Lambai Island
Taiwan
Xiao Liuqiu/Lambai is a large Coral Island. Due to its nesting beach, it is home to hundreds of green sea turtles that both snorkelers and Divers can enjoy.
Lambai Island is located off the southwestern coast of Taiwan, near Kaohsiung. Being guaranteed to be able to see turtles is a huge draw to Lambai Island, also known as Xiao Liu Qiu in Chinese. With amazing coral reefs and several shipwrecks to explore around the island, it’s a great choice for local and international Divers alike.
Diver Requirements
Open water diver (Advanced certification and SMB are recommended for all boat diving)
Below the Surface
Besides the countless sea turtles, wrecks are also plentiful. With its 10-20m visibility, it’s fascinating to survey every nook and cranny. It’s common to see blue-spotted sting rays, octopus, and a wide array of nudibranchs. Look out for barracuda schools, cuttlefish, mantis shrimp, pufferfish, and the usual coral reef fish.
Special Dive Sites:
Broken Wreck – A shallow 20m deep wreck that is broken in half. This site has a wide variety of marine life every time we go.
Shipai / Ah Ji Bai Wrecks – Both are fully intact, 30m deep wrecks standing perfectly vertical.
Above the Surface
Lambai Island is known for its all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurants. Best to book ahead of time to avoid waiting in line.
Vase Rock – This is the symbol of the island. It’s a limestone rock that has been eroded over time by the waves to resemble a vase with a bouquet of flowers coming out
Beauty Cave – This is a labyrinth of paths that bring you between the limestone coral as it has cracked and separated over time.
Buddhist temples – One of the highest per-capita concentration of temples in all of Taiwan.
Beauty Beach – A fantastic place to soak up the sun, snorkel or freedive
Black Devil Cave – A shallow cave with an intriguing piece of history behind it
How to Get There
The quickest way to get to Lambai Island would be to take the HSR (High-Speed Rail) to Kaohsiung(Zuoying HSR Station), the express is approximately 1.5 hours. Then, transfer to a coach bus, about 45 minutes, or taxi, about 30 minutes, to Donggang Ferry Terminal. There are a few ferry companies to choose from. We’ve always used DongLiu, the blue one on the right side. As of 2025, tickets are $450TWD for adults, and $225TWD for 3 to 12-year-old children, for a 2-way ticket. They’ll give you your return ticket, so make sure not to lose it or you’ll need to purchase a new ticket back.
Travel Information
Peak Season: April to October
November to December is still diveable, but be ready for colder water temperatures as you come closer to winter months and a higher chance of wavy conditions.
Local dive insurance is required (Shop can help you to apply)