Green Island
Taiwan · Western Pacific
Green Island (Lyudao) off Taiwan's southeast coast has volcanic walls, hot springs that bubble up underwater, and one of the only reliable hammerhead aggregations in East Asia. The diving is dramatic and culturally different from typical tropical destinations.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Subtropical reef hit by 2020s thermal events. Recovery underway. Hammerheads occasional.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Protected on paper, but boats are still busy nearby.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
12 species across the dive sites here
Taiwan Japalure
Seen 6 days ago
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Brown-Eared Bulbul
Seen 9 days ago
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Purple Hermit Crab
Seen 9 days ago
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Green sea turtle
Seen 13 days ago
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Masked bannerfish
Seen 2 months ago
at Dabaisha
Least concern
Ijima'S Turtle-Headed Sea Snake
Seen 2 months ago
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Fimbriated moray
Seen May 2024
at Dabaisha
Least concern
Coral hawkfish
Seen year round
at Dabaisha
Least concern
Japanese parrotfish
Seen year round
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Soft coral
Seen year round
at Dabaisha
Bluespine unicornfish
Seasonal visitor
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Least concern
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Seasonal visitor
at Shilang & the Big Mushroom Coral
Critically endangered
Dive sites
What divers say
Diving a volcanic seafloor with hammerheads cruising at 30m and then soaking in a seaside hot spring after — only in Taiwan.
Good to know
Typhoons
July–September has typhoon risk; build flexibility into return travel.