Dokdo - Ulleungdo
Dokdo is a tricky one, and not just because of the currents. It’s a bold choice for a dive trip, a bit of an adventure to get there, and for us, that’s part of the appeal. You’re not just diving; you’re exploring somewhere few divers ever reach. We love the sheer walls here, dropping into the blue. Visibility can be epic on a good day, 20 metres isn't unheard of, and when it is, you’ll see shoals of California yellowtail cruising by. Look close at the rock faces for tiny jewel anemones clinging on, flashes of colour in the otherwise stark volcanic landscape. We’ve spotted giant octopus tucked into crevices, their eyes watching you with unnerving intelligence. The currents can be fierce, making for a challenging drift, but they also bring in the bigger stuff. Our pick for a top experience? Getting swept along a wall while keeping an eye out for a passing dory, then finning into a sheltered eddy to watch beadlet anemones pulse. This isn't a beginner's site; it’s for experienced divers who appreciate raw, untouched marine environments and a bit of an undertaking to get there.
- Location
- Ulleungdo, South Korea, East Asia
- Coordinates
- 37.241700, 131.864700
Marine Protected Area: 독도 (천연기념물 제336호)
Nearby Dive Sites in Ulleungdo
- 대풍감 - 24m
- Ulleungdo Island
Nearest Dive Centres to Dokdo
- Hakpo Diver resort - SSI
Marine Life in Ulleungdo
Home to 16 recorded species including 6 reef fish, 2 hard corals, 2 seagrass & algae, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 octopus & squid, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Jewel anemone (Corynactis viridis) - Hard Corals
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- Fat-handed snapping shrimp (Synalpheus tumidomanus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Japanese Pinecone-fish (Monocentris japonica) - Reef Fish
- Supreme Limu (Asparagopsis taxiformis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Jenny Lind (Seriola dumerili) - Reef Fish
- Short-head Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) - Reef Fish
- Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) - Hard Corals
- Pacific krill (Euphausia pacifica) - Crabs & Lobsters
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Calico salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) - Reef Fish
- giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) - Octopus & Squid
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- Veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs