Drop-off / wall dive

A drop-off is a place where the seabed suddenly falls away into deeper water. You will see this feature on many reef systems because the shelf ends abruptly. These walls often descend from 5 m to over 40 m within a single meter of horizontal travel. Many divers visit sites like Anilao or Komodo specifically to find these vertical structures.

Vertical walls attract large predators since the rising currents bring nutrients up from the deep. You must watch your buoyancy closely. If you drift too far from the wall, you might lose your sense of depth or orientation. I once lost track of my distance from a wall in Cebu because the visibility was 25 m and the current pulled me outward. Always keep an eye on your pressure gauge and your proximity to the reef face.