Layang-Layang · Malaysia · Wall · Reef
Dogtooth Lair
Shoals of dogtooth tuna on a wall that drops to 2,000 m
Area photo: matthew lee · CC BY 2.0
Dogtooth Lair is dived near the eastern point of the Layang-Layang atoll, on a reef that tips over into a steep drop-off. It is worked deep, at 25 to 40 m in moderate current, and named for the large shoals of dogtooth tuna that hold along the edge, with schooling barracuda and sleeping whitetip reef sharks on the same dive.
Where it is and how deep
7.3755° N, 113.8525° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts on the sandy slope off the eastern point, which falls away through coral formations before turning into a steep wall dropping to 2,000 m. The working range is 25 to 40 m, so bottom time is short: descend without delay, run the drop-off in one direction and start the ascent early. Current is usually moderate, enough to move you along the wall without making the descent hard work.
Dogtooth tuna are what the site is named for, and large shoals of them patrol the edge, with schooling barracuda in the same water. Sleeping whitetip reef sharks are the other reliable sighting. Schooling hammerheads are possible here too, but this is not the best spot on the atoll for them, so treat the blue as a bonus rather than the reason for the dive. Like every site at Layang-Layang, it ends in the shallow coral garden, where the safety stop passes over reef fish and coral.
Marine life and season
- Tuna
- Barracuda
- Reef sharks
- Hammerheads
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Layang-Layang: Closed to visitors since the resort's licence was revoked in January 2025. When it operated, the season ran March to August, with hammerheads peaking in April and May.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Dogtooth Lair?+
It is dived as a deep site, with a typical working range of 25 to 40 m. The wall below the sandy slope keeps going, dropping to around 2,000 m, so there is no bottom to level off on.
Can you see hammerheads at Dogtooth Lair?+
Schooling hammerheads do turn up here, but it is not the atoll's best site for them. Dogtooth tuna, barracuda and sleeping whitetip reef sharks are the dependable part of the dive.
Sources
- Dogtooth Lair Dive Site - Map & Review — Divezone
- Best Diving sites in Layang Layang — Divezone
In The Logbook
- Where to dive in every month of the yearTrip planning · 14 min read
More dive sites in Layang-Layang
Wall
A long northern wall with hammerheads in the current below
Reef
A 15 m crack in the wall, dived for critters and at night
Wall
Hundreds of hammerheads in the blue in April and May
Reef
Black coral, sea fans and barrel sponges over a debris field
Wall
Leave the reef at 30-35 m and watch open water for hammerheads
Wall
A northern wall from 15 to 40 m where current draws the big fish
Reef
Drift the ledge in around 50 m of visibility
A cleaning station worked by reef sharks, turtles and mantas
Similar dives elsewhere
An open-top cave in the northwest wall of a limestone island
A drift from schooling fish on the point to macro on the slope
Predators along the wall, and a crevasse to 40 m as current shelter
Hundreds of batfish and jacks holding in the current