[Taiwan · Keelung Chaojing] Dive Site Guide – Northern Taiwan's Ecologically Rich Secret Garden

In May 2016, the government officially established the Wanghaixiang Chaojing Bay Resource Conservation Area. Thanks to the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, the restoration results have been outstanding — marine life is abundant and diverse — earning the area the nickname "Secret Garden of the Deep."

Pick Up Marine Debris — Let's Protect the Ocean Together

Spark Chao, founder of BlueTrend and initiator of the Wanghaixiang Bay Dive Map Project, recalls that when he first learned to dive, he heard there was a lot of trash on the seafloor and simply thought: why not help clean it up? He later learned that coach Lin Yu-ping of Jou Diving regularly brought divers to Chaojing to collect marine debris, and he joined their efforts. Coach Chao laughed and said, "Picking up trash really does make a difference — the amount of marine debris at Chaojing now is much less than when I first came in 2017."

Compared to other dive sites, more people are willing to clean up underwater trash here because Chaojing is a designated conservation area — you can actually see your efforts paying off as the ecosystem improves year by year, rather than having everything swept away by a trawl net. Today, Chaojing's conservation success has fuelled a thriving dive scene, revitalized the local industry, and created employment opportunities, making both locals and divers more eager to participate in conservation activities. This virtuous cycle has made Chaojing a model for marine and Northeast Coast dive site conservation in Taiwan.

Chaojing's Star Attraction — the Sea Apple

The must-see at Chaojing is the sea apple. The most popular route starts at Entry Point 2, descending and kicking out at a compass bearing of 120°. You will encounter an 8 m trench, then continue diving down to 16 m, turn 90° and follow the slope — you'll reach a second trench. Keep your depth between 16 m and 18 m, because if you go shallower than 12 m or deeper than 25 m, you'll easily miss the isolated reef ahead — the one everyone calls the Secret Garden.

Among the three small reef rocks near 22 m around the isolated reef, you can spot the famous sea apple — a filter-feeding sea cucumber. When the current flows past, it opens the tentacles around its mouth to face the current and capture plankton, resembling a golden flower in full bloom. Near the sea apple, you can also search the rock walls for various creatures. If you're lucky, you might spot a Frogfish camouflaged as a sponge, an Ibacus species (a slipper lobster) with delicate movements often mistaken for a spider crab, and Periclimenes masudai shrimp whose coloration mimics a leopard-patterned sea anemone.

Chaojing's Rich Underwater Ecosystem

Beyond the ultimate target — the sea apple — along this route there is a very good chance of witnessing spectacular schools of butterflyfish, sawtail surgeonfish (Prionurus scalprum), fusiliers, and bonito, all of which are practically permanent residents that roam this zone. Coach Chao recalls once watching hundreds of moorish idols swimming past him in a breathtaking display he'll never forget. You can also search for larger fish such as Grouper, moray eel, grunts, and snappers. In particular, a few giant moray eels and leopard moray eels that permanently inhabit the isolated reef are not only impressively large but frequently interact with divers. Moray eels can be found at many sites, but encountering an individual nearly 1 m long that is comfortable around humans is truly rare anywhere else.

At Chaojing, from March to May you can watch tiger-patterned cuttlefish spawning; from May onwards, Coryphella nudibranch begin to appear; around June, look forward to spectacular schools of fusiliers and amberjack. In terms of conservation achievements, Coach Chao especially recommends visiting the broadclub cuttlefish spawning grounds. At other dive sites along the Northeast Coast, bamboo branches are typically set up as spawning structures, but here it is different — after a group of dedicated divers took the time to clear away the debris from the gorgonians, the broadclub cuttlefish began laying their eggs directly on the sea fans. When you look out and see an entire gorgonian colony draped with cuttlefish eggs, the sight is truly awe-inspiring.

While enjoying Chaojing's rich marine life, always keep dive safety in mind. Coach Chao notes that Chaojing sits at a bay entrance with a largely muddy substrate, and the tidal flow can sometimes kick up underwater sandstorms. From a distance these look like fog — when you see one, head back immediately. Once you're caught inside a sandstorm, visibility drops to virtually zero. This is something to watch out for. Divers are also reminded not to enter shipping lanes when in the water.

Of course, when diving at Chaojing it is essential to maintain good neutral buoyancy to avoid damaging the coral on the seafloor. When kicking with your fins, take care not to hit the coral. Coach Chao once witnessed a diver wearing long fins (freediving) push off the bottom and ascend effortlessly — but a basketball-sized coral below was kicked apart in the process. It was a real shame.

Chaojing's beauty exists because of everyone's dedicated conservation efforts — and its future depends on all of us continuing to protect it, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant ecosystem for generations to come!

Wox's Recommended Species to Look For

1. Sea apple: Extremely rare; Chaojing has a stable population. Only when feeding will it open its branching tentacles into the current, resembling a flower in bloom.
2. Moray eel: Widespread along the Northeast Coast with many species, but mostly hunted out elsewhere — only Chaojing has a stable population. Despite their fierce appearance, they are not particularly aggressive and can be approached at close range.
3. Periclimenes masudai: A small shrimp that favours living on Calyptrophora sea anemones; its spots blend so well with the background that it is easy to miss.

Special thanks to our biological consultant for this article: Wox Lee

References:

• Marine Natural History of Northern Taiwan (Li Chenglu & Spark Chao, 2020)
• Taiwan Reef Coast Map (Chao Shih-min, 2003)
• Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation official website
• Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area official website
• National Museum of Marine Science and Technology official website

Further Reading:

• Marine Protected Area Survey — Chaojing Beats Shenao! Uncovering the Differences in Management Measures and Intensity
• Keelung Chaojing Wanghaixiang — The Perfect Combination of Marine Protected Area and Citizen Science
• Chaojing Underwater Photography Competition Awards — Behind-the-Scenes Stories