Pulau Biola is a tiny islet in the southern extremities of the southern islands of Singapore, just above the international boundary, sandwiched tightly between Pulau Senang to its north, and the Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu to its south. With a land area of approximately 4,000 square metres, the islet is a premier dive spot, for its coral reefs and marine life are reputed to be of higher quality than elsewhere off Singapore. Its Malay name 'biola' has Portuguese origins and means violin. It must refer to the shape of the island, for a 1775 map by Bellin outlined the islet to resemble a violin, or perhaps more of a lute, complete with two pegs protruding at one end and rounded soundboard at the other.
Location
Pulau Biola is a tiny islet in the southern extremities of the southern islands of Singapore, just above the international boundary, sandwiched tightly between the relatively bulky Pulau Senang to its north, and Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu to its south. A small islet with a land area of 0.4 hectares, or approximately 4,000 square metres, it is coincidentally of a similar size as its neighbour, Pulau Satumu.
Together with nine other offshore islands, Pulau Biola is administered by the Sentosa Development Corporation on behalf of the Singapore Government.
Coral reef diving spot
Pulau Biola is today a premier dive spot for its coral reefs and marine life. Whilst the waters off Pulau Biola can be rough, coral reefs and marine life around the islet are of a higher quality than elsewhere off Singapore. There are thus frequent boat trips to the island, except during the northeast monsoon season (from November to January) when the sea is rough and underwater visibility poor.
Historical name
In Malay, 'pulau' means an island or a piece of rising ground in a sea. The Malay word 'biola' is of Portuguese origin and means violin. This possibly refers to the shape of the islet. Pulau Biola is also known by its English name, Rabbit Island. The origin of this intriguing name is not apparent.
Contrary to its seeming insignificance, Pulau Biola must have been regarded as an important navigational feature in days well before Singapore was colonised, particularly since the Raffles Lighthouse had yet to be built. The islet was depicted in a 1775 navigational map by Jacques Nicholas Bellin, an accomplished French cartographer. The highlight of this map, to present-day historians, is the reference to Singapore island as Pulo or Isle Panjang (which means Long Island). Labeled as Isle la Viole, Pulau Biola appears as a speck just above Detroit du Gouverneur (which means strait of the governor). Its location on the map at the southern tip of the southern islands of Singapore approximates its present location. In addition, its outline does indeed resemble a violin, or perhaps more of a lute, complete with two pegs protruding at one end and rounded soundboard at the other.
Author
Khor Kok Kheng
References
Chou L. M. (1988). A guide to the coral reef life of Singapore (p.12-13). Singapore: Singapore Science Centre
(Call No. RSING 574.526367095957 CHO).
Dunlop, P.K.G. (2000). Street names of Singapore (p.249). Singapore: Who's Who Publishing.
(Call No RSING 959.57 DUN [HIS])
Eliot J. and Bickersteth J. (1999). Singapore handbook (p.157). Bath: Lincolnwood, Ill: Footprint Handbooks Ltd.
(Call No RSING 915.957045 ELI-[TRA])
Singapore (1953). Annual report (Singapore) (p.230). Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Microfilm No.: NL 6551)
Henrey, L. (1982). Coral reefs of Malaysia and Singapore (p.69-70). Kuala Lumpur: Longman.
(Call No RSING 551.4209595 HEN).
Ministry of Culture, Singapore. (1974). Singapore facts and pictures 1974 (p.215). Singapore: Ministry of Culture, Singapore.
(Call No.RSING 959.57 SMCFFS1974)
Ministry of Culture, Singapore. (1979). Singapore facts and pictures 1979 (p.255). Singapore: Ministry of Culture, Singapore.
(Call No. RSING 959.57 SMCFFS1979)
Sentosa Development Corporation (1993/94). Annual report (p.30). Singapore: Sentosa Development Corporation.
(Call No. RSING 354.5957092 SDCAR)
Sheppard, M. (Ed.). (1982). Singapore 150 years (p.142-143). Singapore: Published for the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society by Times Books International.
(Call No. RSING 959.57 SIN-[HIS]).
SNP Corporation (1998-99). Singapore street directory (19th edn.) (p.12). Singapore: SNP Corporation.
(Call No. RSING 959.57 SSD-[DIR]).
Survey Department, Singapore. (1957). Street directory and guide to Singapore with sectional maps (4th edn.) (Map B: Singapore Electoral Divisions). Singapore: Survey Department, Singapore.
(Call No. RCLOS 959.57 year 1957)
Wilkinson, R. J. (1952). An abridged MalayEnglish dictionary (romanised) (p. 20, 189). London: Macmillan & Co Ltd.
(Call No. RCLOS 499.230321 MAL-[RFL]).
The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
