An oceanic atoll rising 2,000m from the seabed, with 50m visibility and, in spring, schooling scalloped hammerheads. A…An oceanic atoll rising 2,000m from the seabed, with 50m visibility and, in spring, schooling scalloped hammerheads. A Malaysian naval base kept fishing boats away for decades, so the reefs are among the healthiest in Malaysia. Also called Swallow Reef, it is a Malaysian-occupied feature in the contested Spratly Islands, with an airstrip built on reclaimed reef. The naval presence that made it geopolitically fraught is exactly what protected the coral. Tourism access closed in 2025. Anchorage: Not currently accessible. Listed for completeness and for when it reopens. Hazards: Currently closed to visitors. It is also a disputed Spratly territory with a Malaysian naval base, so access has always been political. Meer