Taiwan

Taiwan's Green Island

Taiwan's Green Island lives up to its name.
Taiwan's Green Island lives up to its name.

Green Island is considered Taiwan’s diving heartland by local divers, and hence, it is an essential rite of passage to do a dive trip there. Now, divers from abroad are discovering the joys of its beautiful underwater realm. Simon Pridmore gives us an inside look.

Dive into Taiwan: Kenting

In the southernmost district of Taiwan lies the Taiwanese Riviera, located in Hengchun Township (also known as Kenting), where divers enjoy the warm waters and plentiful marine life of the sheltered bay of Nan Wan, with its coral cliffs, reefs and pinnacles. Simon Pridmore has the story.

Dive into Taiwan: Penghu

Divers at Lavender Fields, Pengu, Taiwan
Divers at Lavender Fields, Pengu, Taiwan

The Penghu Islands, an archipelago of 90 islands and small rocks in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, is a location of incredible landscapes with unique basalt columns and is home to some of Taiwan’s most beautiful beaches and marine protected areas, which offer some of the best diving in Taiwan. Simon Pridmore has the story.

Dive into Taiwan: Northeast Coast Treasures

Reef scene at Secret Garden, found along Taiwan's northeastern coast. Photo by Kyo Liu
Reef scene at Secret Garden, found along Taiwan's northeastern coast

Taiwan is a group of Pacific islands surrounded by warm tropical seas. It is easy to get to and get around, and it is also a first-world society with outgoing, friendly, laid-back people. Simon Pridmore gives us a glimpse into the beautiful dive sites and unique marine life that can be found here.

Strawberry crab

'Strawberry' crab found off Taiwan

The team, led by professor Ho Ping-ho, was conducting research at Taiwan's Kenting National Park in June to determine the environmental impact of an oil spill there when they happened upon two of the unusual crabs. The crabs, both female, were tiny -- the larger is only an inch long -- and, at the time of the discovery, one was already dead and the other was dying. The two deceased crabs have since been made into specimens, and Ho plans to study them further and write about them.