from the restaurant too!

Here, they have super fresh seafood! The squid was super good. They are not the cheapest though. They also have a sure catch kelong where customers can catch their own fish and tell the kitchen the style of cooking they prefer. For the non seafood though, it is not the best tasting.

If you intend to come. you should pre-order your food so they can make adequate preparation.

Fresh Fish

Sure catch Fish Kelong (2020)

One thing about Smith Marine is that it is a fascinating place to hang out. With views overlooking Serangoon Harbour in the middle of the water, what more can one ask for? Some say this place has the best Sunset.

Our boat alongside Smith Marine: Free Parking! (2020)

Northern Shores of Pulau Ubin

Up to the North of Ubin, it is a really quiet place dotted with Kelongs here and there. Generally, Ubin to the north is well fenced up to deter illegal immigrants from chionging in. The North of Ubin is also characterized by 3 disused Beacon: Kiri, Bamap and East Nanas

Kelong: Northern Kelongs are more peaceful then Southern ones (2020/2021)

Check out disused Kiri Beacon and a well fenced Pulau Ubin (2020/2021)

M'sia just opposite. No borders. See a vessel being sand on the beach? (2020/2021)

Typical peaceful kelong on Northern Shores (2020/2021)

Nearing one of the North Ubin Kelong: Calm Waters (2020/2021)

Another View (2020/2021)

NPCC campsite jetty Sep 2020

NPCC campsite Jetty Jul 2021

Spotted a few kayakers doing fishing near disused Bamap Beacon (2020/2021)

East Nanas Beacon on a outlying rock off Pulau Ubin (2021)

The Northern shores of Pulau Ubin along Johor Straits is much peaceful and quieter then the area at Serangoon Harbour. Def a place to relax.

We also took the chance to take a photo from afar of Pulau Tekong Kechil and its reclamation.

Trees in background as original P Tekong Kechil. Sandy areas will be new reclaimed land. (2020/2021)

Malang Papan Beacon off P Sekudu (2020/2021)

Overall, I prefer the north of Pulau Ubin waters as compared to the south as it is way more quiet and peaceful.

Nautical map from Navionics showcasing the shallows of Pulau Ubin at Sep 2020.

Pulau Ketam

Pulau Ketam is located at 1.404188, 103.948993

While it looks like one whole island on Google Maps (see below). It is actually split up! We dident know that until we needed to Kayak through it to get to our final destination: Pasir Ris Park. Too bad we did not get to explore this island.

Pulau Ketam on Google maps looks like one whole island

Kayaking through Pulau Ketam! See the separation between the island? (2017)

That's it on our 2 part series of our kayaking trip from Sungei Simpang, Khatib Bongsu, Seletar Island, Offshore Fish Farms in Singapore, Pulau Ubin Mangroves and Pulau Ketam!

(Update on 7 Jul 2021 on P Ketam as we visited it again!)

What a better way than to show our approach into the Ketam Channel? We subsequently anchored in between Ubin and Ketam.

Here, we enjoy the calm waters and serenity at the Ketam Channel. (Jul 21). As we can see from the video where many boats are anchored in the background is a location near the old Celestial Resort on Pulau Ubin which is now under development for an Education Centre.