[Editor on Assignment] Almost Moved to Orchid Island? I Finally Dove the Badaiwan Wreck!

The Editor is on assignment again! This summer, the Editor made a second trip to Orchid Island with one overriding goal: film the Badaiwan Wreck and come back with the goods. 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, that's eight days on Orchid Island — and if the footage still didn't pass muster, the Editor had decided to just move there permanently!
This article gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what an Editor's work trip actually involves. Of course, there's also a curated guide to Orchid Island's dive sites and the best food and activities on the island — read on!

Pre-Trip Prep for an Orchid Island Assignment

Coming all this way to Orchid Island, what did the Editor do to make sure the shoot went smoothly?

Checking Windy constantly — monitoring wind and swell

Wind direction: The wreck sits on the south side of the island, so any southwest wind can easily lead to a cancellation — picking up can increase navigational risk for the boat and alter current conditions. During the summer southwest-monsoon season (roughly June–August), opportunities to dive Badaiwan are fairly limited.
Swell: Keep a close eye on wind speed and wave height. Based on the dive guide's experience, conditions with wind speed below 25 km/h and wave height within 1 m are considered suitable.
Other reminders: Although Windy provides a good general read of sea conditions, the captain's on-the-water experience is ultimately the deciding factor — nothing beats hands-on knowledge. If waves are visibly large near shore or you can see whitecaps on the water in the distance, it's not worth the risk.

Further reading: [Dive with Datou] 3 Steps to Reading Windy App for Divers — No Expert Required

Gear is our lifeline

The camera the Editor carries might as well be a vital organ.

Basic checks: Confirm camera battery is fully charged; confirm memory card is inserted; confirm strobe trigger is switched on (the Editor uses a third-party strobe trigger, not an OEM flash).
Gear prep:
- Step 1. Switch on the underwater housing, place the camera inside, and secure the latches.
- Step 2. Manually vacuum-seal the housing, then close the cover.
- Step 3. Load the strobe batteries and close the strobe cover.
- Step 4. Power on both the strobe and the camera simultaneously, then press the shutter to verify sync. Confirm the lens cap is off and the strobe fires correctly before powering everything down.
Final pre-dive check: Look at the indicator light on top of the housing to confirm it shows green, verifying that the vacuum seal is intact.

Booking transport

There are two main ways to reach Orchid Island:

By ferry: Round trip approximately NT$2,300. Ferries depart from Houbihu, Kenting, and from Fugang Fishing Harbor in Taitung. Schedules are limited and sailings are frequently cancelled due to weather, so monitor forecasts and ferry operator announcements closely before you go.
By plane: Round trip approximately NT$3,000. Schedules vary by month, season, and weather. Check the latest timetable before departure.

Booking dive packages and accommodation

If you're getting around by scooter, the distances between points are longer than they look — the Editor rode nearly half an hour just to get from Hongtou Village to the 7-Eleven, and nearly lost a contact lens in the process. It's best to stock up on everything you need in one go.

A road that seems to stretch on forever……

For this assignment, we booked through Blue Ocean House Dive Resort, which covered 3 boat dives as well as accommodation, scooter rental, and meals. When you're on assignment, having a hot meal waiting for you the moment you step off the boat is genuinely important!

Scouting Shots! The Editor's Top 3 Dive Sites on Orchid Island

Crystal clear to 30 m — just another ordinary day on Orchid Island.

Orchid Island's visibility is an almost legendary 30 m. The sea here is so crystal clear it looks like a composite photograph, and it's absolutely one of the must-visit offshore islands for any ocean lover. Here's a look at the dive sites the Editor visited on this trip — the top 3 dive sites on Orchid Island:

Badaiwan Wreck

The wreck is fully intact, and the marine life colonising it is extraordinarily rich.

Next to the wreck, we feel incredibly small.

Located just off Hongtou Village — a five-minute boat ride away — this world-class dive site features a massive, fully intact wreck resting on the seabed at approximately 36 m.
The Badaiwan Wreck is the Korean ocean-going freighter Fortress. On 27 September 1983, the vessel departed Japan bound for Singapore. While passing Little Orchid Island, dense fog rolled in and the hull struck a reef, tearing a hole in the ship's hull. Seawater began to flood in slowly. The captain ultimately steered the stricken vessel to its current position in Badaiwan Bay, where the Fortress was deliberately grounded and allowed to sink.
Marine life on the wreck is exceptionally rich. Large gorgonians / sea fans grow across the structure, and fish are abundant — anthias and ringtail surgeonfish schools are regular visitors. Note that this site sits in a current zone; always confirm current, swell, wind, and weather conditions before entering the water.

Above, the wreck is draped in gorgonians / sea fans and surrounded by clouds of glassfish.

After a thorough search, the Editor even spotted an adorable little nudibranch!

Dawu Store

Located just offshore from Langdao Village, this site takes its name from the "Dawu Store" that sits directly above it on shore. Maximum depth is around 20 m. The moment you descend, you're greeted by expansive coral reef and dense schools of anthias. Swim around to the back section and you can squeeze through gaps between the reef formations — almost like cave diving. Shining a Flash Light inside revealed all manner of fish and lobster. Beyond the stunning visibility, Orchid Island's underwater topography is healthy, diverse, and genuinely awe-inspiring. The Editor genuinely felt moved after surfacing.

Schools of fish swarmed around us the moment we descended.

An enormous gorgonian / sea fan! Photo credit: Jason Lin.

Twin Lion Rock

Also located off Langdao Village, this site is defined by two massive rocks rising from the seafloor. Depth ranges from approximately 18–25 m. The underwater scenery was genuinely breathtaking — multiple enormous boulders scattered across the bottom, with sea snakes and fish darting in and out of view. Weaving between the rock formations, coral blanketing both sides, the only sounds in the water were your own bubbles. In that moment, you truly appreciate what it means to be a diver.

Massive boulders stand sentinel on the seafloor — perfect for exploring and soaking up the beauty of the dive.

What Does the Editor Do After Surfacing?

Feeling envious of the Editor's dives? Don't forget — this is a work trip. Before every dive there's the silent prayer for dramatic scenery and big marine life, and the moment you surface there's the urgent need to check whether the footage actually made the cut. The Editor was in full mission-mode throughout every single dive — always thinking about composition, always braced for the unexpected.

Three priorities after surfacing

First things first: soak the camera in fresh water. Once it's rinsed and dried, pull the memory card and start reviewing the shots. (Reminder: whether it's a GoPro, TG6, or any other camera, always make sure it is completely dry before opening.)
Then the occupational hazard kicks in — the Editor opens the laptop to cull and edit the best images, then starts uploading photos and video to social media. Uploading over lunch, uploading during rest time, uploading for the entire afternoon after surfacing (laughs).
Finally, all photos and video are sorted into folders by date and dive site.

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

No self-respecting foodie Editor would let Orchid Island's local cuisine slip by! Many divers have faced the all-too-familiar situation: you rinse off after the dive, head out hungry, and find every restaurant you wanted is already closed. The Editor has compiled a must-eat list with opening hours so fellow divers can actually enjoy the food!

Oooops! Kitchen Grilled Rice Balls

Address: Hongtou Village, across from the Phalaenopsis Restaurant and Ji Shouxiang Pavilion
Hours: 11
–17
or until sold out (closed Tuesdays)

A happy accident discovered while wandering around — the summer lemon chicken is a must-try. Tangy, sweet chicken paired with savoury-sweet Japanese-style rice balls: a real appetite-opener.

Stolen Moments — The Editor's Land Tour of Orchid Island

After travelling all the way to Orchid Island, you can't just look at the underwater world and call it done. The scenery on land is equally spectacular. So while everyone else rested after meals, the Editor snuck out for a scooter ride around this beautiful little island!

If you photograph any of the traditional canoes, it's strongly recommended that you ask local residents for permission first — never risk causing offence.

The view looking down from the Orchid Island Weather Station.

Due to its geographic position, Orchid Island was a key waypoint for ancient Southeast Asian migration routes, and the island's population is predominantly Tao (Dawu) indigenous people. Its distance from the Taiwanese mainland has allowed many traditional structures, cultural practices, and the island's natural character to survive largely intact to this day. Whether underwater or above ground, every depth and every angle reveals something unique and captivating. Join the Editor for a road trip around the island!

An Instagram-worthy spot: a natural rock channel carved by the landscape, perfect for silhouette photography.

One of the Editor's favourite stretches of road — a long straight leading into the darkness of a tunnel through the mountain.

Goats grazing by the roadside are a common sight on Orchid Island — sometimes you just have to wait for them to cross.

The Green Grassland is the best place on Orchid Island to watch the sunset — unfortunately the cloud cover was too thick during the Editor's visit, and the sunset didn't make an appearance.

The old Orchid Island Lighthouse, located behind the petrol station next to the harbour — no longer in operation.

The rolling mountain ridges of Orchid Island make for an impressive backdrop.

A full loop of the island road is approximately 36 km — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by scooter 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 distances between villages aren't trivial. The two 7-Elevens on the island are located at Kaiyuan Port and Dongqing Bay. (Pro tip: the Editor also recommends the local farmers' association supermarket, the Ocean Supermarket, and local convenience stores — prices are generally lower than at 7-Eleven.) Check which shops and convenience stores are near your accommodation before you arrive, and pay close attention to their opening hours!

Every village has its own entrance sign, full of local cultural character.

The Ocean Supermarket near Kaiyuan Port stocks almost everything you need, at prices noticeably lower than the convenience stores.

Where to Stay on Orchid Island?

On this trip, the Editor stayed at the Blue Ocean House Resort in Hongtou Village — a four-person cabin that comfortably fits four single beds. Outside the room there's space to hang equipment and dry swimwear, and the dive shop is literally just downstairs.

Solo travellers needn't worry either — the Editor also stayed at a hostel this trip: 單藍 Blue Capsule. Twelve people per room, with two bathrooms, two washbasins, individual lockable storage for each guest, generous bunk space, and comfortable mattresses. Best of all, the common lounge is a wonderful place to decompress after surfacing — a perfect spot to scroll through your phone, write posts, and get to know fellow travellers from all over.

The journey to Orchid Island is long, but once you've witnessed the grandeur underwater, the beauty on land, and the warmth of the local people, every bit of effort feels absolutely worth it.

小均

13年前的一次體驗潛水，讓我徹底的愛上了大海～這個世界很大，夢想也很大，每個相遇都是最好的安排。透過四處旅行，認識了不一樣的自己！