'Diving Into Taiwan' — Green Island Diving: Crystal-Clear Visibility + Macro Photography, Double the Satisfaction!

Introduction to Green Island

Green Island lies in the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Taiwan. The island has an irregular quadrilateral shape, covers an area of approximately 16 square kilometres, and is Taiwan's fourth-largest island. Fringing coral reefs surround the entire coastline, supporting a rich underwater ecosystem. Because the island sits within the path of the Kuroshio Current, water temperatures remain above 20°C year-round — dropping to a winter low of around 22°C and peaking at 30°C in summer, with an annual average of approximately 25°C. These warm waters are ideal for coral growth. The island's remote location — reachable only by boat or plane — minimises human disturbance, and visibility frequently reaches 30–40 m, making it an outstanding destination for dive travel.

How to Get to Green Island

Like Orchid Island, getting to Green Island requires a bit more effort. Here are a few recommended options — choose the one that best suits your itinerary.

• Budget route: Take the Taiwan Railways (TRA) train to Taitung Station, then transfer by taxi to Fugang Fishing Harbor and board a speedboat to Green Island — approximately a 50-minute crossing.
• Time-saving route: Fly into Taitung Airport and catch a connecting flight directly to Green Island Airport, timing the transfers carefully.

One important note: although the ferries serving Green Island are reasonably large vessels, the crossing passes through rough seas. If you're unsure whether you're prone to seasickness, take motion-sickness medication at least 30 minutes before boarding. Also be aware that during the summer typhoon season, ferry services are frequently suspended before and after typhoons — if you have onward travel plans, factor in this risk when scheduling. That said, if you do end up stuck on Green Island due to a typhoon, try to embrace the unexpected and enjoy the unique island experience.

Getting around the island is much the same as on other Taiwanese offshore islands — the scooter reigns supreme. Foreign visitors should make sure to bring an international driving licence, or opt for an electric scooter that doesn't require one. A full loop of the island takes about 40 minutes along the coastal ring road, and it's nearly impossible to get lost — finding your destination is refreshingly simple.

Things to Do on Green Island

The moment you arrive, the stunning turquoise water will immediately captivate you. But beyond scuba diving — which we highly recommend — what other highlights and must-do activities does Green Island offer?

• Cliff jumping for the young and bold: Pick a harbour you like (an unused fishing pier with no boat traffic), raise your GoPro high, and leap into the sea with your friends. Young people — this is exactly the kind of thing that's equal parts reckless and exhilarating!

• Prison Island revisited: Green Island is still used today to house Taiwan's most serious offenders. Even during the Japanese colonial era, its isolated geography made it the chosen site for the "Burning Island Vagrants' Detention Centre." After the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan, the prison expanded to cover much of the island's southeastern side during the White Terror period, becoming the largest political prison in Taiwan. After martial law was lifted, the old prison grounds were transformed into a human rights park comprising three main sections: the Xinsheng Correction Centre, the Lyudao Villa, and the Human Rights Memorial. At its peak, the combined population of prison staff and inmates reached nearly 3,000 — comparable to the island's civilian population. The sprawling prison infrastructure built to accommodate all those people has since been repurposed as tourist attractions. It's well worth taking the time to understand this great tragedy of the era.

The Green Island prison was originally divided into only 12 squads. Inmates who died in custody and whose bodies were unclaimed by family members were buried on a hillside nearby. In honour of their spirits, this site came to be known collectively as "Squad 13."

• Green Island's dramatic landscape: Green Island was formed by volcanic activity and subsequently sculpted by years of coastal erosion, producing a striking array of rock formations along the shoreline. As you ride your scooter around the island, be sure to stop and marvel at these extraordinary works of nature.

Diving at Green Island

When the southwest monsoon prevails in summer, dive sites on the island's southwestern side are most affected. During the northeast monsoon in winter, diving on the northeastern side is largely inadvisable. The summer typhoon season also demands extra caution — not only does visibility deteriorate after typhoons, but driftwood clogging the harbour can lead to ferry cancellations that strand visitors on the island for up to a week. Keep this in mind when planning your dive trip.

In 2018, Taitung County Government partnered with Chunghwa Post to install an underwater postbox — 1.8 m tall — in the Shilang snorkeling area. Its design was inspired by the pygmy seahorse, one of Green Island's most iconic marine creatures. If you visit Green Island for a dive, don't forget to send yourself a one-of-a-kind underwater postcard!

Tidal ranges around Green Island are generally small, but the interaction between the island's shape, coastal currents, and the Kuroshio Current creates complex and variable water conditions. Always listen carefully to your dive guide's briefing before entering the water, and stay alert to tidal changes throughout the dive — at some sites, temperature differences between high and low tide can reach as much as 5°C, and current speeds vary noticeably with the seasons. When diving at sites with dramatic topography such as the Grand Canyon or the Crack of Light, watch out for sudden downwellings or upwellings, and maintain neutral buoyancy at all times to hold your depth.

With an annual average water temperature of 25°C, and the island's Huoshao Mountain and Amei Mountain shielding it from monsoon winds, different dive sites come into their own in different seasons. It's best to let your dive shop recommend sites based on current swell and weather conditions. The dive zones below are organised by geographic location.

Nanliao Zone

From Guiwan Point northward to the area south of the airport, this section includes the Shilang Ecological Reserve in the middle, which boasts coral coverage of up to 50%. It is the hub of snorkeling and ecotourism on Green Island. When the southwest wind blows in summer, white surf frequently rolls in, so take extra care when entering and exiting the water. Within the Shilang Reserve, the "Big Mushroom" is an unmissable dive site — it is the world's largest known massive Porites coral, believed to be up to 1,000 years old, and nurtures a diverse community of marine life.

Notable dive sites: Airport Fault, West Teeth Reef, Shilang Ecological Reserve, Big Mushroom, Utility Pole Reef, Six-Metre Reef, Clownfish Island.

Zhongliao Zone

From north of the airport to west of Guanquan Point, this area includes the Chaikou Ecological Reserve, celebrated for its dense hard coral communities with coverage reaching 75%. Guanquan Point holds the island's richest nudibranch diversity. Diving in this zone is largely unsuitable in winter, so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary and choosing accommodation. Zhongliao Harbour, though a decommissioned fishing port, offers calm, safe waters that serve as a natural training pool by day. After dark, the small harbour shelters an astonishing variety of marine life, making it an excellent site for macro photography diving.

Notable dive sites: Suiyang Warship Reef, Zhongliao Harbour, Chaikou Ecological Reserve, Yanglao Reef, Fazi Reef, Guanquan Point.

Guanquan Zone

From east of Guanquan Point to south of Guibei Bay, the terrain here is characterised by clustered reefs interspersed with gravel beaches. Igneous rock formations are prominent, and the coastal erosion has sculpted a spectacular array of marine erosion landforms. Diving is also not recommended in this zone when the northeast monsoon is at its strongest. Gunshui Point is one of Green Island's most mysterious dive sites — every spring, a school of Hammerhead Sharks passes through here following the Kuroshio Current. But the currents are every bit as fierce as the name suggests, and very few dive shops or boat operators on Green Island are willing to take divers there, which only adds to its mystique.

Notable dive sites: Guanquan Outer Reef, General Rock, Crack of Light, Grand Canyon, Three Rocks, Loumen Rock Outer Reef, Nanzi Lake Outer Reef, Youzih Lake, Blue Cave, Gunshui Point, Pegasus Wreck, Hot Spring Giant Tower, Purple Flat Outer Reef, and more.

Guiwan Zone

From the Dabaisha Dive Trail in the north to the southern entrance of the Dago Tunnel, this section covers a short stretch of coastline but is the most frequently visited diving area on the entire island. The large gorgonian / sea fan formations at the Dabaisha Pinnacle are the zone's signature attraction. The Steel Reef here is considered one of Green Island's must-dive sites — batfish begin gliding lazily alongside the dive boat even before it has finished anchoring, and the goatfish sheltering inside the Steel Reef draw wide-angle photographers from far and wide. Paired with Green Island's near-perfect visibility, it's no wonder this site tops the list.

Dive sites in this zone: Guiwan White Whip Forest, Chicken Reef, Horseshoe Bridge, The Cathedral, Steel Reef, Dabaisha Pinnacle.

Related links:

• Bubblescuba/AOI exclusive photographer Joe Chang
• Bubblescuba Taiwan distributor
• A secret Green Island dive site — let's call it the Green Island Pyramid!