Turtle Island
Turtle Island is known to Divers for the site called Milky Way, an underwater hot spring. If you get this rare opportunity to dive there, you must try it!
Located at the head of the turtle shaped island is the Milky Way, an exciting dive among sulfurous vents spewing out hot bubbles from the ocean bottom. You can feel the warmth as you swim near. It feels like you’re in an alien environment where only a specific crab and polyp species have evolved to survive in this harsh habitat. After the Milky Sea, we will dive at the Turtle’s Tail. It’s a stunning reef with all types of fish, coral, and nudibranchs. It’s also a great place to treasure hunt, as people doing water sports at the surface tend to drop things often!
Site Details
The Jorunna rubescens nudibranch is often spotted at the Tail. We’ve only seen them at Turtle Island. There’s an enormous patch of anemones and clownfish. Along the rocky slope, there are an abundance of sergeant majors swimming among the rose coral. Also, keep an eye out for dolphins while on the boat, which are often spotted in the area.
Depth Range
5-20m
Currents
Currents can vary depending on the site and tides.
Average Visibility
1-12m
Recommended Level
Open Water Divers
Unique Features
Underwater hot springs
Hazards
The sulfur water is cloudy white. Therefore, it’s easy to get separated from your group, you must stay extremely close at all times. The sulfur rich water is also irritating to the skin and eyes, so wearing a wetsuit and limiting eye exposure is necessary.
How To get there
While Turtle Island is located HERE, we will board the dive boat at Aodi Fishing Harbor.
Driving is the easiest way to get there and parking is available.
There are busses that get there from both Keelung and Taipei, but the distance and time required makes it not worth it.