The Tunnel

Layang Layang is an isolated atoll in the South China Sea off the coast of Sarawak, Malaysia, reached mainly by air and used as a base for liveaboard and resort diving on its surrounding reef walls. The Tunnel refers to a swim-through or cavern feature along the atoll's drop-off, where the reef gives way to steep walls falling into deep water. The site itself tops out at around 11 metres and is rated a beginner dive, making it one of the more accessible spots on the atoll compared to the deeper wall sections. Layang Layang overall is best known among divers for pelagic encounters, particularly hammerhead sharks seen along the walls during certain months, though those sightings are more associated with the deeper drop-offs than with The Tunnel's shallower depth.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Whitetip SoldierfishMyripristis vittataReported here · unconfirmed
• Fire DartfishNemateleotris magnificaReported here · unconfirmed
• Pink Skunk AnemonefishAmphiprion perideraionReported here · unconfirmed
• Moorish IdolZanclus cornutusObserved near here · iNaturalist
• Pacific TrumpetfishAulostomus chinensisObserved near here · iNaturalist