The only genuine vertical wall dive within the lagoon of Layang Layang Island, located on the western side and about 15 mins by boat, D wall is an outstanding beauty, huge and so sheer, it overhangs through most of the dive so torches are essential. It starts from a metre deep, and actually plummets into oblivion around 2000m deep with waters so clear and up to 40m viz, it can be deceiving, so it is crucial that you keep an eye on your gauges and monitor your buoyancy. Recommended for expert divers only!
As you explore the wall, you’ll find amazing coral formations, giant barrel sponges, whips and colourful anemones challenging gravity, along with tiny stem corals amongst them. A haven for macro creatures like arrow crabs, vibrant nudibranchs and clams, you can also spot so many species of colourful reef fish such as emperor angelfish, giant frogfish, orange-spine unicornfish, yellow wrasse, sweetlips, and skunk anemonefish, and see schools of jacks and surgeonfish frolicking about.
At 40m deep (which should be your maximum depth limit), you’ll find a massive ledge jutting out from the wall covered in black corals, fabulous nudibranchs in all colours, more barrel sponges, big purple anthias, gorgeous purple and blue sea fans, and pretty orange gorgonians. Leopard sharks nest on this spot along with pygmy seahorses and giant frogfish. Larger pelagic fish seen cruising at this depth frequently are whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks and grey reef sharks. You can also enjoy close encounters with big groupers and see giant manta rays gliding up gracefully along the wall.