Diving in Layang Layang

Crack Reef

Another dive which can give everyone a buzz, both depth junkies and shallow reefers. This site sees another extraordinary shallow coral garden flourishing under the sun's rays, and a gradual descent which becomes a slide into the void of the South China Sea.

You'll begin with a descent down the wall to either of the 2 ledges at 30 metres. From here you can peer over the lip and down the slope to check for resting leopard sharks. Ascend a few metres to a prominent alcove, and search the gorgonians around for pygmy seahorses. Several of the fans between 21 and 27 metres have resident seahorses.

If there is a mild current running then you can drift along with schools of neon fusiliers racing past. Eventually you'll arrive at some steep sloping buttresses which look like subterranean mountain footpaths. If you ascend up these natural causeways, you'll find yourself back near the top of the atoll, with its busy coral community, which allows for both excellent macro and micro photography opportunities.

The reef top here is mainly hard coral varieties such as porites, elkhorn and warty corals, but there are communities of sinularia and lobophyton soft corals too. Try spotting the foxface rabbitfish, or some of the tang and bristletooth species that reside here.

Crack Reef Reef Basics: Flat coral garden and slope
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 20 - 50m
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 25 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 13
Diving season: February to October
Distance: 20 minutes north west from Layang Layang Resort pier
Access: Layang-Layang dive resort

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