Gorgonian Forest
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Gorgonian Forest is a wall dive at Layang Layang, named for the dense, forest-like stand of gorgonian sea fans that lines the drop-off. Sponges of very large size grow along the wall, sea whips reach out into the blue, and the hard corals are spectacular, with schooling fish large and small throughout.
The site is one of the main areas for hammerhead sharks. Horse-eye jacks gather in their thousands alongside tuna, surgeonfish, fusiliers and grey reef sharks, while barracuda cruise past and often swim alongside divers. In the shallows there are coral formations of all sizes where sweetlips can be photographed up close, and giant groupers hold along the wall. Approach them gently, or they disappear into a hole. Macro and wide-angle lenses both suit the site.
Marine life here
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
Fire DartfishNemateleotris magnificaReported here · unconfirmed
Whitetip SoldierfishMyripristis vittataReported here · unconfirmed
Pyramid ButterflyfishHemitaurichthys polylepisReported here · unconfirmed
Golden DamselfishAmblyglyphidodon aureusReported here · unconfirmed
Doublebar GoatfishParupeneus crassilabrisReported here · unconfirmed
Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
SurgeonfishSurgeonfishReported here · unconfirmed
FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
SweetlipsSweetlipsReported here · unconfirmed
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutusObserved near here · iNaturalist
Pacific TrumpetfishAulostomus chinensisObserved near here · iNaturalist
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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