Wanlitong (萬里桐) Diving Area (Kenting National Park, Pingtung County, Taiwan)
Though I had traveled in Taiwan many times before we moved here long-term, most of my time was spent in the North part of the island around Taipei. With my younger sister and her husband moving to the southeast coast we had much more reason to spend time there as well.
The south and east coasts of Taiwan are where the true beauty of the Formosan water and waves shines through. The far southern areas of Pingtung and Taitung Counties and the small islands like Green Island, XiaoLiuQiu, and Penghu are much less populated and are popular vacation spots for locals.
Jeremy loves all activities that involve being in the water: swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc. So, shortly after arriving in Taiwan, we made plans to take friends from the States to visit my family in southern Taitung. With them we would head for some snorkeling spots and the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium in Pingtung County.
Though there are a few buses that run through, including a tourist shuttle, the far south of Taiwan is more easily accessed by car or scooter. Fortunately, we were able to borrow my parent’s vehicle and all six of us piled in and drove the hour to Hengchun (恆春), a small township in the far south of Pingtung County.
From there we made our way to the Wanlitong (萬里桐) Diving Area, which sits inside Kenting National Park. On arrival, it was as simple as finding a parking spot, putting on our snorkel gear, and walking into the water. If you do not have snorkel gear, there are nearby rental shops, happy to supply all your needs. The locals are friendly, and the prices are cheap. Though we didn’t stay the night, there are several small hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area as well.
First Time Snorkeling
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Jeremy was eager to jump in and get wet. I’m not as strong of a swimmer, so I am more cautious, but the weather was beautiful even in February and the water was crystal clear and inviting. It was actually my first-time snorkeling, but with the full face masks we had it was easy to get started. 
You can find a similar snorkeling mask for a great price here.
Don’t worry, no one will care if you look like a Teletubby – it’s all about what you see underwater and the comfort of being able to breathe while you do it!
I also highly recommend a wet suit or rash guard to protect from the sun. This is the one I use, which comes up to an XXL and is pretty accommodating of my larger bust, but still relatively flattering. Since Taiwan is nearer the equator it is easy to burn, especially when you factor in the face down position of snorkeling that exposes your back more fully and the reflections off the water.
Water shoes or “aquasocks” are a good buy to protect your feet from sharp stones and other potential hazards as well. Finally, if you want to get some good video and snaps of your adventures on your personal phone, you can invest in a waterproof phone pouch or dry bag, like this.
It took us newbies about twenty minutes to get our masks fitted correctly and get used to breathing properly. Even though it was February, Southern Taiwan stays quite warm, including the water. Once we were in, the temperature was quite comfortable. We spent a couple happy hours snorkeling and seeing some of the most common local fish and critters as well as very interesting coral and seaweed formations. We even spotted an eel and a lionfish!
Freshest Fish!
100NT ($3) Sashimi!
All that swimming worked up a mighty hunger. But first we hiked a little way up the hill and paid to use some showers and get changed into dry clothes. After this a foray into the little town revealed a ton of options, all boasting fresh seafood. Intrigued by the promise of twenty pieces of fresh sashimi for only 100NT (about 3USD) we made our way to a restaurant slightly off the main road and tucked into a feast. We had to guess at several items and judge from the pictures, but they all turned out delicious. The 100NT sashimi did not disappoint and there was also salmon sashimi, ten large juicy pieces for 100 NT.
National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium
Following lunch Jeremy and our brother-in-law D. wanted to snorkel more, but the rest of our group was curious to check out the world-famous National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium just up the coast in Checheng (車城鄉). The guys dropped us off and we explored the massive aquarium, famous for its exhibits of local sea life, as well as beluga whales, puffins, and penguins. At one point the aquarium also had whale sharks, but they have now been released into the wild.
The aquarium is on the expensive side for Taiwan at 450NT (around $15 USD) per adult, but still reasonable for us as US visitors. The entrance ticket includes a cute little souvenir card, featuring one of the unique creatures of plants that can be seen inside. There are many little stands with snacks, drinks and desserts, besides gift shops and a large water play area at the front of the park that a lot of kids were taking advantage of – definitely a nice day activity for the family.
We enjoyed several viewings of the animals being fed, although the educational lecture that accompanied was all in Mandarin and therefore we couldn’t understand most of it. For us, the puffins and beluga whales were some of the more exciting features, since we have seen them more rarely. Much of the sea life we saw in the local Taiwanese exhibit were fish and flora we had just seen underwater snorkeling. Our recommendation would be to visit the aquarium first and then enjoy spotting the things you have learned about in the wild while snorkeling!
We finished up the day having hotpot at a local restaurant on our way back to Taitung. All in all, it was quite a treat to get to explore Taiwan’s coastal waters and learn more about the beautiful Formosan island we now call home. Next time, we hope to explore Green Island, world-famous for its breathtaking snorkeling and scuba diving, also home to unique outdoor hot ocean hot springs. Check out our continued adventures in Taiwan’s coastal waters when we swam with the sea turtles at Xiao Liu Qiu: Swimming With the Sea Turtles, Taiwan’s Best Underwater Experience?
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