Diving in Green Island
Why dive here
Green Island offers some of Taiwan's richest diving, with 142+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles, sperm whales and whale sharks.
Green Island is a place we always circle back to, especially when we’re after a bit of a thrill. It’s a volcanic outcrop, and that geology means some seriously dramatic underwater topography. Think sheer walls, swim-throughs, and the kind of hard coral coverage that reminds you how resilient reefs can be. We’re talking massive Montipora and Birdsnest colonies, vibrant against the dark rock. Currents here are often brisk, which makes for exhilarating drift dives. If you time it right, you can really fly past the scenery, spotting Diana’s Hogfish darting between corals and the occasional curious Avocet Snipe Eel peeking from a crevice. We’ve found the Golden Angelfish here are particularly striking, a flash of colour against the blue. Visibility is generally solid, but those currents can sometimes stir things up a bit near the coast. Our favourite way to end a day of diving? Soaking in the island's unique underwater hot springs. It's an experience you don't find just anywhere, and it rounds out the adventure perfectly.
Green Island Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Green Island
Green Island Dive Sites
12 dive sites in Green Island
Badaiwan
Badaiwan offers a pleasant drift along a sloping reef, often filled with schools of fusiliers and the occasional green sea turtle cruising past. We usually spot moray eels tucked into the crevices and a good variety of nudibranchs if you slow down. It’s a solid pick for divers looking for a relaxed dive with consistent marine life, particularly if you appreciate the smaller stuff alongside larger pelagics.
Blue Water Diving Safari
Blue Water Diving Safari isn't a single spot, it’s more an experience we chase off Green Island’s eastern flank. Think open ocean, big pelagics, and a feeling of genuine wildness. We’re talking about drifting along a deep blue wall, often with a decent current pushing you, so it's one for those comfortable with their buoyancy and a bit of movement. What makes it standout? The sheer scale of the place. You often drop in over a deep reef, then drift out into the blue. We’ve seen oceanic triggerfish here, big schools of fusiliers, and once, a fleeting glimpse of a hammerhead way down deep. The feeling of being suspended in that limitless blue, with the sun's rays spearing down, is something we really love. Our pick for a top day here is to go early, before the thermocline settles too deep, and keep an eye out for those bigger shapes materialising from the gloom. It's a proper adventure dive, not one for just admiring static coral, though the wall itself has some impressive hard corals, particularly brain coral and sprawling staghorn formations.
Dabaisha
Dabaisha often gets overlooked for the deeper, more famous sites around Green Island, but we’re here to tell you that’s a mistake. This spot, meaning "Big White Sand," is exactly that: a wide, shallow sandy bottom that slopes gently out. It’s a superb afternoon drift when the currents are right, letting you float lazily over huge, healthy patches of staghorn coral. We love the way the sunlight filters through the water here, illuminating the coral branches and making the whole place glow. Look closely among the coral; it's a fantastic place for wrasse and cardinalfish, and we’ve spotted the occasional snakehead cowrie clinging to the undersides. The sheer density of the staghorn is the real draw here, creating a labyrinth for smaller fish. If you’re patient and keep an eye on the sand, you might even spot a loggerhead turtle cruising by. It’s an easy dive, perfect for photographers wanting good light or anyone just looking for a relaxed, colourful exploration.
EASTERN LOTUS
The Eastern Lotus, oh, we’ve got a soft spot for this old girl. Sunk deliberately back in ‘88, she’s not some ancient treasure, but a fantastic example of how nature reclaims things. You’re looking at a 100-meter cargo vessel, upright and largely intact, sitting at a comfortable 12 meters. It’s a photographer’s dream, especially on a bright day when the light shafts through the open holds. What we love here are the swim-throughs. The main cargo holds are wide open, letting you glide right through the guts of the ship. Keep an eye out for the resident batfish schools, they’re usually swirling around the superstructure. Penetration is limited, but there's plenty to explore externally, from the collapsed mast to the prop shaft. We’d suggest a slow dive, really taking in the scale, letting the current carry you gently past the bow where the anchor chains still drape down. This site is perfect for anyone who loves wrecks but prefers them shallow and easy to navigate. It’s also our pick for a night dive on Green Island; the flashlight beams really make the structure pop and the nocturnal creatures come out to play.
Gateway Rock
Gateway Rock gives you exactly what the name implies: a series of large rock formations creating swim-throughs and interesting topography. We've seen reef fish sheltering in the crevices here, and it’s a good spot to search for smaller critters like nudibranchs. It’s generally a pretty straightforward dive, suitable for newer divers looking for some gentle exploration.
Great White Sand
Great White Sand is, unsurprisingly, a mostly sandy site off Green Island. It’s a good spot for macro enthusiasts who enjoy combing the bottom for smaller critters. You’ll often find various nudibranchs and flatworms here, and it's a solid choice for a second dive or when currents pick up elsewhere. This isn’t a vibrant coral dive, but it’s relaxing and productive for those with an eye for detail.
NEPTUNE
Neptune, that big old motor vessel, went down in '92 seeking shelter from a typhoon. Now she lies in a comfortable 18 metres, pretty much flat on the seabed. We love a wreck that still feels like a ship, and Neptune certainly delivers. You can trace her full 119-metre length, starting with the bow, often blanketed in glassfish so thick they shimmer like a silver curtain. Swim through the holds, where shafts of light pierce the gloom, illuminating barracuda and trevally circling in the current. Our favourite spot is the stern, which houses the engine room. It’s open enough for a good look inside without feeling enclosed, and it's absolutely packed with schools of snapper and batfish. The sheer scale of Neptune, combined with how it’s become a thriving artificial reef, makes it a consistently compelling dive. It’s perfect for anyone who appreciates a bit of history with their marine life, and it's forgiving enough for newer wreck divers too.
PEGASUS
Pegasus is an absolute behemoth. We love it because it’s one of those rare wrecks you can spend an entire dive exploring and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. Sunk in 1992, this 176-metre bulk carrier lies upright, largely intact, and has become a genuine artificial reef. You’ll spend most of your time between 15 and 30 metres, which means decent bottom time for those with the right certs. What we really enjoy here is the sheer scale. Swimming over the bow, you get a sense of just how big this ship was. Then you drop down, and the prop is still there, massive, encrusted with soft corals and sponges. Inside, the cargo holds are surprisingly open, allowing light to filter in, revealing schools of glassfish shimmering in the gloom. Look out for moray eels tucked into every crevice and the occasional whitetip reef shark cruising past the superstructure. It’s a proper wreck dive, best suited for advanced divers comfortable with overhead environments and good buoyancy.
Shark Point
Shark Point at Green Island is a solid wall dive, often with a consistent current running along it. You’ll drift past gorgonian fans and schooling reef fish, keeping an eye out into the blue for larger pelagics. It’s a good spot for intermediate divers who are comfortable with drift diving and want to experience a different side of Green Island’s reefs. Visibility generally holds up well here, making it an enjoyable, easy drift.
WESTERN HOPE
We’ve always had a soft spot for the *Western Hope*, a ship with a story, sunk by a rogue wave back in '88. Lying at 28 meters just off Green Island, it’s a proper dive for those who appreciate a good wreck. You drop down onto the stern, where the prop is still intact, often swarming with schools of fusiliers. We love drifting along the deck, peering into the cargo holds now home to lionfish and moray eels, their heads peeking from shadowy corners. The sheer scale of the 87.5-meter vessel is impressive, and the bow, though starting to break up, still holds its shape, providing shelter for sweetlips and batfish. Our favourite part is the engine room, accessible if you're comfortable with overhead environments and have the right training; it's dark, a bit silty, but a genuine piece of history frozen in time. The visibility here can be excellent, though strong currents are a regular feature, so it’s definitely one for experienced divers who can manage a bit of a workout. It's not a shallow coral garden, but a moody, atmospheric dive, perfect for wreck enthusiasts wanting to explore a real piece of maritime history.
柴口浮潛區
Chaikou is one of those spots that just sticks with you, a real Green Island classic. We love the easy entry here, a gentle walk down the steps right into the shallows. No boat needed, which always makes things feel a bit more relaxed. You’re immediately amongst dense thickets of staghorn coral, branches swaying gently with the surge. Look closely and you’ll find iridescent Gardiner’s Headshield Slugs inching across the rocks, their colours almost glowing. Our favourite time to dive Chaikou is early morning before the crowds arrive. The light filters through the water beautifully then, illuminating the dusky farmerfish darting between coral heads. We’ve spent ages just watching the tiny Blackspot pigmy wrasse flitting around the cauliflower coral. The site isn't particularly deep, making it perfect for longer dives or even a snorkel if you just want to dip your toes in. Just watch your buoyancy, those corals are delicate, and we want them to stay vibrant for years to come.
石朗潛水區
Shihlang, on Green Island, is one of those places that just clicks. We’ve done dozens of dives here and it always delivers something interesting, even if it’s just catching the light refracting through a school of fusiliers. It’s an easy entry from shore, straight off the stairs, which makes it perfect for a relaxed morning dive before the crowds hit. We love dropping down to around ten metres and drifting along the current. Keep an eye out for sneaky wrasse darting between the coral heads, and you’ll often spot Indian seahares grazing on the sandy patches. Our favourite memory is finding a pair of Horned Bannerfish following each other around a big staghorn coral formation, their long dorsal fins waving in unison. The corals here, particularly the table and staghorn varieties, feel incredibly healthy. Visibility is usually solid, often pushing past 20 metres, especially if you get there early before any afternoon chop. It’s a great site for photographers too; the sunlight in the shallows really makes the colours pop.
Green Island Dive Centres
10 dive shops and operators in Green Island
Blue Ocean House
GoingDive
HappyMiniMi Dive Center
Islands Dive
Lin Li Dive Center
Seagather
Shaka Diving Center
tech.only潛水中心
Show all 10 dive centres in Green Island
Ocean Wildlife in Green Island
142 species recorded in Green Island
Green Island Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Green Island, calculated from coordinates
Today - Sunday 11 October
Sunrise
05:50
Sunset
17:35
Daylight
11h 44m
Golden Hour
17:05
First light (dawn) at 05:28 · Last light (dusk) at 17:57
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:38 | 17:31 | 10h 53m |
| Feb | 06:28 | 17:52 | 11h 23m |
| Mar | 06:05 | 18:05 | 11h 59m |
| Apr | 05:36 | 18:16 | 12h 40m |
| May | 05:16 | 18:29 | 13h 13m |
| JunLongest | 05:11 | 18:42 | 13h 31m |
| Jul | 05:19 | 18:44 | 13h 24m |
| Aug | 05:32 | 18:29 | 12h 56m |
| Sep | 05:42 | 18:00 | 12h 18m |
| OctNow | 05:52 | 17:31 | 11h 39m |
| Nov | 06:09 | 17:12 | 11h 4m |
| DecShortest | 06:28 | 17:13 | 10h 45m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Green Island.
Where to Stay near Green Island
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Marine Protected Areas near Green Island
11 protected areas near Green Island - please respect local regulations when diving
墾丁國家公園
大肚溪口野生動物重要棲息環境
台江國家公園
大肚溪口野生動物保護區
高美野生動物保護區
台中縣高美野生動物重要棲息環境
臺南市四草野生動物重要棲息環境
台南市四草野生動物保護區
嘉義縣鰲鼓野生動物重要棲息環境
旭海觀音鼻自然保留區
澎湖玄武岩自然保留區
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Taitung City
Kaohsiung (Xiaogang)
Tainan (Rende)
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