Scuba Diving in Xiaoliuqiu: An Underwater Adventure

Even though I am a freedive instructor, my first visit to Xiaoliuqiu was in 2017 for a scuba diving trip to see the famous sea turtles of Xiaoliuqiu. This blog is for those total beginners, those looking to get certified and for those certified looking to do fun dives from a boat. 

What to see? 

Xiaoliuqiu is rich in marine life. Not only are there the aforementioned sea turtles, but, eagle ray, lionfish, clown fish, copper sweepers, cardinal fish, moray eels, golden trevallies, garden eels, octopus just to name a few. 

There are also a couple of shipwrecks to see on the west side of the island that are not too deep.

Discovery Diving: Your First Glimpse into the Blue

For those new to scuba diving but don’t want to commit to a full certification course , Xiaoliuqiu offers discovery scuba dive experiences that require no prior experience and also without a large time commitment as it only takes a few hours. 

These guided dives are your first step into the aquatic realm. Under the supervision of certified instructors, you'll learn basic diving skills and safety procedures while and never be more than an arms distance away from your instructor. You’ll be able to see the sea turtles and your instructor will snap some photos to capture your memorable time underwater. 

This experience not only builds confidence but also gives you a glimpse into the experience of breathing underwater and interacting with aquatic life. It's a perfect way to gauge one's interest and comfort in scuba diving, making it an ideal first step for those curious about pursuing scuba diving.

If you are a bit apprehensive about his and don’t want to get wet, we can highly recommend this glass bottom boat experience.

Taking the Plunge: Scuba Certification Courses

If the discovery dive ignites a passion for deeper exploration or you are absolutely certain you would like to be certified, Xiaoliuqiu has dozens of dive centers offering certification courses which typically lasts three days and two nights for a beginner certification course. From Open Water to Advanced levels, these courses are structured to enhance your skills and confidence under the sea. 

Boat Diving: For the Certified Adventurers

One of the questions we see most often from certified scuba divers is boat diving. Carrying all your equipment on a shore dive can be a pain and limits diver’s access to dive sites, therefore, like everywhere else, boat diving is very popular. Dive operators that can arrange your boat dives may not have English-language service, thus Klook has made it very easy with this offer. 

Hope you found this article useful and interesting. If freediving is more your thing, check out Freedive Nomad, which offers premium discovery and beginner freedive courses with the lowest instructor:student ratio.