Sokcho & Goseong · South Korea · Reef · Kelp forest
Geumgangsan
A maze of granite boulders that mirrors the Geumgang mountains
Geumgangsan is a granite boulder site off the Goseong coast, named for the Geumgang mountains, whose landscape seems to carry on beneath the waves. Kelp covers its shallower ground and the rock falls away to 40 m. Divers come for the scale of the stone, a maze of swim-throughs and overhangs that suits both newer divers in the shallows and experienced ones on the deep rock.
Where it is and how deep
38.3030° N, 128.5716° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Kelp forest covers the shallower sections, its tall brown fronds forming canopies that filter the light into shafts. Massive granite boulders, worn by wave action, stack into a labyrinth of swim-throughs and overhangs at various depths, and the stones are as grand as the mountain they are named after.
The site holds both shallow ground and deep rock, so a dive can stay up among the kelp and the upper boulders or follow the granite down. The deepest part reaches 40 m, where the cold of the East Sea and the depth make it a dive for experienced divers.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Sokcho & Goseong: July to October is the best stretch for East Sea diving; January and February bring water of 2 to 4 °C.
Dive videos
천학정 금강산 다이빙 · Light House SCUBA DIVING on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Geumgangsan a shore or boat dive?+
A boat dive. The Cheonhakjeong speedboat leaves Gyoam port and usually visits Ulsanbawi and the square artificial reef before Geumgangsan.
What training does Geumgangsan need?+
It is an advanced site with rock down to 40 m, so deep training is needed for the lower boulders; the shallow kelp ground stays easier.
Sources
- 금강산 Diving — DivePlanner Pro
- 천학정다이브리조트 — Korea Trip Tips
- 천학정스쿠버리조트 (Cheonhakjeong Scuba Resort) — Dive to Korea
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