Summer in Taiwan is coming to a close, and Josh and I are looking forward to a month stateside with family come September. We managed to squeeze in one more snorkeling trip out to Bitoujiao before leaving though! That is by far one of our favorite weekend outings from Taipei. While we love diving, snorkeling is a bit easier on the wallet, and it’s still fantastic! Plus, snorkeling is an easier outing to include friends, regardless of their experience level. It’s wonderful to see friends fall in love with the ocean. And it really is amazing how much you can see just right at the surface of the water! In fact, on this last outing to Bitoujiao, not only did we see squid and big needle fish, we also saw a cuttlefish!
While snorkeling is a relatively easy activity to jump into, there are some things you should know in order to be safe and get the most out of your time in the water.
General tips for snorkeling in Asia
Consider buying your own Mask & Snorkel
You can usually rent snorkel equipment cheaply, but if you’re really into snorkeling we strongly suggest getting at least your own mask and snorkel. A mask and snorkel is easy to pack, and a mask that fits your face well but isn’t crazy expensive is worth it. Plus, it opens up the chance to add a quick peek underwater to any beach trip. We also own fins but often forego hauling them around from bus to bus, if we know there is a rental shop in the area.
Don’t rule out using a Life Jacket
Be honest about your own comfort and strength as a swimmer. If there is even the tiniest question in your mind about whether you should use a life jacket, do it! There is no reason to feel strange about wearing a life jacket while snorkeling. It is a great way to relax and enjoy the experience. It also helps keep you from getting tired while you are in the water. Plus your choosing to wear a life jacket might encourage others to do so – making everyone safer!
Use a Wetsuit
Unless you are really considering trying your hand at a bit of free diving, we recommend renting a wetsuit. Summer is a perfect time to go for a swim, but it’s also a great time for painful sunburns. Since wetsuits are also like 1000 SPF, they will prevent a real uncomfortable bus/plane ride home! And while you might resent the tight, heavy black suit as you walk to the shore, once you’re in the water you’ll also be happy for its insulation! Even on days with tropical, muggy, soul-sucking heat it’s still possible to get chilled in the water, forcing you to cut your swim short. A wetsuit may also protect you skin from jellyfish stings or scratching yourself against rocks or coral.
Protect yourself from the Sun
Speaking of sun protection, rashguards (especially if a wetsuit isn’t available), and cloth swimming caps are really important to use while snorkeling. Being entranced by sea life is a easy way to get insane, ruin-the-rest-of-your-vacation, sunburns. So make sure you are protected and aware of your sun exposure! And make sure your sun protection is safe for marine life.
Be Aware of your Surroundings
Be especially aware of the environment so you and others are safe. This means taking the time to observe the water, and the people in it. If you are near a marina, take note of possible boat lanes and stay on the correct side of any buoys. If there are waves or surf, stay out of the break unless you are comfortable with getting in and out of waves. Waves can push you up against coral or barnacle-covered rocks, so in rougher conditions give yourself extra room. For crowded areas, pay attention to people jumping in the water, especially from rocks or cliffs. If there are fishermen, stay well away from their lines! If you have to hold onto something, be extremely careful Don’t go out alone, and always keep track of your buddy.
Care for the Ocean!
Do something to help the environment you are out there enjoying. I have a mesh bag that I clip onto a waist belt I use for diving that unfortunately comes in real handy for all the trash that comes floating by. But there have been times that I’ve just used a plastic bag I’ve found in the water to collect trash. Do that, or just take a bit of extra time to pick up some trash on the beach after your swim. Every little bit helps! While you are at it, make sure that you are supporting healthy oceans any way that you can. Use coral-safe sunscreen. Don’t participate in fish-feeding. And if you are swimming in areas with coral, be aware of where you put your feet down.
Add a few things to your Snorkel Day Pack
Brightly colored cloth swim caps have another bonus beyond sun protection: they also make you easy to identify. Especially if that’s the only part of you above the water! You should never go out into the ocean alone. And when you’re out snorkeling you should keep an eye on your partner or group. But that’s easier said than done in popular snorkel areas where many different parties may be out enjoying the water. So bright swim caps can really help.
A good mid-sized dry bag is another purchase worth making. Dry bags are great at keeping water-sensitive items dry. Well, so long as you remember to always keep them properly closed! Just like a ziplock baggie, they are also great at keeping water inside if they are left open. Also note that a closed drybag with even just a bit of air in it becomes a flotation device in a pinch.
We also usually pack chapstick, extra hair bands, and a couple of small ziplock bags in our snorkel pack.
Two ways to snorkel: with a tour or on your own
Group Snorkel Tours
There are a lot of great tour companies that are worth the price for a snorkeling tour. Equipment and transportation to the site is usually worth the cover price alone. The real value is a great place to get cleaned up afterwards, especially if you want to get all the salt water off of your underwater cameras, or out of your hair.
A quick word about extremely popular snorkel spots, like turtle-watching in Xiao Liuqiu. Most of the guided trips here are going to be a bit different from what a lot of westerners expect. First, no fins, which is a good sign that you can expect the following: Instead of swimming about freely, everyone holds on to a life ring or rope. At first, we were a bit put off by the limitation. Once we saw the number of people in the water, and the attention on making sure that people didn’t scare the marine life, we changed our minds. This is an excellent method to make sure that a lot of people can safely share the water with each other, and the local wildlife.
DIY Snorkel Outings
When inviting friends out snorkeling remember they may not be strong swimmers! Check in with them about their confidence level in the water, and maybe encourage them to wear a life jacket! Also don’t just assume because an area was safe to snorkel in one day that its safe anytime.
Great snorkeling spots in Taiwan & nearby
What’s the point of getting tips for getting the most out of putting a mask in the water if you don’t know where to go? The great news is, that there are a lot of places within easy reach. First, for those living life in the big city of Taipei, Bitoujiao and Longdong are very worthy day trips. You don’t even need a car! Pack up a light day pack and head out and back using public buses. It’s one of our favorite weekend things to do, and you can check out an earlier post that adds a stop at Nanya rock.
Some of the most famous dive/snorkel spots in Taiwan are on the smaller islands just right off the coast. We’ve found they make great long weekend destinations! If you want to swim with sea turtles, go to Xiao Liuqiu island. For super clear water, go to Green Island. And for lovely beaches and a great national park right here on Taiwan’s main island, go to Kenting .
Don’t forget though, there’s also a good selection of world-class snorkeling destinations within a short flight of Taipei. At the moment, the top of our list is Japan, especially the Zamami islands off of Okinawa. Ishigaki (which is actually closer to Taiwan but still a part of Japan) is also a top-notch destination that we fell in love with for its diving and snorkeling. And a bit further away, but still within a nonstop low-cost-carrier flight is Thailand, the Philippines, Borneo, or Indonesia.