Best Secret Freediving spot on Lanyu, Taiwan — Chu Hai Kou!
Let me quickly introduce my favor freediving spot on Lanyu island.
Lanyu is famous of its breathtaking undersea view and the richness of sea creatures (but not be known by foreign traveler, isn’t it the best part?!), you could find plenty of fine diving spots on the island. However, wild and undeveloped are the reasons why Lanyu is beautiful, many spots are dangerous or hard to arrive…
So, Chu Hai Kou is the best one for me! Reasons:
- Not hard to go if you hire a guide or someone know the place.
- The sea creatures are even much rich then other spot.
- Very secret. Still not many Taiwanese diver know this location.
For the reasons above, Chu Hai Kou definitely a great choice for you to have an adventure!
Where to find this SECERT Chu Hai Kou?
「Chu Hai Kou(出海口)」is Mandarin which means “Estuary”
(well… it’s my first time use this geography words, hope you all know what it is)
The full name is “Red head forest trail estuary”, but you’ll get nothing if you google this English translation. Please copy the Mandarin characters below to search!
Jungle! That’s why I recommend traveler should go with guide or local people, the entrance sometime will be covered by underbrush, not gonna can know a little path is over there if you go first time.
*Originally, people can visit the location through forest trail, however my last time there (2022), the trail was closed, and the little jungle path is the only way to the location.
Part of the path will need us to climb, and there are some sharp rock there, please wear right shoes. Thought the path is a little harsh, but the secret spot is very friendly for divers to go down the ocean. There is a big rock stuck between cliff cracks, divers can seat on the rock to wear fins, then easily swim out to the ocean! No worries for any waves!
Looking down into the sea, the super-large coral reef stretching over 100 meters is definitely satisfying.
There are already a lot of fish shoals in other dive spots in Lanyu, but it may be because Chu Hai Kou basically no tourists here, so the number of fish shoals is even more!
(under the sea~~~ music please!)
Besides the large-scale coral reef, there is a vertical and narrow coral reef arch not far from the beach, about 20 to 30 meters away.
(*There seems to be an ocean current over the arch, please be careful.)
Swimming cross the underwater cave definitely can get a good picture, but this movement is always scared. However, this coral reef arch is very friendly! The top of the arch only 5m deep, and the bottom also only 10m deep. What a beautiful and safe place!
Ownmind Freediving studio
This time I purchased the guided diving service from “Ownmind Freediving Studio”. The instructor Ziwei is very polite and let us feel quite comfortable during whole guide process.
Before setting off, the instructor asked,
Ziwei:“Particularly, where do you want to dive?”
us: “Place with a lot of fish! I want to see the fish!”
Ziwei: “well..okay”
On the halfway of riding, Ziwei suddently turned arround, and said:
“Come on, let’s go to the place with the most fish on Lanyu Island!”
Then we got a fantastic experience in Chu Hai Kou, this customized service just what we need!
In the end, we took a group photo together by be flags in the sea.
The Ownmind contact information is below! Make an appointment for courses and guided diving!
Diving Center：Ownmind Freediving Studio Address：Google map link Offical Website：Ownmind 自由潛水｜蘭嶼｜教學｜體驗｜導潛 (ownmindfreediving.com) FB：Ownmind 自由潛水 — 首頁 | Facebook IG：Ownmind 自由潛水工作室 | 蘭嶼（@ownmind2019）• Instagram 相片與影片
For detailed guided diving fees and precautions, please refer to OWNMIND’s official website, and messaging to coaches to discuss!
Diving is a sport that requires us to attention to many details. There must be sufficient communication so that everyone can have fun~