Diving in Kenting National Park
Why dive here
Kenting National Park offers some of Taiwan's richest diving, with 537+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, giant moray eels, seahorses, sea turtles and sperm whales.
Kenting National Park, right at Taiwan’s southern tip, is where the warm Kuroshio Current really makes its presence felt. We’ve logged quite a few dives here, and it’s always interesting to see how the currents shape things. You’ll mostly be drifting along reefs covered in Montipora coral, with plenty of Blackfin Chromis darting around. It’s a good spot for spotting some of the smaller, unique stuff, like the Hair Tailed Blenny or a Threadfin Reefgoby if you slow down and look closely. Our favourite time to dive Kenting is outside of typhoon season, generally from October through May, when the visibility tends to be more consistent. The reefs here aren’t always as dramatic as some other places, but we appreciate the sheer volume of species. We’ve seen Humphead Unicornfish schooling in the deeper sections and Clown Butterflyfish picking their way across the corals. There are some decent wreck dives too, offering a different kind of exploration when the reef life feels a bit familiar. Just be ready for a bit of surge on some days, especially around the exposed pinnacles.
Kenting National Park Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Kenting National Park
Kenting National Park Dive Sites
44 dive sites in Kenting National Park
ANGEL
The Angel wreck, sitting upright at 50 metres, is a serious dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts in Kenting. Penetration is possible but requires advanced training and careful planning; we’d suggest leaving that to the technical teams. Keep an eye out for larger pelagics cruising by, and the usual reef fish have made themselves at home on the superstructure. It’s a challenging dive, but a rewarding one for those with the right skills.
ASIAN MARINER
The Asian Mariner is a proper wreck dive, not just some scattered debris. We love how it still looks like a ship, upright and largely intact despite being down since '73. Dropping down to 36 metres, you’ll find its sheer size impressive – 103 metres long, it dominates the seafloor. We’d suggest focusing on the superstructure first; the bridge area is always fascinating, with gantries and winches now encrusted with sponges and hard corals. Look for the schools of bigeye trevally that often swirl around the mast, a shimmering column of silver. Inside, we’ve found robust lionfish tucked into shadowed corners, and occasionally, a passing reef shark cruises by the bow. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of depth, certainly not for beginners.
Banana Bay
Banana Bay offers a straightforward shore dive, popular for its easy entry and generally calm conditions. You’ll find a sandy bottom sloping gently down, dotted with coral bommies and small reef patches. It's a nice spot for newer divers to get comfortable or for snorkelers, with occasional sightings of parrotfish and damselfish around the coral. We find it's a good place for a relaxed afternoon dip, rather than a high-octane adventure.
Beauty Hole
Beauty Hole, a shore dive in Kenting, gets its name from a small swim-through that opens into a larger cavern. You’ll weave through rock formations and find moray eels tucked into crevices. It's a shallow, sheltered site, generally calm, making it a good spot for newer divers looking to explore an overhead environment without strong currents. We often see schooling fusiliers near the entrance.
Ceasars Rock
Ceasars Rock is a straightforward shore dive, good for getting your buoyancy dialed in. The rocky slope leads down to a sandy bottom, where we often spot stingrays half-buried. It's a popular spot for dive schools, so expect some company, but it’s still a solid choice for a casual afternoon underwater, especially if you're keen on finding some macro critters on the rocks.
Chia Ming
Chia Ming isn't your typical wreck dive, and that's exactly why we love it. This isn't some deep, dark behemoth. Instead, it’s a partially submerged fishing boat, wrecked right on the shoreline. You can literally walk into the water and be finning over it in about a metre of depth. What you get here is pure, accessible shallow-water exploration. The hull, encrusted with colourful hard corals and swaying anemones, forms a rough, intriguing structure. Sunlight filters through the water, illuminating schools of tiny damselfish darting amongst the rusted metal. We've often seen clownfish peeking out from their anemone homes, unafraid of curious divers. It’s an ideal spot for macro photography, or just for leisurely finning around, observing how nature reclaims man-made structures. The calm, shallow conditions make it perfect for snorkelers, new divers, or anyone who just wants a relaxed, colourful experience without the pressure of depth. Our favourite time to visit is early morning, before the crowds arrive, when the light is soft and the water still.
CHIEN-NAN NO 10
The Chien-Nan No. 10 is our pick for serious wreck enthusiasts in Kenting. This isn't some purpose-sunk artificial reef; it's a legitimate ferry that went down in 1980, and you feel that history as you descend. At 34 metres, it’s a site best suited for advanced divers comfortable with depth and overhead environments, though we'd always recommend a proper wreck specialty for any penetration. Dropping onto the superstructure, the sheer size of the ferry is immediately apparent. We love navigating through what used to be her passenger decks, the light filtering in through broken windows creating an eerie, almost cathedral-like atmosphere. Keep an eye out for schooling barracuda that often circle the wreck, their silver scales flashing in the gloom. Inside, the nooks and crannies are home to plenty of lionfish, their venomous fins fanning out as you approach. We’ve also spotted giant morays peering from rusted pipes, sometimes with cleaner shrimp dancing around their impressive jaws. Our favourite part has to be the wheelhouse, though. It’s a tight squeeze, but seeing the remains of the ship’s controls, now encrusted in orange cup corals, really brings home the wreck’s story. Current can pick up here, so plan your dive to hit slack tide for the most relaxed exploration.
CHIN HUNG
The Chin Hung wreck feels like a real journey back in time. Sunk back in ’93, this old fishing vessel rests upright on the sand at 35 metres, giving it a slightly eerie, museum-like quality. What we love about Chin Hung is that it’s not just a pile of metal; it’s still very much a ship, and you can sense its history as you descend. We often find ourselves circling the wheelhouse, imagining the last moments, before dropping into the cargo holds. They’re surprisingly open, easy to penetrate for suitably qualified divers, and we’ve seen some absolutely massive groupers lurking in the shadows there. Visibility here can sometimes be a bit hit-or-miss, so we’d suggest aiming for a morning dive before the winds pick up. But even on a slightly murkier day, the sheer size of the wreck and the shoals of fusiliers that swirl around the mast make it a truly immersive dive. This one’s definitely for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a bit of history with their reef.
Feed Fish Area
The Feed Fish Area in Kenting lives up to its name, attracting a variety of reef fish drawn to the regular feeding. Expect to see schools of demoiselles and fusiliers, often alongside parrotfish and wrasse. It’s a good spot for newer divers looking for close encounters in relatively calm conditions, though don't expect untouched reefscapes.
FV LIEN CHUN FA NO.6
The FV Lien Chun Fa No.6 is a site we always make time for when we’re in Kenting. It's a proper wreck dive, sitting upright at 28 meters, and it feels like stepping back in time. We love exploring the bridge area, especially when the light shafts through the upper structures, illuminating schools of glassfish that shimmer like scattered glitter. What really grabs us about this wreck is how much it has become a home. Giant moray eels peek out from every crevice, and the hull is draped in soft corals, providing shelter for everything from lionfish to nimble clownfish. The current can be tricky sometimes, so we always plan our dive for slack tide, usually early morning, to get the best conditions for a relaxed penetration of the holds. Keep an eye out for the resident batfish patrolling the mast; they're quite curious. This site really suits divers comfortable with deeper wrecks who appreciate the quiet drama of a ship reclaimed by the sea.
GOOD UNION (POSSIBLY).
The Good Union is less a wreck dive and more a dive *with* a wreck, if that makes sense. She’s an old freighter, sunk in ‘73 after an engine room fire, and she now sits pretty broken up, scattered across the seafloor at 19 metres. What we love about her isn't the intact structure – you won’t be doing much penetration here – but how the ocean has completely taken over. You’ll find huge moray eels peering out from corroded plates, and schools of fusiliers so thick they practically blot out the sun. The bow and stern sections are the most recognisable, often draped in soft corals that pulse gently with the surge. Our favourite part is swimming through the cargo holds, now just open frames, where you’ll usually spot lionfish hovering perfectly still, waiting for an unsuspecting meal. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate a wreck not just for its history, but for its role as an artificial reef, vibrant with life. Go on a sunny day; the light play through the water and off the metal is something else.
HAI AN (POSSIBLY)
The Hai An wreck, found just a short boat ride from Houbihu, is one of our favourite dives in Kenting, especially if you’re into a bit of history. She’s an old motor vessel, grounded back in ’67, and sits upright at a shallow 15 metres. This means plenty of bottom time and great light penetration, even on an overcast day. You drop onto the bow, usually into a gentle current, and the first thing you notice is how much the ocean has reclaimed her. Schools of bannerfish drift over the deck, and we always find a few lionfish tucked into the nooks and crannies. The wheelhouse is largely gone, but you can still poke your head into the cargo holds, where flashlight fish sometimes blink from the darker corners. Our pick for exploration is the stern, where the prop shaft is still visible, encrusted with a mosaic of hard corals. It’s a comfortable dive, perfect for advanced open water divers looking for an accessible wreck without extreme depths or challenging conditions.
Kenting National Park Dive Centres
36 dive shops and operators in Kenting National Park
Ocean Wildlife in Kenting National Park
537 species recorded in Kenting National Park
Kenting National Park Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Kenting National Park, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:40
Sunset
18:26
Daylight
12h 46m
Golden Hour
17:55
First light (dawn) at 05:17 · Last light (dusk) at 18:49
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:42 | 17:36 | 10h 53m |
| Feb | 06:33 | 17:56 | 11h 24m |
| Mar | 06:10 | 18:09 | 11h 59m |
| Apr | 05:40 | 18:20 | 12h 40m |
| May | 05:20 | 18:33 | 13h 13m |
| JunLongest | 05:15 | 18:46 | 13h 31m |
| Jul | 05:24 | 18:48 | 13h 24m |
| AugNow | 05:37 | 18:33 | 12h 56m |
| Sep | 05:47 | 18:05 | 12h 18m |
| Oct | 05:56 | 17:36 | 11h 39m |
| Nov | 06:13 | 17:17 | 11h 4m |
| DecShortest | 06:32 | 17:18 | 10h 45m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Kenting National Park.
Where to Stay near Kenting National Park
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Marine Protected Areas near Kenting National Park
13 protected areas near Kenting National Park - please respect local regulations when diving
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Getting to Kenting National Park
Kaohsiung (Xiaogang)
Tainan (Rende)
Huxi
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