Other tales narrate of killer eddies and whirlpools becoming the watery graves of unsuspecting sailors blackening the shores of this beach. Yet another legend speaks of a fisherman having incurred the wrath of a mermaid whose ring he stole. The mermaid's curse having charred the land, the beach is said to retain the color as a sad reminder of the man's wrongdoing.

The black sand beach is called Pantai Pasir Hitam by the natives. Some geologists believe that the sand is rich in cassiterite, a stannous oxide and hence the color. However the exact reasoning behind the blackened soil has not yet been ascertained. Winter is the ideal season to visit this beach as the black sands gleam and sparkle giving the bay a truly breathtaking appearance. The Pantai Pasir Hitam is one of the oldest fishing hamlets of Langkawi and exudes an irresistible olde worlde charm. Black Sand Beach Motel offers excellent accommodation facilities to those visiting this beach. Fishing is famous on theses shores and the beach is through and through a tourist spot replete with souvenir shops and eateries.