East Wall

The eastern face of Astola drops away as a near-vertical wall from 6 metres down to beyond sport diving limits. The wall is covered in large sea fans, black coral trees, and sponges, with nudibranchs and flatworms in extraordinary variety along the shallower sections. Manta rays have been recorded here in April and May riding the upwelling currents that push nutrients up the wall face. The deep blue water beyond the wall frequently holds open-water species including wahoo and dorado.