Kenting Watersports GuideDon't Miss These Activities! 10 Kenting Watersports Itineraries to Choose From

Kenting's warm, southern climate makes it a popular destination for freediving, with many people coming here even in winter to get their Kenting freediving certification. The three main freediving certifications are SSI, AIDA, and PADI, though some venues also offer the Molchanovs system. While a certification isn't strictly required for freediving, it's an activity that heavily emphasizes the buddy system. Taking a course not only provides professional instruction but also connects you with like-minded friends to explore Kenting's beautiful underwater world together. If you're already certified, most venues also offer Fun Dive services.

Scuba diving lets you explore underwater with a compressed air tank, making it a bit simpler than freediving, which relies on a single breath. Even without certification, many water sports venues in Kenting offer one-time introductory dives, allowing you to experience the magic of scuba diving. If you enjoy it, you can then consider getting certified. For those already certified, guided dive services are also available. Houbihu, Nanwan, and Wanlitong, all near Kenting, are excellent spots for diving, offering glimpses of adorable marine life and coral reefs!

Mermaid lessons sound romantic and beautiful, but they're far more than just slipping into a dreamy mermaid tail for a few photos on the shore. True mermaids need to be certified, training themselves to overcome poor visibility, water entering the nasal passages, and other adverse conditions while their legs are bound underwater. To achieve that graceful mermaid elegance, you also need to control your body so you neither float up nor sink down, maintaining a steady hover — it’s a highly technical Kenting water activity.

If the thought of diving into the deep ocean makes you nervous and you're hesitant to get a diving certification, don't worry! The Hengchun Peninsula offers warm weather and crystal-clear waters, and with its dedication to coral reef conservation, snorkeling here is incredibly beginner-friendly. You only need to look down from the surface to see beautiful coral reefs and swimming fish, with a chance to spot colorful tropical species. Many snorkeling venues in areas like Houbihu and Wanlitong offer equipment rentals (such as goggles and snorkels) and provide simple instructions, making it easy for even children to snorkel safely in a life vest.

Kenting Jialeshui is Taiwan's renowned surfing mecca, blessed with a unique geographical environment and stable climate that ensures excellent waves year-round, suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers. The annual Manzhou Jialeshui International Surfing Festival in October draws a large crowd of surfing enthusiasts. If you're looking to learn to surf in Kenting, the Jialeshui area offers many surf schools, typically including lessons and equipment rental. The consistent wave conditions are perfect for beginners.

Where there's a beautiful ocean, there's usually a SUP experience, and Kenting's watersports venues are no exception. Beyond the popular sunrise and sunset tours, some Kenting SUP venues offer clear SUP boards or kayaks, letting you paddle while watching fish below, or include bonus activities like snorkeling or diving. If you love taking photos, most venues provide basic phone photography services; you can also check if they offer professional DSLR or GoPro rentals, or even drone follow-cam services for extra photo value.

In Kenting and Hengchun, popular SUP spots include "Zhongzhou Secret Realm" (nicknamed Little Bali by locals) between Houbihu and Maobitou, as well as Houwan, Wanlitong, Daguan Beach, and Sail Rock.

Even if you have young children or aren't comfortable in the water, there are still plenty of fun water activities to enjoy in Kenting, such as glass-bottom semi-submarines or private yachts. Semi-submarines cruise along the surface, allowing passengers to descend into an underwater glass cabin to admire the rich coral reefs and marine life below, often accompanied by a guide. This is perfect for those who want to relax and enjoy the ocean views or introduce children to marine education.

For groups of friends, an entertainment yacht is highly recommended. Many venues in Kenting offer yacht rental services, allowing you and your friends to charter a boat and sail the open waters. With onboard karaoke or drinks, it's an excellent way to soak in the blue skies and seas of Southern Taiwan.

Parasailing is a popular water activity in Kenting, offering the chance to soar through the azure skies above Houbihu. Looking down at the soothing ocean below, it feels as if all worries simply melt away. Parasailing doesn't require any special skills; a speedboat generates the power to lift you from the water, letting you experience the freedom of a bird.

Parasailing is very safe, and children aged seven and up can participate. Typically, two people can fly simultaneously, and if you're with children or someone a bit timid, you can request an instructor to accompany you. If you're an adventurer, you can even ask for the thrill of a rapid descent, and the venue will usually accommodate your request!

Wake surfing, also known as boat surfing, looks a lot like traditional surfing, but instead of ocean waves, you're riding the wake of a boat. You simply follow behind the boat, using the tail wave it creates to surf on a lake. This is a great option for beginners compared to ocean surfing, and you can easily master it even if you don't know how to swim. Most beginners can expect about 15 minutes of gliding time, making it an activity that really tests your balance. We recommend wake surfing as a Kenting water activity for anyone who wants to experience "walking on water." If you're already a seasoned surfer, you can even pull off some spectacular flips on the lake, guaranteed to turn heads.

While the above focuses on single water activities, the vibrant south of Taiwan offers so much more! With banana boats, jet skis, rockin' speedboats, Popeye rides, and countless other water activities in Kenting, you'll have so much fun you won't want to go home. These activities are especially perfect for groups of friends to splash each other or simply float happily together—pure enjoyment. Many venues offer Kenting water activity packages, from three-in-one to even four- or five-in-one deals. You can choose 3-5 activities that interest you from a variety of exciting options and get a better price on your Kenting water activities! These Kenting water activity packages usually include equipment rental, so all you need to bring is a happy heart and a mind for safety, and you'll return home safe and sound.