Diving in Taiwan?

[ScubaSam]

Hi, all,

I may be in Taipei either July or August 2009 to meet up with some non-diving friends. Yes, I'm aware that it's unbearably hot and humid at that time of year but they're dear friends so I will sweat for them.

Would love to squeeze in a few dive days while I'm there, with that in mind, here comes the questions:

• Any good dive operators in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Any good dive sites in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Shore dives or boat dives?
• Should I bring my own gear or rent?
• Water temp and viz in July/August?
• Exposure suit? 3mm, 7mm or just swimsuit?
• Dive buddies are welcome as I will be with non-divers in Taipei

What else am I forgetting to ask? That's all for now.

Many thanks for your help!

 

[Makhno]

Hi Sam,

I haven't dived in Taiwan -- yet. From what little I know about it, the very best diving in Taiwan isn't near Taipei, but rather, is in the waters off Green Island, Orchid (Lanyu) Island, and the islands of the Penghu archipelago. As for the main island itself, there's said to be some good (but usually not great) diving in the waters off Kenting national park, not too far from Kaohsiung.

As for your specific query re: diving near Taipei, here's some relevant info I came across recently (scroll down): Forumosa • View topic - The Scuba Thread 2008

There's not a lot of very good information on the internet in English about diving in Taiwan, but if you can read Chinese then you'll probably be able to find out much more than I have been able to. Here's just a little bit of info in English to get you started: www.taiwandive.com - Kenting - Green Island - Orchid Island - XiaoLiuChiu
Green Island Scuba Diving Vacations/Packages: Taiwan, East Asia Diving Equipment
Green Island Adventures

Drop us a post after your trip and tell us all about it, OK?

Cheers

 

[SDiggy]

Hi there,

I've also got a trip scheduled to Taiwan, I'll be going in October on business. I'll be going to Green Island for the weekend of Oct 18-19. I'll post my findings here after I get back.

 

[ScubaSam]

Makhno - Many thanks for the information and the links, I'll take a look at them. And if I do in fact end up going, I will drop you post.

SDiggy - Yes, please post here. Wishing you a safe and a great dive.

 

[ambertiger]

Hi, all,

I may be in Taipei either July or August 2009 to meet up with some non-diving friends. Yes, I'm aware that it's unbearably hot and humid at that time of year but they're dear friends so I will sweat for them.

Would love to squeeze in a few dive days while I'm there, with that in mind, here comes the questions:

• Any good dive operators in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Any good dive sites in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Shore dives or boat dives?
• Should I bring my own gear or rent?
• Water temp and viz in July/August?
• Exposure suit? 3mm, 7mm or just swimsuit?
• Dive buddies are welcome as I will be with non-divers in Taipei

What else am I forgetting to ask? That's all for now.

Many thanks for your help!

Hi sorry I only just noticed your questions. Well it's a bit late now but just in case you come back to Taiwan I will give you some info. Best diving in the Taipei area is Fulong on the NE coast about 1.5 hrs drive from Taipei. Try contacting McGill Cheng at info@taiwandivebuddy.com McGill is a recreational and tec diver and a PADI CD. He speaks fluent English. On the East coast the best diving is Orchid Island by a long way, followed by Green Island then Kenting on the southern tip. Going up the south west coast you have diving on Shau Liu Chou. There is also diving over on Penghu Island group but it is not well organised. There is no diving at all on the west coast [mud/sand flats and some mangrove]. In spring and summer a 3mm full wet suit is fine, in autumn I dive with a 3mm and hood or in Jan' and Feb' a 5mm and hood. Check out www.taiwandive.com - Kenting - Green Island - Orchid Island - XiaoLiuChiu

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[ambertiger]

Hi, all,

I may be in Taipei either July or August 2009 to meet up with some non-diving friends. Yes, I'm aware that it's unbearably hot and humid at that time of year but they're dear friends so I will sweat for them.

Would love to squeeze in a few dive days while I'm there, with that in mind, here comes the questions:

• Any good dive operators in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Any good dive sites in Taipei or near Taipei?
• Shore dives or boat dives?
• Should I bring my own gear or rent?
• Water temp and viz in July/August?
• Exposure suit? 3mm, 7mm or just swimsuit?
• Dive buddies are welcome as I will be with non-divers in Taipei

What else am I forgetting to ask? That's all for now.

Many thanks for your help!

Mmm I see I did not answer all you ?'s. Bring your own dive gear. The quality of rental dive gear from most Chinese owned shops here really sucks. The foreigners have good gear and McGill in Taipei has good gear but he lived half his life in Canada and is married to a Canadian lady.

Lots of good shore diving at all the dive destinations mentioned above but the boat diving is best. Average cost of a two tank boat dive is NT$1,800 or about US$56 without gear. For shore dives tanks are NT$200 each and a full set of dive gear is NT$800-1,000 per day. 1 USD = NT$32 approx.

 

[ScubaSam]

ambertiger - You are not late, this trip is next summer 2009, if it happens at all. You are so considerate! Many thanks for sending all this information.

I will take into consideration all the wonderful recommendations posted on this thread.
Again, THANK YOU, ambertiger, sdiggy, Makhno. Will keep you all posted if this trip actually happens.

 

[ambertiger]

Hi you are welcome, if you need any help if you come down south [I dive mainly in Kenting] just drop me a line. I can organise any kind of diving in Kenting.
Dive safe.

 

[ScubaSam]

Hi you are welcome, if you need any help if you come down south [I dive mainly in Kenting] just drop me a line. I can organise any kind of diving in Kenting.
Dive safe.

Ambertiger - THANK YOU for the offer and I will definitely drop you a line, heck, I'll drop everyone a line on this thread given how helpful y'all have been. If I can ever return the favor when any of you are on this side of the globe please do not hesitate to PM me.

 

[bctiger86]

Hey I'm going soon. I know I'm several yrs late on this post, but I'm worried about several things. My intentions were to go to the Philippines for 4 days and dive, but that fell through. Now Taipei is still on and I'm for sure going there no doubt in just a week or two. I'm taking all of my own gear but I'm worried some of it may come up missing if you know what I mean... is this an issue of concern I should even worry about? Further is it worth diving around that area. I will be going with a little cash in hopes of diving.