Most divers assume that boat diving isn't available along the Northeast Coast, which is why many dive shops send advanced divers to Xiaoliuqiu or Kenting to complete their boat dive requirements. In reality, however, several excellent boat dive sites are accessible from Wanghaixiang Bay in Keelung — and this article highlights a few of the most popular ones.
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Boat Dive Site: Flower Wall
Flower Wall lies within Wanghaixiang Bay, at a conservation-zone headland where the topography makes strong, sudden currents a frequent occurrence — putting it out of easy reach for shore divers. In recent years, boat divers have flocked here primarily because the vertical rock face is draped in spectacular soft coral. When the current picks up, the soft coral "blooms," opening up to feed in a display that is strikingly beautiful when shot with a wide-angle lens.
The catch is that the blooming happens precisely when the current is raging — and several divers have described its intensity as rivalling Penghu. Divers therefore need a solid level of boat diving experience before attempting this site. The boat captain will assess the tidal conditions on the day, and if conditions are unsuitable for reaching the site, you'll simply have to try your luck next time!
Photo Credit CoCo
Photo Credit CoCo
Boat Dive Site: Hai Jian Wreck
The Hai Jian was deployed as an artificial reef in 2012. Because it has been in place for a relatively short time, coral growth on the structure is still limited — but it is increasingly effective as a fish-aggregating device. Occasionally, entire schools of moonfish drift leisurely past, making it a unique experience for divers who want to try an artificial wreck on the Northeast Coast.
The Hai Jian has several hatch openings, and divers confident in their neutral buoyancy are welcome to venture inside — just be careful not to kick up silt and reduce visibility. This site is also prone to sudden surges; if you encounter a strong current, the recommended technique is to tuck your body and descend quickly to avoid being swept away by the surface flow.
Photo Credit CoCo
Photo Credit CoCo
Photo Credit CoCo
Keelung Islet
Keelung Islet lies roughly 3 km offshore and is now uninhabited. In 2017, the Keelung City Government reopened the islet for rock fishing and introduced a management framework to help more people discover and appreciate its ecology. The marine life around Keelung Islet differs noticeably from that found near the mainland coast — the variety and sheer number of fish are remarkable. As always, visibility depends on the season and tidal conditions, so catching a truly spectacular underwater panorama is partly a matter of luck.
Ghost nets occasionally wash up and snag on the reef around Keelung Islet. If divers spot a large net, do not attempt to remove it on your own — it is a safety hazard. Instead, notify the Keelung City Government or ask the boat captain to report it, and the city will dispatch a removal crew.
Related link: 〈台北都會〉Keelung Islet Ghost Net Removal — 100 kg Recovered
Photo Credit 活塞教練
Photo Credit 活塞教練
Rainbow Reef, Keelung Islet
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is a dive site on the Shen'ao side of Wanghaixiang Bay. According to a senior instructor who shared its story, the name was coined after a spring exploratory dive revealed an astonishing abundance of tiny, newly hatched fish — so translucent and numerous they nearly obscured all visibility — alongside a dense scattering of enormous gorgonians / sea fans. More than ten years ago, when the Shen'ao coal-fired power plant was planning to build a coal-unloading pier in Fan Zai Ao Bay, instructor 活塞 and several other pioneering divers successfully halted the development by using iconic photographs of Crystal Palace's landmark giant sea fans. See: Shen'ao Power Plant Renewal and Expansion Plan.
Yet in 2018, the Shen'ao power plant is poised for a comeback. Beyond the long-disputed environmental impact assessment and air pollution controversies, the plan calls for expanding the existing Shen'ao fishing harbor into a coal-unloading port. Although the construction zone is not immediately adjacent to Crystal Palace, the breakwaters and port infrastructure will alter the flow of currents through the area. We sincerely encourage all divers to use their cameras to document the beauty beneath the surface, and to share those images on social media so that friends and family can engage with this issue. The ocean changes because we dive!
Crystal Palace's landmark giant sea fan
Let beautiful scenery stay forever where it belongs
Want to ride the wave of the 2018 summer Chaoching limited boat dive? Click here to sign up now
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
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