[Editor on Assignment] Almost Moved to Orchid Island? The Badaiwan Wreck — I Finally Made It!

The Editor is on assignment again! This summer, the Editor made a second trip to Orchid Island, with one overriding mission: shoot footage of the Badaiwan Wreck and bring it home. Last time, a typhoon crashed the party and the shoot fell through. This time, the Editor hung up a sunshine doll well in advance and came fully prepared. Between the two trips, the Editor spent eight days on the island — and if the ideal footage still hadn't materialized, the plan was to just move to Orchid Island for good!
This article takes you behind the scenes of the Editor's work trip. Of course, there's also a roundup of Orchid Island dive sites, plus the best food and sights on the island — read on!

Pre-Trip Prep for Orchid Island

Making the long journey out to Orchid Island means doing everything possible to ensure the shoot goes smoothly. So what exactly did the Editor do to prepare?

Watch Windy Constantly — Monitor Wind Direction and Sea Conditions

• Wind direction: The wreck sits on the southern side of the island, so southwest winds tend to cause cancellations — they increase the danger of navigating the boat, alter current conditions, and so on. During the June–August southwest monsoon season, chances of diving Badaiwan are relatively slim.
• Sea conditions: Keep an eye on wind speed and wave height. Based on the dive guide's experience, wind speeds below 25 km/h and wave heights under 1 m are considered suitable.
• Additional notes: Although Windy gives the Editor a good general picture of sea conditions, the captain's experience and feel remain the primary guide — real-world judgment is the most reliable tool. If waves are visibly large near shore or white-capped swells are visible in the distance, it's best not to risk the trip.

Further reading: 【Diving with Master Datu】Three Steps to Reading the Windy App for Dive Conditions — No Expert Required

Gear Is Our Lifeline

• Basic checks: Confirm the camera battery is fully charged; confirm the memory card is inserted; confirm the strobe trigger is switched on (the Editor uses a third-party strobe trigger, not the manufacturer's flash unit).

• Gear setup:

  • Step 1. Open the underwater housing and place the camera inside, securing the latches firmly.
  • Step 2. Manually vacuum-pump the housing, then close the cover.
  • Step 3. Load the strobe batteries and close the cover.
  • Step 4. Power on both the strobe and the camera simultaneously, then fire the shutter to test. Confirm the lens cap is removed and the strobe is firing correctly before switching everything off.

• Final pre-dive check: Look at the vacuum indicator light on top of the housing — confirm it is green, verifying that the vacuum seal is intact.

Book Transportation

There are two main ways to get to Orchid Island:

• Ferry: Round-trip approximately NT$2,300. Ferries depart from Houbihu in Kenting and from Fugang Fishing Harbor in Taitung, but schedules are limited and cancellations due to weather are common. Be sure to keep a close eye on weather forecasts and ferry company announcements before departure.
• Flight: Round-trip approximately NT$3,000. Flight schedules vary by month, season, and weather conditions — check the latest timetable before you go.

Book Diving and Accommodation

If you're getting around the island by scooter, distances between points are longer than you'd expect. For instance, the Editor once rode nearly half an hour just to get from Hongtou Village to the 7-11 — contacts were practically flying out. It's best to buy everything you need in a single trip.

For this work trip, the Editor booked through Blue Ocean House Dive Resort, which covered 3 boat dives as well as the room, scooter rental, and meals. When you're on a work trip and exhausted, rolling out of bed to find food waiting after a dive is genuinely important!

On Location with the Editor! Top 3 Recommended Dive Sites on Orchid Island

Orchid Island's baseline visibility of 30 m is common knowledge. The sea here is so impossibly clear and blue it looks like a composite photo — it's undoubtedly one of Taiwan's outlying islands that every ocean lover must visit at least once. Which dive sites did the Editor visit for this shoot? Here's a look at Orchid Island's top three dive sites:

Badaiwan Wreck

• Located just five minutes by boat from Hongtou Village, this world-class dive site features a massive, fully intact wreck resting on the seabed at approximately 36 m.
• The Badaiwan Wreck is a Korean ocean freighter known as the "Fortress." On September 27, 1983, it departed Japan bound for Singapore. While passing Little Orchid Island, dense fog rolled in and poor visibility caused the hull to strike a reef, opening a breach in the vessel. As seawater slowly flooded in, the captain made the decision to steer the ship to its current position in Badaiwan Bay, where the Fortress came to rest on the bottom.
• Marine life on the wreck is incredibly rich — multiple large gorgonians / sea fans have taken hold, and schools of fish are everywhere. Anthias and Unicornfish aggregations are common sightings here. This is a current-prone site; always confirm current conditions, wave height, wind direction, and weather before diving.

Dawu Store (達悟商店)

• Located off Langdao Village, this site takes its name from the "Dawu Store" that sits directly on shore above it. The depth is approximately 20 m. The moment you descend, you're greeted by sweeping coral reefs and dense schools of anthias. Swim further around and you can squeeze between the reef formations into what feels almost like a cave — shining a Torch inside revealed a surprising variety of fish and lobster. Orchid Island's underwater world pairs crystal-clear visibility with a rich ecosystem and dramatic topography. Surfacing afterward, the Editor was genuinely moved.

Twin Lion Rocks (雙獅岩)

• Located off Langdao Village, this site is defined by two famous large rock formations rising from the water. Depths range from approximately 18–25 m. The underwater scenery left the Editor awestruck — multiple massive boulders rise from the seabed, and sea snakes and fish schools appear without warning. Threading through the rocks with coral blanketing both sides, with nothing but yourself and the sound of your own bubbles, you're reminded just how wonderful it is to be a diver.

After the Dive — What Does the Editor Do?

Feeling envious of the Editor splashing around at all those dive sites? Don't forget — this is a work trip. Before every dive, there's the ritual prayer for epic scenery and big creatures; and the moment you surface, it's straight to reviewing whether the footage meets the brief. The Editor stays in full battle-ready mode throughout every dive — on top of worrying about anything that might go wrong, the mind is constantly turning over how to frame the next shot to get the job done.

Three Priorities After Surfacing

1. The very first step after surfacing is always to soak the camera in fresh water. Once rinsed and dried, take out the memory card and review the shots. (Reminder: whether it's a GoPro, TG6, or any other camera, always make sure it is completely dry before opening it.)
2. Next, the Editor's occupational instincts kick in: open the laptop, cull through the images, pick the keepers and edit them, then start uploading photos and video to social media to share with everyone — uploading over lunch, uploading during rest, uploading for the entire half-day after surfacing (laughs).
3. Finally, all photos and videos are sorted and archived by date and dive site.

What to Eat on Orchid Island? The Editor's Foodie Picks

As a self-confessed foodie, the Editor couldn't possibly miss the local food scene on Orchid Island! Many divers have been through it — freshened up after a dive and ready to eat, only to find every place you wanted has already closed. Below the Editor has compiled a must-try list complete with opening hours, so divers can enjoy a proper meal without the guesswork!

A-Dong Gua Bao

• Address: No. 77, Yeyou Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
• Hours: 11:00–14:30, 18:00–20:00

Dongqing No. 33 (東清三十三號)

• Address: No. 33, Dongqing Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
• Hours: 06:00–13:30 (closed Wednesdays)

Tai Lan Thai Cuisine (泰蘭泰式料理)

• Address: Kaiyuan Port, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County (next to the Coast Guard station)
• Hours: 10:30–22:00 (closed Mondays)

Blue & Lamb Ramen (藍與羊拉麵)

• Address: No. 76, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County — directly behind the Presbyterian Church
• Hours: 11:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00

Yanyin Brunch (燕吟早午餐)

• Address: No. 29, Hongtou Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
• Hours: 06:00–14:00

Wenwen Taro Ice (雯雯芋頭冰)

• Address: No. 20, Hongtou Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
• Hours: 09:00–20:00 (closed Wednesdays)

Oooops! Kitchen Grilled Rice Balls

• Address: Hongtou Village, across from the Butterfly Orchid Restaurant and Ji Shoochang Pavilion
• Hours: 11:00–17:30 or until sold out (closed Tuesdays)

The Editor Steals a Moment — Land Sightseeing on Orchid Island

Having come all this way to Orchid Island, it would be a shame to only see what's beneath the surface. The island's scenery above water is equally breathtaking — so while everyone else settled in to rest after meals, the Editor snuck out for a scooter ride to explore this beautiful little island!

Due to its geographic location, Orchid Island was one of the key waypoints during the historic migration of peoples from Southeast Asia. The majority of residents today are indigenous Tao people. Its distance from the main island of Taiwan means the island has preserved much of its traditional architecture, culture, and natural character to this day. Whether underwater or on land, every depth and angle here offers something unique and enchanting. Follow the Editor on a scenic ride around the island!

The circumferential road around the island is approximately 36 km — a full loop by scooter takes about 1.5 to 2 hours without stopping. Orchid Island has 6 villages in total: Yeyou, Hongtou, Yuren, Yiyin, Dongqing, and Langdao, divided into 4 administrative districts: Yeyou, Hongtou, Langdao, and Dongqing Village. The villages are spread out from one another. Of note, the island's beloved 7-11 convenience stores number only two — one at Kaiyuan Port, one at Dongqing Bay. (Pro tip: the Editor also recommends the local farmers' association supermarket, the Ocean Supermarket, and local general stores, as prices tend to be lower than at the convenience store.) Before heading out, check which shops and stores are near you, and pay close attention to opening hours!

Where to Stay on Orchid Island?

For this trip, the Editor stayed at the Blue Ocean House Resort's four-person wooden cabin in Hongtou Village. The room fits four single beds, with space outside to hang gear and dry swimwear, and it's just a short walk downstairs to the dive shop.

Solo travelers, don't worry — the Editor also stayed at a hostel this trip: Single Blue (單藍). The dorm sleeps 12, with two bathrooms, two washbasins, individual lockable storage for each guest, generously sized bunks, and comfortable mattresses. Best of all, there's a comfortable common room — a perfect place to decompress, post on social media, and get to know fellow travelers from all over after a dive.

Although the journey to Orchid Island is long, once you've witnessed the spectacular underwater scenery, the breathtaking landscapes above water, and the warmth of the local people — every bit of effort feels completely worthwhile.

Further reading:

• 【Diving with Master Datu】Three Steps to Reading the Windy App for Dive Conditions — No Expert Required
• Outdoor Enthusiasts Must Read Before Getting in the Water! 3 Essential Principles for Water Activities
• Is Your Boat Dive Group Safe? These Types of Vessels Put You at High Risk — Essential Reading for Dive Shops and Dive Instructors
• 『Diving Taiwan』Stepping onto Taiwan's Last Pristine Frontier — Orchid Island, the Island of People
• Overview of Taiwan's Diving Environments — Outlying Islands Edition