| Diving Sites Orchid Island (Lanyu)
¡@Being situated in the path of the warm waters of the Kuroshio, the waters around Orchid Island are rich in tropical coral reefs and fish species. Water visibility ranges beyond 30 meters, and in some places the underwater scenery can be compared in beauty with that of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. ¡@The island's climate is tropical and humid, characterized by high temperatures and large amount of rainfall. The annual average temperatures is 22.4 degree Celsius and the daily temperature variation averages a high 13 degrees. The water temperature here is similar to that of Green Island. ¡@Orchid Island is windy. Besides the influence of southwesterly air currents from June through August, and the northeasterly monsoons, summer typhoons have also caused sea erosion leaving beautiful and wildly shaped cliffs, caves, and other coastal formations. ¡@The waters around Orchid Island are suitable for diving all year; even when the monsoons arrive, diving can be pursued on the leeward side of the island. The best seasons for diving are similar to those of Green Island. Orchid Island has some of the finest diving opportunities in Taiwan. Orchid Island Diving Sites 1. Yehyu¡@¡¹¡¹¡¹ ¡@The underwater terrain near the shore is characterized by numerous irregular broken stone reefs and a gently sloping seabed. At a depth of approximately 25 meters the seabed suddenly drops off to about 100 meters. ¡°Caution: Strong currents appear at times, so care is called for. ¡¯Suitable for snorkeling and scuba diving at all levels of skill. 2. Old Kaiyuan Harbor¡@¡¹¡¹ ¡@The seabed outside the harbor consists mainly of gravel and stone reefs. Outward from the harbor is an isolated reef that has good scenery and holes that divers can have fun swimming through. The depth of the water around this reef exceeds 20 meters. ¡°Caution: Very rapid currents require that diving be coordinated with suitable tidal periods. ¡¯Suitable for intermediate and advanced level diving. 3. New Kaiyuan Harbor¡@¡¹¡¹¡¹ ¡@This area is protected by terrain so that even during the winter season the waves are not large and the water is suitable for diving. The underwater scenery is characterized by coral reef terrain, with the greatest number of marine invertebrates and fish in all of Taiwan. ¡°Caution: Since the diving site is some distance from the shore, the time required to swim there demands attention to assure a sufficient supply of air. ¡¯Suitable for intermediate and advanced scuba diving. 4. Shuangshih (Twin Lions) Rock, Left Side¡@¡¹¡¹ ¡@In the shallow areas here, the reef basin slopes steeply downward to eroded trenches and holes. Irregular isolated reefs characterize the deeperareas, and at 30 meters the seafloor offers grand scenery with large fish appearing at times. ¡°Caution: The slope of the seafloor is steep, so attention to depth is necessary. ¡¯Suitable for intermediate level scuba diving.
Note:The number of stars indicates general diving quality.
|
¡@Orchid Island has a surface area of 46 square kilometers and is completely surrounded by coral reefs that rise up to form a kind of "coral skirt" for the island. Situated in the Pacific Ocean 65 kilometers off the southeast coast of Taiwan, Orchid Island is almost completely covered by mountains and has only a narrow strip of alluvial plain along the coast.