Ju Liu Dive Hostel ReviewExplore Xiaoliuqiu's Sunken Ship Secrets with a 5000-Dive Instructor

May stayed at Juliu Dive Shop's second location, a backpacker hostel conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Baisha Tourist Harbor. Nearby attractions like Zhongao Beach and Vase Rock are also within easy reach, as are several local eateries and restaurants. This location is highly recommended for those seeking convenience and a lively atmosphere.

Juliu Dive Shop's second location offers space at the entrance for guests to store their Diving in Xiaoliuqiu gear, with a rooftop drying area for clothes. The accommodation provides Wi-Fi, a water dispenser, and a shared refrigerator, making it perfect for a few friends to relax on the comfortable sofa, enjoy some drinks, and chill out. If you have a little too much fun, your suite is just upstairs.

Juliu Dive Shop's second location offers space at the entrance for guests to store their Diving in Xiaoliuqiu gear, with a rooftop drying area for clothes. The accommodation provides Wi-Fi, a water dispenser, and a shared refrigerator, making it perfect for a few friends to relax on the comfortable sofa, enjoy some drinks, and chill out. If you have a little too much fun, your suite is just upstairs.

The instructor who guided May on her Diving in Xiaoliuqiu experience was highly experienced, with 12 years of diving and over 5,000 scuba dives under their belt.

The instructor first confirmed May could perform mask clearing, ear equalization, and regulator clearing in waist-deep water near the shore. Once she passed, they snapped a "happy departure" photo before heading out to the deeper waters.

Xiaoliuqiu truly lives up to its reputation as Turtle Island; as soon as we descended, we spotted a sea turtle, and our instructor instantly transformed into a photographer, capturing May's photo with the turtle. Along the way, we also saw Nemo the clownfish—it was incredibly therapeutic!

Our group took turns posing with the marine stars, and we each got individual close-ups, ensuring plenty of photos. While waiting our turn, the instructor allowed us to stay near the sea turtle and quietly watch it eat. The instructors are a well-trained team of underwater professional guides, leading us on an immersive tour of the ocean.

After your experience, you'll receive the new second-stage regulator mouthpiece you used as a souvenir of your Diving in Xiaoliuqiu adventure. It's brand new and reusable for future dives, reflecting Juliu Dive Shop's commitment to environmental protection.

Chatting with the instructor after the dive, it was clear his love for Xiaoliuqiu is deeply personal and practical. He makes a point of choosing eco-friendly venues and avoiding plastic bags, among other things.

For the Diving in Xiaoliuqiu pre-dive briefing, Juliu Dive Shop's instructors meticulously outline the upcoming dive plan, ensuring everyone has a preliminary understanding of the day's dive sites before descending.

Additionally, to prevent accidents, they carry GPS devices and surface marker buoys, which reassured our mystery shopper, Guanxiu, seeing such responsible instructors.

At the start, the waves were quite strong, causing Guanxiu's breathing to become rapid and erratic. However, the instructor gently reminded her to take deep, steady breaths before descending, showing great care for divers' potential reactions.

For this Fun Dive in Xiaoliuqiu, Juliu Dive Shop's instructor planned to take Guanxiu to the Xiaoliuqiu Wreck Secret, 23 meters deep off Shanfu Fishing Harbor.

To make the trip more comfortable and effortless, we also tried an underwater scooter for the first time. There's no need to slowly kick your way there with fins, saving energy and air, which leaves more time and strength to admire the underwater wreck.

Propelled by the underwater scooter, Guanxiu felt like she was on a high-speed train, arriving at the destination in a flash. The Xiaoliuqiu shipwreck mystery site appeared before her eyes, and she began to admire the sleeping relic.

It's truly rare to find a venue that offers underwater scooters, as they have a high wear-and-tear rate and require passionate instructors to develop more ways to enjoy them. Using one this time was an eye-opening experience for Guanxiu, allowing her to see even deeper underwater landscapes.

As we swam closer to the razorfish, we found it hiding under the dark deck of a boat. The instructor used a slate to explain that razorfish are nocturnal, and the lightbulb went off for Guanxiu.

This was the first time a diving instructor had taught Guanxiu about marine animals underwater, using a slate to share their names and habits. Each new creature brought a fresh surprise, and even now, the experience remains vivid. It made this Diving in Xiaoliuqiu trip feel much more connected to marine life, and truly meaningful.

After two laps around the Xiaoliuqiu shipwreck, I confirmed that the barracuda school was unfortunately a no-show today, so I bid farewell to the razorfish and continued my drift to Electric Pole Reef.

There, I encountered a giant porcupinefish—absolutely adorable! It was leisurely resting near the sandy bottom. I also spotted vibrant lionfish, like enchanting angels gracefully soaring around the coral reef. Turning my head, I saw garden eels in the sand, peeking out and gently swaying with the current. After enjoying the sights, I continued my drift back to shore.

During the safety stop before the Fun Dive concluded, the Juliu Dive Shop instructor allowed Guan-Hsiu to operate the underwater scooter herself, letting her experience its power and technique while swimming alongside to assist.

Guan-Hsiu naturally seized this rare opportunity to use the underwater scooter while Diving in Xiaoliuqiu, making the most of it until she reluctantly returned to land, bidding a fond farewell to the sea turtles just before surfacing.

This was Guanxiu's first time Diving in Xiaoliuqiu, and thankfully, the Juliu Dive Shop instructor's patient guidance made all the difference. Initially, I was nervous and a bit flustered, worried I'd forget things, but no matter what questions I asked or how many times I double-checked, I always received reassuring answers.

Throughout the entire dive, Juliu's sense of responsibility was evident, from the instructor bringing backup equipment just in case, to gently reminding us of the dive plan. And for safety, they even provided each person with a brand-new mouthpiece, which was a very thoughtful touch.

Even better, we were lucky enough to use an underwater scooter, making it easy to reach the Xiaoliuqiu shipwreck at 23 meters deep, which made the entire Fun Dive experience even more fresh and exciting.

During the experience, our mystery shopper Guan-Xiu saw the same thrill in the eyes of Juliu Dive Shop's founder as if he were seeing the ocean for the first time. It reminded Guan-Xiu of her own excitement and emotion from her first dive, so we're confident that everyone who tries Diving in Xiaoliuqiu with Juliu will be deeply moved!