Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP ReviewCoaches excel at photos and tours, taking stand-up paddleboarding to new heights

The SUP boards used for this Liuqiu stand-up paddleboarding experience are from Starboard. When asked why he specifically chose this brand, the owner explained that Starboard boards offer superior stability, making them easier for beginners to master and stand up on quickly. He also noted that the brand's ethos aligns with Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP's commitment to environmental protection: for every board sold, Starboard plants a tree in Thailand, embodying the principle of "using from nature, giving back to nature." The owner believes that if you're going to buy boards anyway, it's best to choose an environmentally friendly venue—a sentiment that deeply resonated with Calista!

Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP offers two types of SUP boards: inflatable and hard. Both are available for guests, but the hard boards are generally preferred due to their superior stability, solid construction, and weight. Inflatable boards offer good buoyancy but are less stable, making them slightly more challenging to stand on, so they are better suited for experienced paddlers.

After learning how to control the SUP board, we put on life vests and followed the instructor on scooters to the beach, where other instructors were already waiting for us. Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP prioritizes guest safety by assigning a sufficient number of instructors based on the group size, ensuring everyone can enjoy the water and take photos with peace of mind.

Since everyone paddles at a different pace, slower paddlers don't need to worry about falling behind — the coaches will always follow along at the back. If you have a poor sense of direction and tend to paddle off course, don't panic; the coaches will be there to help you steer. We affectionately nicknamed one of the coaches "the Love-and-Guidance Coach." Despite our chaotic paddling and our tendency to drift off when we were supposed to be circling for drone photos, he remained incredibly patient and encouraging, never letting us give up, even when we had him laughing and exasperated.

Calista found the Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP coaches incredibly passionate, leading fun games and activities out on the water. What she appreciated most was the venue's commitment to marine conservation and sustainability. Not only do they source their boards from eco-friendly suppliers, but they also provide ocean-friendly sunscreen in-house, a thoughtful touch to ensure guests don't inadvertently use products harmful to the ocean.

While Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP's pricing for Xiaoliuqiu SUP isn't the absolute lowest, Calista believes the cost fully reflects the quality of service. Beyond the new and well-maintained boards and equipment, Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP has recently upgraded to using DSLR cameras on the water, aiming to capture even better photos for their guests.

Our coach that day was incredibly enthusiastic, taking individual photos for everyone. Even if you're camera-shy or unsure how to pose, it's no problem—the coach captures you naturally with candid shots. The instructions were super clear: forward paddle, reverse paddle, left, right. Calista was able to quickly paddle into the best photo spots thanks to the coach's precise guidance.

Hai Xiang Hua Dao SUP offers a variety of Little Liuqiu SUP tours, including sunrise and sunset excursions, as well as more challenging, longer-distance options. Each instructor guides a maximum of six participants, and each tour is capped at 20 people with five instructors. Every group of guests is assigned their own instructor to ensure safety.