Situated
approx. 6.5km south of Singapore, St.
John's Island - a beautiful and serene island, is
famous for having a penal settlement but today it is a perfect getaway
spot to relax, swim and suntan. Other facilities include picnic
areas, trekking routes, holiday bungalow (from S$52.50 for 4 days)
and cosy dormitories at the Holiday Camps (can take up to 60 persons,
from S$63 per day) are managed by Sentosa. No food or drinks on
sale on the island.
The
39-hectare island is also a haven for a host of flora and fauna.
St. John's natural shores is ringed by coral reefs with a variety
of hard and soft corals. Fiddler crabs can be seen in the mudflats
of the mangrove areas during low tide. The island also has small
patches of mangroves.
For many of Singapore's immigrants, St.
John's Island (previously known as Pulau Sekijang
Bendara) was the first place of disembarkation. Here, they were
registered and screened for disease. Immigrants who were found to
be carriers of tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, typhoid, etc were
quarantined on the island.
When
the island ceased to be a screening centre, it became a colony for
cholera patients. It has since also been used as a drug rehabilitation
centre and a place of exile for political dissidents. In recent
times, the western end of the island hosts a $30 million Marine
Aquaculture Centre. With effect from 21 November 2006, ferries departs
from Marina South Pier instead. Ferry services will no longer run
from Sentosa's ferry terminal.
There
is no guided tours on St. John Island. You may want to visit Lazarus
Island, opposite of St. John Island. You can get
to the Island on foot via a link.

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