Diving in East Coast
Why dive here
East Coast is a diving destination where divers can encounter great white sharks and sperm whales.
South Korea’s East Coast diving, particularly along the Gangwon coast, offers a genuine cold-water experience. We’re talking proper temperate diving, where you’ll trade tropical colours for a unique ecosystem teeming with species like the striking Snake Prickleback and the surprisingly charismatic Webfoot Octopus. It’s a different kind of beauty down here. Our favourite time to dive is late spring into early summer, when visibility is generally at its best and you might catch the incredible sight of squid aggregations. We’ve been surrounded by thousands of them, a truly wild experience. Expect to see big schools of Pacific herring and Big-eye trevally swirling around; the sheer number of fish can be astounding. The reefs here are mostly rocky, dotted with sea lettuce and various bryozoans, and there are a few decent wrecks to explore that act as artificial reefs. While you wont find coral gardens, you'll still see plenty of Bannerfish and even the occasional Green Turtle if you're lucky. Be prepared for colder water and a wetsuit that means business; we usually opt for a semi-dry or full drysuit to stay comfortable.
East Coast Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in East Coast
East Coast Dive Sites
11 dive sites in East Coast
스텔라
The Stella site on South Korea’s East Coast is a good spot for newer divers, dropping to a maximum depth of 25 meters. It’s mostly a sandy bottom, broken up by small rock formations and occasional discarded fishing gear. You'll often see small octopus tucked into crevices, flatfish on the sand, and schools of juvenile fish hovering near the rocks. It’s a gentle introduction to diving in the area.
BIANCA VENTURE
The Bianca Venture. Now that’s a wreck with a story. This isn't some deep, dark behemoth. She sits in a mere 5 metres of water, almost kissing the surface near Mukho. We love it for its accessibility; even if you’re newer to wreck diving, you can spend a solid hour just finning around her immense structure. Built in Sunderland in 1944, this 137-metre steamship ran aground in 1965, and now her bones are a home. You can make out huge sections of the hull, some plates still intact, others peeled back like tin cans. The light filters through the shallow water, illuminating the way as you duck into what might have been a cargo hold. It's surprisingly atmospheric, with the sound of your own bubbles echoing. Our favourite part is the way the rocky seabed merges with the wreck itself. Crabs scuttle in the shadows, and we’ve often seen small schools of baitfish shimmering around the skeletal framework. It’s not about big pelagics here; it's about the feeling of history, the scale of the vessel, and the subtle dance of life making a new home. We’d suggest a late afternoon dive when the sun is lower; the light takes on a beautiful, almost melancholic quality. Just keep an eye on the surge, as she’s quite exposed.
Gable Rocks
Gable Rocks is a dive site in East Coast, South Korea.
Gangneung Coast
Diving the Gangneung Coast offers a different flavour of East Asian diving. You’ll find a mix of rocky reefs and sand patches, often dotted with the surprisingly colourful spiny sea squirts and sea potatoes. We’ve spotted Pacific herring schools darting through the water, and if you’re lucky, a California yellowtail might make an appearance. It’s a site that rewards a slower pace, great for divers who enjoy seeking out the smaller, unique invertebrates and local fish species rather than big pelagics. Visibility can vary, so we suggest checking local conditions before you head out.
Monowai Rocks
Explore unique rock formations and vibrant marine life at this East Coast dive site. Expect to encounter various fish species and invertebrates among the rocky crevices.
Park Reef
Park Reef offers reef diving in East Coast, South Korea, reaching depths of around 5-20m.
PYENG HAE
The Pyeng Hae wreck is one of our favourites on South Korea’s East Coast, a proper deep dive that rewards the effort. Sunk in 1981 after running into heavy weather, this 40-metre motor vessel now rests upright at 60 metres, making it a serious technical dive. Descending, the water can be surprisingly green near the surface, but as you drop past 20 metres, that characteristic deep blue takes over, and visibility often pushes past 20 metres. What we love about the Pyeng Hae is its sense of history, a silent testament to the sea's power. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, and you can peer into the bridge, imagining the final moments. Schools of yellowtail scad often hang above the deck, shimmering in the ambient light. Keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into the shadowed corners of the cargo hold, and we've seen some impressive scorpionfish camouflaged on the plating. It's a dive for those comfortable with depth, with good buoyancy, and who appreciate a wreck that tells a story rather than just a collection of twisted metal.
The Foul Grounds
Located in East Coast, South Korea, The Foul Grounds is a dive site.
Tuaheni Rocks
Tuaheni Rocks offers diving in East Coast, South Korea.
Turihauā Reef
Turihauā Reef is a reef dive site in East Coast, South Korea.
Waiotahe Rock
A dive site in East Coast, South Korea, Waiotahe Rock is worth adding to your dive plan.
East Coast Dive Centres
76 dive shops and operators in East Coast
Ocean Wildlife in East Coast
8 species recorded in East Coast
East Coast Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for East Coast, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:28
Sunset
18:18
Daylight
11h 49m
Golden Hour
17:49
First light (dawn) at 06:07 · Last light (dusk) at 18:39
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:09 | 18:50 | 12h 41m |
| Feb | 06:21 | 18:48 | 12h 27m |
| Mar | 06:24 | 18:35 | 12h 10m |
| Apr | 06:24 | 18:16 | 11h 52m |
| May | 06:28 | 18:06 | 11h 38m |
| JunShortest | 06:36 | 18:06 | 11h 30m |
| Jul | 06:40 | 18:12 | 11h 33m |
| AugNow | 06:33 | 18:18 | 11h 45m |
| Sep | 06:15 | 18:17 | 12h 2m |
| Oct | 05:56 | 18:16 | 12h 20m |
| Nov | 05:47 | 18:23 | 12h 36m |
| DecLongest | 05:53 | 18:38 | 12h 45m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in East Coast.
Where to Stay near East Coast
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Marine Protected Areas near East Coast
355 protected areas near East Coast - please respect local regulations when diving
자연환경보전지역
신안다도해
다도해해상
Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
신안 갯벌 습지보호지역
거제 연안 아비 도래지(천연기념물 제227호)
강화갯벌 및 저어새번식지(천연기념물 제419호)
한려해상
남해-통영 II
태안해안
완도도암만
완도-도암만
Showing 12 largest of 355
Getting to East Coast
Gangneung
Gonghang-ro
Cheongju
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