Perpendicular Wall
Why dive here
With 108+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays) - Perpendicular Wall offers some of Christmas Island's richest wall diving. Water ranges 27-29°C, warmest February, March, April.
Perpendicular Wall on Christmas Island is exactly what it sounds like – a sheer drop, plummeting from about five metres down into the darkness. We love drift diving this one, just letting the current push us gently along. Below that initial shelf, the wall itself is stunning, particularly the vibrant pinks and purples of the Alveopora corals, dotted with tiny Pink Squirrelfish sheltering in crevices. Keep an eye out for the Cocos Angelfish here, they’re a favourite. Our favourite time to visit is during the whale shark season, roughly November to April. Even without the big animals, though, the sheer scale of the wall is humbling. You’ll feel a sense of immense depth here, often seeing large pelagics like silvertip sharks cruising by in the blue. This dive is perfect for anyone who loves dramatic topography and the thrill of a deep blue encounter, and it’s surprisingly accessible given the ease of the drift. Just be mindful of your depth – it’s easy to get mesmerised and go a little deeper than planned.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 33 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Reviews for Perpendicular Wall
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Perpendicular Wall
Perpendicular Wall Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Perpendicular Wall, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-10.45, 105.65) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
27°C
81°F · Range: 25.6–28.3°C
Current Speed
32.89 cm/s
Direction: W (289.5°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.213 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
34.19 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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