Scuba Diving in Hong Kong

The waters of Hong Kong is the humble abode over 400 species of fish including the popular ‘Nemo’, over 80 species of coral communities and almost 6000 species of other critters that you will see during your Hong Kong Scuba diving activity.

Scuba Diving in Hong Kong requires a certain amount of physical fitness to safely experience this adventure sport. People with asthma and other respiratory diseases, ear ailments, and heart issues are advised not to indulge in scuba diving.

If you have diving-related injuries in the past, one needs to get a clearance certificate substantiating your fitness from a doctor who is trained in diving medicine.

Yes, you need a license to scuba dive.

Check you gear

Faulty gears could turn fatal. Hence, the basic thing to do before diving is to ensure if all your diving gears are working fine. Also, learn how to use the equipment and if you are not sure, get it cleared with your trainer.

Do not hold your breath underwater

A diver should never hold his breath while diving. Doing so can cause serious damage to the alveoli in the lungs and may even turn fatal. A diver should simply continue breathing at all times; while ascending, descending and diving.

Ascend slowly

A diver has to ascend slowly into the deep waters so that there are no bubbles formed in the bloodstream. The recommended ascent rate is 30 feet per minute. Also, take a 3-minute safety stop at 15 feet.

Know your limits

Never venture out underwater. The oceans' currents and temperatures vary hugely every day. What looked fine today might not be the same tomorrow. So, understand your limits and keep your enthusiasm under check for safe scuba diving.

Yes, before starting the diving course, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that you are medically fit to dive. After you complete the course, you need to seek regular examinations at predefined fixed intervals with clearance certificates to continuously enjoy scuba diving.

1) Tai Long Wan

The crystal clear waters, warm temperature and the strong currents of the of Tai Long Wan beach make a great diving spot for Scuba diving in Hong Kong but is not advisable for swimming, particularly in the month of September when the currents are rapid. This untouched piece of exquisitely beautiful lands brims with rich aquatic life and tops the list of Scuba diving destinations in Hong Kong. As there are strong currents in this beach, it is not recommended for beginners in scuba diving.

Location: East Coast of Sai Kung Peninsula


2) East Dam

East Dam is constructed on the China Sea and is a perfect place for scuba divers to enjoy the underwater life of Hong Kong. The plate coral at the East Dam is a huge draw and watch out for nudibranchs, and lobsters. If you are lucky enough, you can even find barracudas. Diving at East Dam takes place at a depth of 11 metres to 14 metres and is not recommended for beginner.

Location: Maclehose Trail Sec. 1, Sai Kung, Hong Kong


3) Port Island

Port Island is also known as Chek Chau which means "Red Island" in Chinese. The sedimentary rocks found in this island have a greater constitution on iron in them which makes them look red. Port Island is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The best area to scuba dive here is near the lighthouse where sighting the colorful marine life and soft coral is easy. In the bays of the island too, one can dive to find small patches of corals.

Location: Tolo Channel, Tai Po District, northeastern New Territories region


4) Ninepin Islands

Ninepin Island is a cluster of 29 islands that have been formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago and are uninhabited till date. The hexagonal column of islands look breathtakingly beautiful and is one of the untamed Scuba diving in Hong Kong sites. Scuba diving at this island lets you explore the marine life which includes Chromis fumea, polychaetes, octopus, Echidna polyzona, and much more.

Location: Easternmost part of Hong Kong


5) Breaker Reef

Breaker Reef is one of the uninhabited islands of Hong Kong and an adventurous Hong Kong Scuba diving spot. The island is home to a number of coral reefs, nudibranchs, feather stars and even large fish like sharks. The weather at this island is unpredictable with rapid changes and hence, scuba diving here needs to be done under extreme caution.

Location: Location: Mirs Bay, Tai Po District, New Territories region


6) Hoi Ha Wan

Hi Ho Wan or Jone’s Cove is one of the protected bays of Hong Kong that is abundantly blessed with bio-diversely rich marine life. There are 60 species of hard coral and 120 species of coral fish in Hoi Ha Bay which makes this one of the best Scuba diving in Hong Kong places. This diving spot is also a great place to brush up your scuba diving skills as water is at an ideal depth of about 10 metres.

Location: North of Sai Kung Peninsula


7) Sharp Island

Sharp Island is the largest island in Kiu Tsui Country Park and one of those very few spots for Scuba diving in Hong Kong that has an active reef check. The Other marine life that you could spot is sea horses, frogfish, octopus, dragonets and “cleaning-stations”. The west side of Sharp Island is protected from the strong winds and hence you can find a number of scuba diving training spots here. Scuba Diving at Sharp Island is one of the most alluring Things to do in Hong Kong.

Location: Sai Kung District


8) Little Palm Island

If you are a beginner in scuba diving, the diving conditions of Little Palm Beach is perfect for you. The beach is shallow and has a sandy bottom at three to five metres depth. The beach also has no currents which make scuba diving easier for the beginner level divers.

Location: Hang Hau Wing Lung Rd, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong


9) Splash Hong Kong


Started in 2011, Splash Hong Kong became a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre in 2013. The centre is one of the best places to learn Scuba diving in Hong Kong and has a number courses targeted to people of different age groups from newbies to instructor level diving courses like Bubble Maker for the tiny tots, Discover Scuba Course, and DiveMaster courses.

Location: Unit 5,1/F, Ko Fu House, 58-72 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, New Territories., Hong Kong

Timings: 10.00 AM - 5.30 PM Mon- Fri and 08.00 AM - 06.00 P Sat & Sun

Cost: PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience course fee is from HK$1,200

September and October are the best months to go for Hong Kong scuba diving as the underwater visibility is maximum during these months. Also, the changing winds during these months ensure there is no floating algae hindering your dive.

1) Do not venture into the sea when there is no "A" flag hoisted on a boat.
2) Do not choose a diving site that is at marine vessel routes.
3) Do not involve in scuba diving when you have contracted respiratory diseases like cold or flu.
4) Scuba diving is strictly prohibited after drinking alcohol.
5) If the diving equipment is found defective or poorly maintained, then, never use them.
6) Do not indulge in this activity when you are alone or feeling stressed or during bad weather conditions.
7) Do not plunge further when the maximum depth of your training or the "No Decompression Limit" (NDL) is exceeded.

One needs to wear scuba diving suits that are designated for this activity to enjoy this adventure watersport. The diving suits are designed to keep you warm underwater. You can choose 5mm thick scuba diving suit and hood in winter when the water temperature dips to about 25 degrees Celsius.

However, if you feel the water to be still cold, you can wear long scuba diving suits just to be double sure. During the summer months, the waters of Hong Kong are at about 30 - 32 degrees Celsius and 3 mm scuba diving suits will be fine.

Yes, of course! There is a first time for everything after all. As a newbie, enrol yourself for a scuba diving class and learn the technique of scuba diving and the safety measures to be followed. Then, enjoy scuba diving under the supervision of a trained professional and adhere strictly to his instructions.

Apart from maintaining high levels of physical fitness, there is nothing in particular that you need to carry for scuba diving. Almost all the operators give you all the needed equipment and gears for scuba diving in Hong Kong.

The cost of Hong Kong Scuba diving depends on many factors like - the operator, full-day/half-day trip, the number of dives you choose, the equipment you choose. In general, the cost for diving in Hong Kong starts HK$400 for a single dive and might be higher on weekends and for the latest equipment. The prices that these operators quote are usually inclusive of lunch.

If you are on recreational diving experience, the depth you can dive is between 18 metres and 40 metres. If you are a professional deep-sea scuba diver, you can descend to about 60 metres and even beyond.

Yes, the water is usually warm all through the year at around 28 degrees Celsius, except in the winter when the temperatures could dip to 17 degrees Celsius. During the peak summer months, water is about 30 degrees Celsius.