Taiwan is surrounded by ocean on all four sides, which should make it a natural hub for water sports — yet for a variety of reasons, many Taiwanese remain surprisingly unfamiliar with the sea. That is precisely why BlueTrend was founded: to help Taiwanese rediscover the ocean and, ultimately, fall in love with it. So let's start by exploring the dive destinations that this island nation has to offer.
If you'd like to read more about Taiwan's diving environments, check out Taiwan Diving Environment Overview – Southern Region and Taiwan Diving Environment Overview – Outlying Islands.
Taiwan Diving Environment – Northern Region
The northern diving zone of Taiwan roughly spans the coastline from Keelung to the northern port of Toucheng in Yilan. Situated along Taiwan's Northeast Coast, this area is heavily affected by the northeast monsoon in winter. After October, water temperatures drop sharply, and unpredictable rogue waves frequently surge along the shore, making entries and exits considerably more difficult. If diving is absolutely necessary during this period, a drysuit is strongly recommended to prevent hypothermia. In summer, however, the area is only about an hour's drive from Taipei, making it far more accessible than other dive destinations around Taiwan. Several well-known dive sites sit within sheltered bays that enjoy calm conditions throughout the summer — ideal for beginner training and instruction, and a top choice for experienced divers looking to hone their underwater photography skills.
The Northeast Coast diving zone can be broadly divided into several areas:
Keelung – Wanghaixiang Bay
The bay's iconic landmark: a spectacular cluster of giant gorgonians / sea fans. Photo Credit Owen Yeh
Wanghaixiang Bay lies between Badouzi Cape and Fan Zai Ao Cape, reachable by turning left off Provincial Highway 62. The Keelung City Government designated the area as an artificial reef no-fishing zone in 1999, and in 2016 it was further established as the Wanghaixiang Chaojing Bay Resource Conservation Area, with the aim of creating a thriving marine sanctuary and boosting local tourism. Owing to the prevailing currents and depth profile, the seafloor here is blanketed with colorful plume soft corals in an abundance and variety rarely seen elsewhere. Because plume soft corals are filter feeders, they only expand to feed under favorable conditions; the rest of the time they retract to avoid the current, meaning the underwater scenery at any given spot can look dramatically different depending on when you visit. Gorgonians / sea fans, sea trees, and sponges — all filter feeders — are also common throughout the bay. The "Secret Garden" shore dive site in particular offers a rare chance to encounter enormous sea fans up close. Thanks to the large number of artificial reefs placed by fisheries authorities and the dedicated efforts of conservationists, the bay becomes a nursery for juvenile fish each early spring, drawing in schools of migratory species. A wide variety of coral reef fish also reside here year-round, though human harvesting has kept populations modest in number and size — with the exception of damselfish and grunts. Patient macro photographers exploring the coral heads will be rewarded with all manner of fascinating creatures.
Popular dive sites: Chaojing Park, Secret Garden, Front Garden, Flower Wall, Steel Reef, Haijian Wreck, Crystal Palace, and more.
Ruifang Section
A slightly more advanced dive, but an absolute paradise for macro photography. Photo Credit 林佑平
Beyond Bat Cave Park, the Ruifang coastal stretch between Nanya and Bitou hides several dive sites, including 82-5k — renowned as the premier macro diving destination in northern Taiwan — the dramatic underwater canyon of 83K, and the beginner-friendly Bitou Park. During summer weekends, 82-5k in particular can get extremely crowded. Note that the underwater terrain here is an extension of the land's headlands, where tidal longshore currents interact with the vertical topography to produce strong rip currents; depths beyond the site quickly exceed 40 m. Diving with a guide familiar with local conditions is strongly advised. This area falls within the New Taipei City Ruifang District's prohibition on drift gill nets within 3 nautical miles of shore. If you spot a fishing vessel or any individual setting nets near the shoreline, please report it immediately to the Coast Guard at 118.
Popular dive sites: Bat Cave Park, 82-5k, 83k, Bitou Cape Park.
Longdong
Cuttlefish egg clusters are a defining feature of Longdong in summer. Photo Credit 林佑平
Longdong Bay is a natural northeast–southwest-oriented fjord-like inlet nestled between Bitou Cape and Longdong Cape, accessible via Provincial Highway 2 just past the Bitou Tunnel. This area is the primary diving hub of northern Taiwan, with a dense row of dive shops lining the roadside — the highest concentration of any location on the island. Longdong Bay Park is operated by local businesses under a lease from the Tourism Bureau; it has been designated an ecological conservation zone where harvesting is prohibited, and it offers excellent facilities along with a variety of water sports activities. Sheltered within the inlet, the bay almost never experiences strong currents, and in summer the surrounding hills block the southwest monsoon, keeping conditions calm and ideal for diving. In addition to its resident coral reef fish populations, the bay becomes a nursery for juvenile fish each early spring, attracting schools of migratory species inshore. Note that Longdong falls within the New Taipei City Gongliao District, which has not yet implemented the drift gill net prohibition within 3 nautical miles of shore. Carrying a dive knife while diving here is strongly recommended for safety.
Popular dive sites: Longdong Ocean Park, Longdong 1.5, Longdong No. 2, Longdong No. 3, Longdong No. 4 (Hemei Elementary School).
Gongliao – Lailai Section
The Gongliao District of New Taipei City extends from Longdong all the way to Lailai. Thanks to the local topography and ocean currents, water visibility improves noticeably once you pass the Longdong Tunnel. This coastline features an interplay of rocky reefs and sandy stretches, with generally shallow depths and no strong currents. Many of the rocky shores were illegally developed into nine-hole abalone pools in earlier years, altering the original shoreline; however, this has inadvertently created convenient entry and exit points for divers. Although the coastal land is state-owned and occupied without authorization, please be respectful when passing through private abalone pool areas.
Popular dive sites: Sijivan Bay, Mosquito Pit, 92k, Meiyan Mountain, Pillbox, Yingge Rock, Gui'an (Chang'an Diving).
Yilan
The Yilan coastline is one of Taiwan's lesser-known diving destinations, but some dive shops have developed unique dive itineraries worth checking out. Notable sites include the gorgonian / sea fan forest at Shicheng, the Wan'an warship wreck off Shicheng, the Juyong warship wreck off Dong'ao, and the underwater volcanic vents off Turtle Island (Guishan Island). As most of these sites are accessible only by boat dive and require more advanced skills, an Advanced Open Water Diver (PADI cert) certification or higher is recommended.
Popular dive sites: Fenniaoling, Juyong (warship wreck), Turtle Island Underwater Volcano, Wan'an (warship wreck).
