Region

Diving in East Asia

38 curated dive destinations across 5 countries including China and Hong Kong in East Asia. Conditions peak around Jul, Aug and Oct.

Green Island · photo Divervincent

Destinations: 38
Countries: 5
Peak season: Jul–Oct

Common encountersReef fish swarmsNudibranchsMacro crittersSea turtlesTrevally & jacks

Diving by country

Japan25
Taiwan6
South Korea5
China1
Hong Kong1

What is diving in East Asia like?

East Asian diving is mostly Japanese, and it ranges from coral reefs in the southern islands to temperate macro diving near Tokyo. In the Ryukyus, turtles appear on nearly every dive in the Keramas, reef manta rays circle shallow cleaning stations off Ishigaki, and hammerhead schools stack over the pinnacles of Yonaguni in winter. On the mainland coast, Kushimoto has the world's northernmost table coral reef, at 33° north, back to spawning en masse after a 2018 cold-water intrusion killed most of it.

Near Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula is Japan's macro heartland, three hours from the city, and Mikomoto is mainland Japan's only reliable schooling hammerhead dive. Taiwan's islands have resident green turtles, hundreds of them around Xiaoliuqiu, and South Korea's Jeju has protected soft coral forests on volcanic rock.

Best diving in East Asia for wrecks, big animals, beginners and macro

One destination per theme, picked from the species, dive types, access and site records on each destination page.

Wrecks
Hong Kong
Its dive sites take in 2 wrecks.
Big animals
Hachijojima
Japan
Hammerheads and thresher sharks are both on its species list, as many as any destination here.
Beginners
Izu Peninsula
Japan
Rated for beginners, with mild current and shore diving. Best Sep–Nov.
Macro
Okinawa
Japan
Muck and macro diving is one of its main dive types, with nudibranchs, macro critters and octopus & cuttlefish on the species list.

When is the best time to dive East Asia?

Peak seasons here are spread across the year; July has the most, with 18 of the 38 destinations at their best.

November is the leanest month, when Iriomote & the Yonara Channel, Ishigaki and Izu Peninsula are still at their best.

Izu Ōshima, Katsuura & Namegawa, Miura Peninsula and 4 more rate good or better in every month.

Destinations in prime seasonRated good

Destinations in East Asia in prime and good season, by month
Month	Prime	Good
Jan	6	9
Feb	7	8
Mar	6	21
Apr	11	23
May	13	20
Jun	14	18
Jul	18	14
Aug	17	13
Sep	13	16
Oct	17	18
Nov	5	28
Dec	6	12

Compare every destination in East Asia

Tap a column heading to sort.

Dive destinations in East Asia: best months, water temperature, level, signature animal and access

Amakusa Japan	Jul	15–28°C	Intermediate	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Amami Ōshima Japan	Apr–Jun	21–29°C	Beginner	Macro critters	Shore, Day boat
Gangneung South Korea	Jul–Oct	2–21°C	Intermediate	—	Day boat
Green Island Taiwan	May–Jun	22–29°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Hachijojima Japan	Apr–May	18–25°C	Intermediate	Hammerheads	Shore, Day boat
Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan Hong Kong	May–Jun	17–30°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Iriomote & the Yonara Channel Japan	Nov–Apr	20–31°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Day boat
Ishigaki Japan	Apr–Jun	21–29°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Shore, Day boat
Izu Ōshima Japan	Jul–Oct	16–28°C	Beginner	Hammerheads	Shore
Izu Peninsula — Osezaki & IOP Japan	Sep–Nov	13–27°C	Beginner	Frogfish	Shore, Day boat
Jeju — Munseom South Korea	Jun–Oct	14–27°C	Intermediate	Pristine corals	Day boat
Katsuura & Namegawa Japan	Dec–Mar	17–26°C	Beginner	Trevally & jacks	Shore, Day boat
Kenting Taiwan	Apr–Jun	22–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Kerama Islands Japan	Apr–Aug	20–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Kozushima Japan	Jul–Sep	17–27°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Kume Island Japan	Dec–Feb	19–31°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Day boat
Kushimoto Japan	Jul–Oct	16–28°C	Beginner	Pristine corals	Shore, Day boat
Lanyu — Orchid Island Taiwan	Jul–Oct	24–30°C	Intermediate	Sea snakes	Shore, Day boat
Longdong & Northeast Coast Taiwan	Apr–Jun	20–29°C	Beginner	Squid	Shore, Day boat
Mikomoto & Nakagi Japan	Jul–Oct	16–28°C	Advanced	Hammerheads	Day boat
Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi Japan	Dec–Feb	14–26°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Miyakejima Japan	Jun–Oct	17–29°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Miyako-jima Japan	Apr–Jun	22–29°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui Japan	May–Jul	17–28°C	Intermediate	Trevally & jacks	Shore, Day boat
Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe Japan	Jul–Aug	17–28°C	Beginner	Reef fish swarms	Shore, Day boat
Ogasawara Islands Japan	Apr–Aug	20–28°C	Advanced	Dolphins	Shore, Day boat
Oki Islands Japan	Jun–Aug	11–28°C	Beginner	Trevally & jacks	Day boat
Okinawa — Cape Maeda & Sunabe Japan	Mar–May	21–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Penghu Islands Taiwan	Mar–Sep	24–28°C	Intermediate	Barracuda	Shore, Day boat
Pohang South Korea	Jul–Aug	10–24°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Shore
Sado Island Japan	Aug–Sep	10–27°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Day boat
Sanya & Wuzhizhou Island China	Nov–Apr	20–30°C	Beginner	—	Day boat
Sokcho & Goseong South Korea	Jul–Oct	2–21°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Shore, Day boat
Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito Japan	May–Jun	14–26°C	Beginner	Groupers	Day boat
Tokunoshima Japan	Jul–Oct	20–29°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Ulleungdo South Korea	Jul–Oct	10–26°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Shore, Day boat
Xiaoliuqiu Taiwan	Apr–Jun	24–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Yonaguni Japan	Dec–Mar	21–29°C	Advanced	Hammerheads	Shore, Day boat

Destination guides

38 guides

Best Jul
Amakusa
Japan
Nudibranchs, sea caves and soft coral in the islands off western Kyushu
15–28°C · 59–82°Fintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Amami Ōshima
Japan
Pufferfish sculpt two-metre geometric nests into the sand at 25 m
21–29°C · 70–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Jul–Oct
Gangneung
South Korea
South Korea's largest cluster of wrecks, led by the scuttled trawler Stella
2–21°C · 36–70°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftintermediate
Best May–Jun
Green Island
Taiwan
Kuroshio-fed reefs with resident green turtles off Taiwan's volcanic isle
22–29°C · 72–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–May
Hachijojima
Japan
The Yuzen butterflyfish, found only here and further south
18–25°C · 64–77°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best May–Jun
Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan
Hong Kong
Marine-park coral and geopark islands off Sai Kung
17–30°C · 63–86°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftbeginner
Best Nov–Apr
Iriomote & the Yonara Channel
Japan
A constant-current drift through the Yonara Channel and its manta points.
20–31°C · 68–88°Fintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Ishigaki
Japan
Reef manta rays circle shallow cleaning stations in Kabira Bay most of the year.
21–29°C · 70–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Jul–Oct
Izu Ōshima
Japan
Hammerhead schools at sunrise, reached from a volcanic beach
16–28°C · 61–82°Fbeginner
Best Sep–Nov
Izu Peninsula — Osezaki & IOP
Japan
Japan's macro heartland on a sand slope three hours from Tokyo
13–27°C · 55–81°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Jun–Oct
Jeju — Munseom
South Korea
Protected soft coral forests on volcanic rock off southern Jeju
14–27°C · 57–81°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Dec–Mar
Katsuura & Namegawa
Japan
Kuroshio-fed pinnacles with amberjack schools within reach of Tokyo
17–26°C · 63–79°Fbeginner
Best Apr–Jun
Kenting
Taiwan
Shore-entry coral slopes at the warm southern tip of Taiwan
22–29°C · 72–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Apr–Aug
Kerama Islands
Japan
Kerama Blue visibility over coral gardens with turtles on nearly every dive.
20–29°C · 68–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Jul–Sep
Kozushima
Japan
Dense fish schools over volcanic caves and walls, a short hop from Tokyo
17–27°C · 63–81°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Dec–Feb
Kume Island
Japan
Manta cleaning walls shallow enough for beginners, visited almost all year.
19–31°C · 66–88°Fintermediate
Best Jul–Oct
Kushimoto
Japan
The world's northernmost table coral reef, growing at 33° north
16–28°C · 61–82°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Jul–Oct
Lanyu — Orchid Island
Taiwan
A coral-covered freighter wreck and fish-packed lava pinnacles
24–30°C · 75–86°Fintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Longdong & Northeast Coast
Taiwan
Taipei's home coast, with coral shore dives an hour east of Keelung
20–29°C · 68–84°Fbeginner
Best Jul–Oct
Mikomoto & Nakagi
Japan
Mainland Japan's only reliable schooling hammerhead dive
16–28°C · 61–82°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Best Dec–Feb
Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi
Japan
Over 30 nudibranch species on a single Jogashima dive, 90 minutes from Tokyo
14–26°C · 57–79°Fbeginner
Best Jun–Oct
Miyakejima
Japan
Lava arches and Kuroshio-fed corals a short flight from Tokyo
17–29°C · 63–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Miyako-jima
Japan
Limestone arches and chambers with light shafts through the roof
22–29°C · 72–84°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
Best May–Jul
Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui
Japan
Kannoura, Japan's one known place to watch whitespotted bamboosharks spawn
17–28°C · 63–82°Fvis 13 m · 43 ftintermediate
Best Jul–Aug
Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe
Japan
A wreck covered in schooling fish, five minutes from the harbour
17–28°C · 63–82°Fbeginner
Best Apr–Aug
Ogasawara Islands
Japan
Wild dolphin encounters in Bonin Blue water 1,000 km from the nearest city.
20–28°C · 68–82°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftadvanced
Best Jun–Aug
Oki Islands
Japan
Sea caves and amberjack-hunted fish schools in a Sea of Japan geopark
11–28°C · 52–82°Fbeginner
Best Mar–May
Okinawa — Cape Maeda & Sunabe
Japan
Japan's most-dived site, a limestone cavern lit blue from below
21–29°C · 70–84°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner
Best Mar–Sep
Penghu Islands
Taiwan
Barracuda drifts and basalt ridges in a Taiwan Strait protected area
24–28°C · 75–82°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftintermediate
Best Jul–Aug
Pohang
South Korea
Easy beach dives and purpose-built artificial reefs on the East Sea
10–24°C · 50–75°Fvis 15 m · 50 ftbeginner
Best Aug–Sep
Sado Island
Japan
Resident kobudai wrasse swim up to greet divers at Aka-Iwa
10–27°C · 50–81°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftbeginner
Best Nov–Apr
Sanya & Wuzhizhou Island
China
Easy, gentle reef diving around the bays and islands of southern Hainan
20–30°C · 68–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Jul–Oct
Sokcho & Goseong
South Korea
Canyon and boulder reefs in cold East Sea water, a few hours from Seoul
2–21°C · 36–70°Fintermediate
Best May–Jun
Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito
Japan
A sunken shrine, Shark City and Japan's cod hole at the mouth of Tokyo Bay
14–26°C · 57–79°Fbeginner
Best Jul–Oct
Tokunoshima
Japan
Caves and arches in raised coral, crowded with sea turtles
20–29°C · 68–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Jul–Oct
Ulleungdo
South Korea
Korea's clearest water over black volcanic arches and caves
10–26°C · 50–79°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Xiaoliuqiu
Taiwan
Hundreds of resident green turtles around a six-kilometre island
24–29°C · 75–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Dec–Mar
Yonaguni
Japan
Winter hammerhead schools stack over pinnacles beside the disputed sunken Monument.
21–29°C · 70–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced