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A green sea turtle rests on pale sand beside coral heads, with a remora lying along its shell — Semporna Islands

Semporna Islands · Malaysia · Reef · Muck & macro

Pit Rock

Leaf scorpionfish and peacock mantis shrimps packed onto one rock at 20 m

Area photo: Profmauri · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pit Rock is a single rock on a gradual rubble slope off Pulau Pom Pom, sitting at the foot of a buoy line in about 20 m. Leaf scorpionfish, banded boxer shrimps and peacock mantis shrimps cover the rock while schools of glass fish swim around it, and a sloping reef with nudibranchs and resting sea turtles runs off to either side. It is rated for divers of all levels.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Pit Rock: typical dive to 20 m (to 66 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit20 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Semporna Islands and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive starts down the buoy line, which ends at Pit Rock in about 20 m on a gradual rubble slope off Pom Pom. The rock is small but crowded: several leaf scorpionfish sit on it, with hinge-beak shrimps, banded boxer shrimps and peacock mantis shrimps all over this one patch, and schools of glass fish swim around it. It is a firm favourite with visiting underwater photographers.

From the rock, a sloping reef runs away along both the left and the right shoulder. The slope is littered with nudibranchs and sea turtles rest on it, so the dive can carry on in either direction after the rock. Pit Rock can be dived in all conditions, and it is rated as suitable for all levels of diver.

Marine life and season

  • Macro critters
  • Nudibranchs
  • Sea turtles
Month-by-month season rating for Pit Rock
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodFairFairFair

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 Pit Rock at Pom Pom Island?+

The rock sits at the bottom of the buoy line in about 20 m, on a gradual rubble slope off Pulau Pom Pom.

Is Pit Rock suitable for beginner divers?+

Yes. The site is rated for all levels of diver and can be dived in all conditions.

Sources

  1. Dive Sites – Pom Pom Island Resort — Pom Pom Island Resort

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