Xiaoliuqiu, off the coast of Taiwan, offers a compact but varied diving landscape built around shallow reefs, artificial structures, a wreck, and at least one cave system. Shore entry is the norm for beginner-friendly sites like Dafuxi, while boat access opens up deeper terrain at Turtle Cavern and the Shanfu Wreck. The marine life list is notably rich: Green Sea Turtle sightings are common, Chromodoris Nudibranch and Speckled Butterflyfish appear on almost every dive, and the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is a consistent find. Nudibranch diversity is a particular strength, with multiple species recorded across the sites.
Monthly water temperature across Xiaoliuqiu's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm throughout the year, rising to its peak in summer and dropping only modestly in the cooler months, which means diving is feasible year-round. Conditions are most favoured from spring through autumn, with April and the months that follow drawing the strongest interest from visiting divers. Exposure and surge can vary between shore and boat sites, so intermediate divers will find the deeper cave and wreck sites more demanding than the sheltered reef entries.
37 operators
13 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Xiaoliuqiu ranges from about 25°C in January to 30°C in July, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 30°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Xiaoliuqiu; in the coldest months (about 25°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 17 sites in Xiaoliuqiu (14 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Xiaoliuqiu has a strong observation record across a wide range of species. Green Sea Turtle is commonly sighted, and Chromodoris Nudibranch, Speckled Butterflyfish, Yellowtail Clownfish and Moorish Idol appear on the vast majority of dives. Macro enthusiasts will also find Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Snowflake Moray, Indian Lionfish, Spanish Dancer and several nudibranch species including the Geometric Rainbow Dorid and Black-margined Nudibranch.
Yes, in part. Dafuxi is rated beginner level and offers shallow shore access over reef and artificial reef terrain, making it a comfortable starting point. However, a number of the most interesting sites, including Beauty Cave, Turtle Cavern and the Shanfu Wreck, are rated intermediate and require greater depth experience or comfort with overhead environments. New divers will find plenty to explore while building confidence.
Several sites in Xiaoliuqiu are accessible directly from shore, which keeps logistics straightforward and suits those staying close to the water. Sites such as Turtle Cavern and the Shanfu Wreck require a short boat trip and tend to be the deeper, more technically demanding options. With a large number of local dive operators on the island, arranging guided boat dives is easy regardless of experience level.
The site mix includes natural reefs, artificial reefs, a wreck and a cave system, giving divers a reasonable range of environments within a small area. Dafuxi combines reef with artificial structure in shallow water, while Beauty Cave presents a wall and cave system at depth. The Shanfu Wreck adds a wreck dive to the mix, and Turtle Cavern features an overhead environment on a mid-range reef. Most of the region's sites sit across this reef-and-structure character.