Coral Slope
Kapalai Island · Malaysia
A gently inclined reef slope from 5 to 30 metres transitions from dense table coral gardens in the shallows to a rubble and sea-pen field in the deeper reaches, creating distinct depth zones each with their own suite of cryptic residents. Hairy frogfish and ghost pipefish conceal themselves among hydroids and feather stars while robust ghost pipefish mimic the crinoid arms they cling to in the current. The slope connects directly to the sandy plateau surrounding Kapalai's sandbar, where periodic forays reveal garden eels, dartfish and sleeping turtles.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
27 to 31°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Green Sea Turtle
Last confirmed Jun 10, 2026 · 51 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Whitetip Reef Shark
Last confirmed Jun 8, 2026 · 16 records
Very likely
Most dives
Blue Dragon
Last confirmed Jun 19, 2026 · 24 records
Very likely
Most dives
Willan'S Chromodoris
Last confirmed Jun 3, 2026 · 22 records
Very likely
Most dives
Dusky Nembrotha
Last confirmed Apr 1, 2026 · 31 records
Very likely
Most dives
Robust Ghost Pipefish
Last confirmed May 28, 2025 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Garden Eel
Last confirmed Aug 11, 2024 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Hairy Frogfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear