--- access: members-only note: full mystery-shopper review requires membership --- # Peninsula Diver Scuba Diving Course Review Learn to Dive and Make Friends: Your Second Home as a Diver on the Hengchun Peninsula BY**Twosevenths**·2023.01·UPDATED 2026.06 Taiwan is an island surrounded by the sea, and with about 70 percent of the Earth covered by ocean, scuba diving offers a chance to explore this beautiful, vast blue world. This time, a Twosevenths mystery shopper headed to Hengchun, Pingtung, to learn scuba diving with Bantao Hairen. Bantao Hairen is highly rated online not only for its scuba diving certification courses but also for its many advanced classes, which allow divers who didn't originally train there to join, meet fellow enthusiasts, and even make lifelong friends! Peninsula Diver Scuba Diving Course Review｜Learn to Dive and Make Friends: Your Second Home as a Diver on the Hengchun Peninsula Contents Bantao Hairen Diving Course Reviews Directory Venue Reviewed Venue[半島海人](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting-btsdiving/#%E5%8D%8A%E5%B3%B6%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%BA)Experience SSI Open Water Diver Course Date Visited 13/12/2022 Reviewer Calista, aspiring mermaid princess 1. [01 About Bantao Hairen](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting-btsdiving/#iv-section-0) 2. [02 Bantao Hairen Scuba Diving Experience Review](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting-btsdiving/#iv-section-1) Contents 0% 1. 01 About Bantao Hairen 2. 02 Bantao Hairen Scuba Diving Experience Review 01 ## About Bantao Hairen About Bantao Hairen Bantao Hairen scuba diving courses require advance booking via their official LINE account. The Bantao Hairen website provides detailed information on everything from fees and equipment rental prices to course content and scheduling. Bantao Hairen offers both SSI and PADI scuba diving systems, and the venue's LINE support is always friendly and thorough in answering any questions. ### ✦Scuba diving and accommodation For my diving certification course in Hengchun, I chose Bantao Hairen's package that included accommodation. My room, themed "Nurse Shark," was a double that could be upgraded to a triple thanks to an extra-large sofa bed. The spacious bathroom features a dry/wet separation, so you never have to worry about the entire space getting soaked after a shower. The long balcony is equipped with a simple drying rack and shelves, perfect for students to hang clothes and gear. Sign up free Log in to read the full content Recommended Google Facebook LINE 02 ## Bantao Hairen Scuba Diving Experience Review Bantao Hairen Scuba Diving Experience Review Calista, who already held a [freediving](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting-freedive/) certification, had long wanted to get her scuba diving certification but couldn't find any friends who shared her interest. Then she stumbled upon the highly-rated Bantao Hairen on Google Maps, a popular [Kenting diving](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting-scuba/) venue. Many reviewers shared that coming alone was even more fun than coming with a partner! Since the instructors at Bantao Hairen are excellent at fostering camaraderie, there's no need to worry about awkwardness if you're solo. Calista decided to take the plunge and try their Kenting scuba diving certification course. ### ✦Scuba Diving Gear Guide The Bantao Hairen diving course begins with an introduction to scuba gear. As soon as you step into the diving department, you'll see that the instructors have already hung and labeled each student's equipment on racks, making it easy to quickly find your gear and prevent mix-ups or lost items. During the equipment briefing, Bantao Hairen's instructors meticulously explain everything to watch out for, from the mask on your face and the fins on your feet to the heavy gear on your body. They cover details like equipment assembly direction and whether the BC is leaking. After the explanation, students assemble the gear themselves, and any errors are immediately corrected. For example, Calista often struggled with equipment orientation—which way should the tank valve face? How should the transmission system be positioned? The instructor patiently guided her through it, helping Calista, a first-time scuba diver, gradually get comfortable. ### ✦Scuba Diving Certification Practical Course After getting familiar with the gear, it's time for the practical session. The Bantao Hairen scuba course starts with confined water practice on the first day, heading to the pool once the equipment is assembled. You won't immediately put on the heavy scuba gear; instead, you'll begin by using a snorkel to practice fin techniques. The instructor will observe your fin kicks, turns, and standing posture, offering corrections as needed. Once your movements are correct, you can then put on the full scuba gear! Next comes all the skill practice for OWD certification, including regulator recovery, equipment removal and replacement, and buddy air sharing. There are at least ten different items in total, and each one must be performed perfectly. Only after the instructor shakes your hand to confirm completion are you finished. Of all the skills, neutral buoyancy was the most challenging for Calista. It's incredibly difficult to use your breath to maintain a stable position underwater, requiring a deep awareness of each inhale and exhale, and accounting for the delay in buoyancy changes. During the first day's confined water session, Calista and her classmates were like Super Mario characters, bobbing up and down in the water. They'd settle on the bottom, only to accidentally float back up again. I was incredibly nervous at the time, because if I couldn't stay still in the water, I wouldn't be able to watch the instructor's demonstration, forcing them to wait repeatedly. Calista was afraid of causing trouble, but to her surprise, the instructor maintained incredible patience from start to finish, guiding us to find neutral buoyancy through breathing. Their patient teaching put us greatly at ease. ### ✦Open Water Scuba Certification Course The second and third mornings are dedicated to open water sessions, with two dives each day. You'll start by finding and assembling your gear, loading it onto the vehicle, and the instructors will double-check that everyone is fully equipped before departure. Upon arrival at the dive site, the instructors will use Bantao Hairen's hand-drawn maps to brief you on the day's dive locations and plans. Each dive begins with a few skill assessments, and once completed, you're free to explore the dive site with your instructor. Calista was particularly impressed by the "buddy breathing and controlled ascent" exercise. Each time she surfaced, Calista would instinctively release her alternate air source, prompting the instructor to require a complete re-do of the entire sequence. This meant her dive buddy had to repeat the assessment three times alongside her. However, no one rushed or complained during the process; instead, everyone offered reminders and encouragement. This supportive atmosphere gave Calista the confidence to complete the assessment. After each tank assessment, it's time for a fun dive with the Bantao Hairen diving instructor. You'll explore the ocean with the instructor, still needing to maintain good buoyancy control to avoid accidentally floating back to the surface or kicking sand in your buddy's face. Our instructor had an incredible eye; we were just talking about wanting to see a flounder on shore, and sure enough, they spotted one camouflaged in the sand. We also saw familiar clownfish, sea turtles, and more. Scuba diving allows you to observe them closely and quietly, without the worry of running out of breath as you might with freediving. Sign up free Log in to read the full content Recommended Google Facebook LINE Also Featured ## Don't miss _these either_ [Calista](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/tag/calista/)[Kenting Diving](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving-kenting/)[Scuba Diving](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/scuba-diving/)[Diving](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/outdoors/diving/) Twosevenths has trained over 500 mystery shoppers experienced across diverse fields, accumulating five years of on-site visits to more than 5,000 venues across Taiwan. We are dedicated to delivering the most impartial third-party reviews — like a group of savvy friends guiding you to the best experiences.[Learn more about Twosevenths →](https://www.twosevenths.com/en/about/) Contributing mystery shoppers