Mandarin Valley

Divers descend slowly along the slope, watching for well-camouflaged stonefish and frogfish. On the sand, cuttlefish change colour in response to divers and often shelter around a small sunken fishing boat at about 18 metres, together with crocodilefish, longnose hawkfish and ghost pipefish. Across the channel, mandarinfish dance between the dark spines of sea urchins as the light fades. The shallow profile and gentle conditions allow long dives, which makes the site a favourite of photographers. Dive The World and Mabul.com describe the nearby Ligitan reefs as a nursery for juveniles.