Semporna Islands · Malaysia · Reef · Muck & macro
Magic Rocks
Sea-fan plateau at 30 m above rubble shallows with frogfish and mandarinfish
Area photo: Profmauri · CC BY-SA 3.0
Magic Rocks is a multilevel dive off Pulau Pom Pom that runs from rubble shallows down to a plateau of gorgonian sea fans at about 30 m. Sand patches hold stargazers and stingrays, the shallows hold frogfish, mandarinfish, pipefish and octopus, and shrimps crowd the rocks that give the site its name.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Semporna Islands and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The deepest part of Magic Rocks is a plateau at about 30 m where gorgonian sea fans rest. The site also has many sand patches, where bottom dwellers such as stargazers and hiding stingrays turn up. Stonefish, scorpionfish, pinnate batfish and lionfish are all found here as well, so there is plenty to look at across the whole site, from the deep plateau up into the shallows.
The rocks themselves draw the small life: leaf scorpionfish and banded boxer shrimps crowd around them, alongside hinge-beak, cleaner and glass shrimps. The rubble-covered shallows shelter nudibranchs, tiny frogfish, mandarinfish, pipefish and octopus, and the resort recommends Magic Rocks as a multilevel dive to finish a day's diving at Pom Pom.
Marine life and season
- Frogfish
- Mandarinfish
- Stingrays
- Nudibranchs
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Semporna Islands: Water stays at 28-30 °C all year and no month stands out for diving; green turtle nesting peaks from May to September.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Magic Rocks at Pom Pom Island?+
Gorgonian sea fans rest on a plateau at about 30 m, and the rubble shallows above hold nudibranchs, frogfish and mandarinfish.
What marine life lives at Magic Rocks?+
Stargazers and stingrays on the sand, frogfish, mandarinfish, pipefish and octopus in the shallows, and leaf scorpionfish with several kinds of shrimp on the rocks.
Sources
- Dive Sites – Pom Pom Island Resort — Pom Pom Island Resort
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