Taiwan Diving Spots GuideTop 10 Diving Spots in Taiwan

Houbihu, located within Kenting National Park, is not only a premier diving destination in Taiwan but also a hub for many authentic and delicious seafood venues. After a day of water activities, a plate of fresh sashimi is a must! The Houbihu waters are shallow and teeming with marine life, making them suitable for divers of all skill levels.

The "Fish Feeding Area" on the left side of Houbihu boasts a rich variety of fish species. The massive reef formed by cauliflower coral provides a sanctuary for fish, making it an excellent spot for beginner divers to practice. Here, you might even spot the famous giant trevally. To the right of the Houbihu outlet, you'll find a fjord-like terrain with diverse topography and ecological distribution, where depths drop sharply from 3 to 10 meters. This area is suitable for different levels of divers, including those interested in snorkeling, scuba diving, and freediving. Experienced divers can explore Kenting's renowned underwater cave landscapes, but always remember to dive with a buddy and prioritize safety.

You can dive in Xiaoliuqiu year-round, with summer water temperatures around 29°C and winter temperatures above 23°C, and dive sites available almost all around the island, making it one of Taiwan's top three diving destinations! If you're looking to dive in Xiaoliuqiu, contact Erbase, and let their instructors guide you through Xiaoliuqiu's tropical waters!

Xiaoliuqiu's Meiren Cave is known as the dive site with the most sea turtles, suitable for snorkeling, freediving, and scuba diving. When entering the water, be mindful of the grooved terrain and occasional waves. When the water is clear, visibility can exceed 20 meters!

Meiren Cave also has a hidden dive site — Vase Rock drift diving — known only to professional divers. You enter the water at Meiren Cave and drift with the current all the way to Vase Rock. The underwater ecosystem in this area is incredibly rich; some divers have spotted over 40 sea turtles during a single drift. However, it's recommended to go with a local guide to ensure suitable currents and to park a scooter at Vase Rock beforehand so you don't have to walk back to Meiren Cave after surfacing.

Longdong, located in Gongliao District, New Taipei City, is likely a familiar spot for many northern Taiwanese divers. Its convenient location and numerous natural barriers create a stable marine environment with abundant ecosystems, making it the largest bay and diving destination along the Northeast Coast. Among Longdong's many dive sites, "Longdong No. 4" is particularly stable and the deepest, reaching 25 meters. It's suitable for Open Water (OW) certified divers, making it a highly recommended experience for those diving in the greater Taipei area for the first time.

Beyond snorkeling, scuba diving, and SUP, Longdong's diverse terrain offers a "cliff jumping secret spot" accessible via the "Giant Rock Heaven's Road" — a must-visit water activity when you're here. Additionally, at Wenzikeng, located between Longdong South Entrance Park and Hemei Community at the 83.9K mark, you can discover colorful clownfish and a variety of other adorable marine creatures.

Bitou Cape Park, located in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, is a renowned diving destination in the Greater Taipei area along the Northeast Coast. It offers public restrooms and equipment rinse areas. The waters boast a high coral reef coverage and abundant marine life, including numerous tropical fish, sea anemones, and soft corals, with many divers claiming it rivals Kenting.

With depths of approximately 2-3 meters, it’s ideal for beginner freedivers. Further out, the water reaches depths of 10-15 meters, perfect for scuba diving with a buddy. Bitou Cape Park is also excellent for snorkeling, but be sure not to swim past the buoys, as beyond them lies the Bitou Fishing Harbor shipping lane, and crossing it will incur a fine. Adjacent to the park is the Bitou Cape Trail, with the Ridge Valley Trail taking only half an hour to complete, offering a chance to admire the rich geological landscape of sea erosion after your dive.

Among Taiwan's many diving spots, Green Island is a perennial favorite with divers from home and abroad, and Shilang Bay is its most popular diving area. Shilang Bay is encircled by a ring of coral reefs, and with the Pacific's Kuroshio Current flowing north through it and nearby upwellings, it's a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures over 200 species of soft and hard corals, along with a dazzling array of tropical fish.

Shilang's extensive intertidal zone makes it ideal for both snorkeling and freediving. Experienced divers can also enjoy freediving or scuba diving here; just 20 meters down, you'll discover the world's largest Porites coral, the "Giant Mushroom Coral," estimated to be over 1,200 years old — it's an absolute must-see for any diver in Taiwan. Plus, Shilang Bay is right next to Green Island's bustling Nanliao Village, so after your dive, you can walk straight to a venue for a meal or some rest. After dining, you can even arrange a boat trip for whale watching.

Penghu's Suogang Hangwan has become one of Taiwan's most popular diving destinations in recent years. Its clear waters, safe conditions, and successful coral reef restoration efforts make it the main island's premier snorkeling spot. What makes it truly special is the world's first underwater mailbox, which combines submerged art with coral reef restoration, located right here in Penghu's Hangwan. Taiwan currently has two underwater mailboxes, with the other situated in Green Island.

The underwater mailbox is located approximately 150 meters from the shore, about 6 meters below the surface. In addition to scuba diving, helmet diving is also an option for reaching it. Divers should note that they must purchase specially waterproofed underwater postcards, which include international shipping. Addresses and messages must be written with a waterproof oil-based pen to ensure successful delivery.

The "postmen" for the underwater mailbox are local dive operators who take turns collecting mail twice a week. They retrieve the postcards from the seabed, dry them, and then send them out. We highly recommend that divers exploring the marine world in Hangwan also take the opportunity to send a postcard from underwater—it's a unique challenge and a wonderful way to send a message to family or friends.

Penghu’s South Penghu Marine National Park is Taiwan’s only marine national park. It encompasses Dongjiyu, Xijiyu, Dongyupingyu, and Xiyupingyu. While not as well-known as Penghu Main Island, Wang’an, Qimei, or Jibei, these islands boast abundant ecological resources, and their history, culture, and natural environment remain untouched by overdevelopment, making them a must-visit diving destination in Taiwan for any diver.

Dongyupingyu, where goats outnumber people, has a coral coverage rate of up to 60%. The surrounding waters are about 3-5 meters deep, perfect for snorkeling and freediving. Just 20 meters offshore, you’ll discover a vast jungle of blue and purple coral reefs, so stunning it’s been dubbed the “Underwater Lavender Forest.” You might even spot large blue starfish over 30 centimeters wide. We recommend visiting at midday when the light is best to see the full spectrum of colors as the sunlight bathes the lavender coral reefs.

However, due to seasonal weather and safety considerations, diving in Penghu is only open from April to September. The “Blue Hole,” a viral sensation in recent years, is located on Xijiyu, the only uninhabited island among the four. It’s said that only a temple caretaker and four residents live on the island, but the surrounding waters boast a coral coverage rate of 90%, making it an undisputed diving paradise in Taiwan.

The Taitung Sanxiantai Scenic Area is a familiar destination for many, a must-visit spot for sunrise and stargazing, and in recent years, a scheduled venue for the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival. Beyond its scenic beauty, Sanxiantai's waters boast a rich underwater ecosystem, including large sea fans, octocorals, pygmy seahorses, and a high coverage of soft corals, making it Taiwan's newest secret diving spot.

It's important to note that the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration advises that Sanxiantai is best suited for more experienced divers. The dive sites are accessible only by boat, and the currents can be complex, requiring accompaniment by professional dive guides. Experienced divers visiting Sanxiantai can enjoy the scenic area and walk across the Eight Arch Bridge, then take the opportunity to experience scuba diving in this as-yet undeveloped part of Taiwan's dive map, and marvel at sea fans over a meter in size!

Lanyu (Orchid Island) is perfect for diving year-round, with underwater visibility consistently between 30 and 50 meters, allowing for close-up views of vibrant corals and diverse migratory fish in crystal-clear waters. The best diving season is from March to October, when water temperatures range from 26-28 degrees Celsius.

The Yeyou Snorkeling Area in Lanyu is a must-visit Taiwanese diving spot for many international visitors. The warm waters of the nearby Kuroshio Current foster abundant marine life, so you'll immediately encounter rich coral reefs and clownfish upon entering the water. Yeyou Snorkeling Area has a depth of about 10 meters and is suitable for snorkeling, freediving, and scuba diving. However, be aware that strong currents can form beyond the concave shore. If you're unfamiliar with the local water conditions, it's highly recommended that divers go with an experienced instructor to ensure safety.

Taiwan's only active volcano, Guishan Island in Yilan, is open to the public only from March to November each year and requires advance booking. The "Milk Sea" surrounding Guishan Island, also known as "God's Spilled Milk," is a major draw, but water activities are prohibited in this area. Visitors primarily come to observe the volcanic sulfur vents and the unique square-faced crab ecosystem.

Two diving spots around Guishan Island are particularly worth highlighting. One is "Guishan Island's Backyard," a safer entry point with an average depth of 10 meters, offering abundant coral reefs and diverse fish populations, making it ideal for beginner freedivers. The other is "Guimao Independent Reef," an underwater independent reef about 4 kilometers from Guishan Island. With an average depth of 60 meters and a maximum depth of 3 meters, its cliffs boast rich coral ecosystems, and large migratory fish are occasionally spotted. This site is recommended for advanced scuba divers.