Layang-Layang · Malaysia · Wall · Reef
The Runway
Hundreds of hammerheads in the blue in April and May
Area photo: matthew lee · CC BY 2.0
The Runway sits between the atoll's two channels and is dived along a wall covered in hard and soft coral at 10 to 25 m. Whitetip reef sharks and the bigger grey reef sharks patrol and hunt the site, dogtooth tuna and barracuda work the same edge, and a manta ray sometimes drops in for a look.
Where it is and how deep
7.3695° N, 113.8380° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
You start on the reef and follow it in the 10 to 25 m band, keeping the wall on one shoulder. Current is typically moderate, so the coral passes at a steady pace and the shallow profile leaves room for a long dive. The reef is only the reference, though: the reason to be here is the open water off it, so most of the dive is spent looking out rather than down.
Reef sharks are the constant, with whitetip reef sharks and the bigger grey reef sharks patrolling and hunting the area. Dogtooth tuna and barracuda pass along the same edge, and a manta ray occasionally comes in to say hello. In the right season, April and May, hundreds of hammerheads can school in the blue all around you.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Hammerheads
- Tuna
- Barracuda
- Manta rays
| 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Season follows Layang-Layang: Closed to visitors since the resort's licence was revoked in January 2025.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
When are the hammerheads at The Runway?+
April and May are the months called out for schooling hammerheads here, when hundreds can pass in the blue. Reef sharks, dogtooth tuna and barracuda are around outside that window.
Sources
- The Runway Dive Site - Map & Review — Divezone
- Best Diving sites in Layang Layang — Divezone
In The Logbook
- When and where to dive with hammerheadsBig animals · 16 min read
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Hundreds of hammerheads pass here in April and May
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