Hong Kong diving: Perfect for beginners

Although diving in Hong Kong is never going to be as picturesque as diving in the tropical waters of the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia, it's still far better than you might think. At least according to the city's diving experts.

"Hong Kong doesn't have world-class diving, but it is challenging and there is a lot of wonderful scenery," says Rob Christie of the South China Diving Club. "The nicest thing about it is it's so convenient and not too difficult for beginners."

Here, die-hard divers share their favorite diving spots and tips for beginners in Hong Kong.

Alex Hofford and Paul Hilton, co-authors of the book and short film "Man and Shark," share their favorite diving spots, tips for beginners and talk about the darker side of life underwater. 

Hong Kong is worth it 

Hong Kong's waters offer an average visibility of five to 10 meters because of the algae growth that gives the water a murky green tinge. This causes some people to misunderstand that water in Hong Kong is highly polluted. That isn't the case, according to Darren Gilkison of Splash HK. 

"The topography of the sea bed is silty and sandy, which is why you lose visibility. The pollution isn’t actually that bad at all,” says Gilkison.



Marine life may not be as abundant as other dive sites in Southeast Asia, but there are still 80 species of coral and over 300 species of reef fish recorded in the waters around Hong Kong for divers to spot. Among them, groupers, clown fish, anemones, sea urchins, and snappers are common. If you’re lucky you may even spot the occasional pink dolphin, octopus, stingray or sea horse. 

Where to jump in

The south and east of Hong Kong Island are the best places to dive. The Pearl River Delta to the west of the Island makes the water extremely murky and should be avoided.

Christie loves Double Haven in the New Territories. "It takes a while to get there but the marine park is closed to fishing so there are lots of fish, corals and a couple of islands that have some interesting terrain."

Gilkison suggests checking out the Nine Pin island group, just off Clear Water Bay. "Lobster Bay and Hoi Ha Wan are also nice spots. There is a tremendous amount of coral here.”

Andrew Couch of Mandarin Divers is also a fan of the Nine Pins, especially for dunking student divers: “There are soft and hard corals and in spring there are lots of juvenile fish around. I also recommend Victor Rock, just east of the Nine Pins. It is a submerged rock and the top is five meters underwater. You have to go on a really calm day but on the rock itself there are lots of soft corals and you get some nice fish out there.”

A rockfish is curious about passing divers.

Protecting life underwater 

Fish that may all disappear in the near future. It is usually the case that divers become marine life conservationists, raising awareness for the problem of overfishing. 

“I once came across a baby whale shark that had been finned in the Philippines,” says Gilkison. 

It’s not just sharks that wind up on our dinner plates here in Hong Kong. The United Nations also lists blue fin tuna and the croaker fish as critically endangered. 

Fortunately for the divers and marine life, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has made a start to protecting marine areas. There are currently five designated marine parks in Hong Kong where fishing is prohibited. 

If you want to find out find out more about shark fishing and marine issues affecting Hong Kong here are a few websites to get you started:

Man and Shark, Hong Kong Shark Foundation, WWF and Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department

Lots to see in Hong Kong's waters, including this hawkfish.

Tips for beginners 

“As a beginner Hong Kong is an excellent place to learn,” says Couch. “Training wise it’s perfect because the conditions are a lot harder and you have to be more aware. Your buoyancy skills get really good. Plus, as conditions aren’t great, things only get better. You will definitely develop a lot faster than if you learn in clear blue water.”

Beginners should also be aware that diving is a sport not to be taken lightly and you need to be in good health for it. "A lot of people don't even realize you need to be able to swim," says Christie. 

Some sort of thermal protection is recommended when diving in Hong Kong.

During the winter you are best off with a dry suit, or semi dry suit, but a 3-5mm wet suit should be fine during the summer. There is also a lot of classroom training to get you up to speed with how to use all the equipment.

PADI and BSAC are the most popular, and reputable, qualifications that diving clubs use.

BSAC-recommended dive sites can be found here, and you can find your nearest PADI approved dive club here.