Scuba diving spots along Vietnam

The sea areas of Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Phu Quoc, and Con Dao all provide coral diving services.

Coral diving is a popular choice for many tourists during their summer vacations in coastal areas, with a variety of services. Along the coast from North to South, tourists can choose to see coral on a day tour, use snorkels, air tanks or wear a helmet to walk under the sea. Below are some suggested locations and services, as shared by local tour guides and tour operators.

Visitors are advised not to trample, pick, break or touch the coral reefs. Corals are sensitive and vulnerable creatures, direct contact can destroy these precious coral reefs.

Co To Island, Quang Ninh

Coral on Co To Island. Photo: Xuan Hoa

Co To Island is the only place with licensed coral diving service in the North. Launched from April 2023, visitors can now see corals in Vung Tron, Hon Chim and Hon Ong Tich in Thanh Lan island commune, about 80 km from the mainland.

The diving tour costs 1.5 million VND per person, including an electric car, canoe to the diving site, fruit, drinking water, diving equipment, and insurance. In addition, there is a sea walking tour for 1.3 million VND. Visitors can also book additional services such as rowing, underwater photography, and eating seafood at sea for prices ranging from 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND per person. Children over 6 years old can participate in the activity.

For underwater walking, visitors will be equipped with a special helmet, weighing about 30 kg, capable of withstanding high pressure underwater at a depth of about 20 m. The helmet has an air tube hundreds of meters long connected from a pump on the ship to pump oxygen for the diver.

Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang

Located 8 km from the center of Da Nang, Son Tra peninsula has beautiful beaches such as Nam beach, Rang beach, But beach, Bac beach. These beaches have steep slopes, clear water, suitable for fishing and diving to see coral. Each day tour costs about 600,000 VND per person.

The tour will depart from the city center in the morning. After visiting some places, visitors will go to the coral diving area. Son Tra Peninsula has five locations in the coral protection area, with a total protected area of ​​about 134 hectares, including Hon Sup, Bai But, Bai Nom, Dong Bai Bac, and Huc Lo.

The area for coral diving is on the edge of Hon Sup, about 1.8 km from shore. Visitors will be equipped with life jackets, goggles, and snorkels to freely swim and see coral in shallow diving.

Cu Lao Cham, Quang Nam

On a one-day tour to explore Cu Lao Cham, in addition to visiting famous tourist attractions on the island, visitors will often combine swimming and snorkeling.

Canoes will take visitors to Hon Dai and Bai Xep to experience swimming and watching coral. Before going into the sea, visitors will be instructed, equipped with life jackets, specialized glasses, snorkels and will dive shallowly, without affecting the protected coral reefs in Hon La, Hon Dai or Bai Bac, Bai Nan, Bai Tra.

The activity lasts for about 30 minutes, before visitors return to the beach for lunch. The price of the full tour for adults ranges from 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND.

Ly Son, Quang Ngai

Diving activities in Ly Son are concentrated on Be Island (An Binh Island) in the form of shallow diving. If visitors are on Be Island, they can buy a tour here, and visitors from Big Island can proactively travel to Be Island or book a package tour from Big Island.

The tour normally costs 550,000 VND per person, including shuttle bus to visit the sites, fishing, snorkeling, and SUP during the day. Visitors will be guided to take a basket boat to Back Beach, given life jackets, diving goggles, and watching coral at a depth of 1-2 m.

Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh

Diving to harvest seaweed in Hon Kho, Quy Nhon. Photo: Dung Nhan

The two main places to see coral in Binh Dinh are Ky Co, Nhon Ly commune and Hon Kho, Nhon Hai commune. Hon Kho is located in a bay so it is quite quiet, it is one of the most beautiful coral viewing spots in Quy Nhon, and is allowed to exploit tourism. The coral in Hon Kho is close to the shore, only 1-2 m above sea level.

Just put on a life jacket, put on goggles and put your face down in the sea, visitors can see the beauty of coral with schools of colorful small fish swimming around. In the summer, there is also seaweed here, so it is suitable for tourists who like to take pictures.

The price for sea walking in Quy Nhon ranges from 1 to 1.2 million VND per person for 20 minutes and 15 photos. Scuba diving costs around 700,000 VND to 800,000 VND. Snorkeling is usually included in the island tour, or costs 50,000 VND for children.

Vinh Hy Bay, Ninh Thuan

Located near Ninh Chu beach and Nui Chua National Park, Vinh Hy Bay is one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam. When coming here, visitors should join a tour of the bay by glass-bottom boat. During the 2-hour journey, visitors will take the boat through Yen Cave, Turtle Island, Rai Cave, then be provided with the necessary equipment to dive and explore the underwater world including diving gear and snorkels.

Guests will travel on a boat of about 10 people, the price ranges from 1.5 million VND to 2 million VND per boat. At the end of the journey, the boat will take visitors to Bai Coc to rest and enjoy fresh seafood, at their own expense. Some tours include lunch, visitors should ask carefully before booking.

Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa

Nha Trang is one of the first places in Vietnam to organize coral diving tours. From Nha Trang City, tourists can buy tours to islands such as Hon Tam, Hon Mieu, Bai Tranh, and Hon Mot. In addition to sightseeing by boat and swimming on the islands, tourists can participate in diving experiences such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and walking on the seabed.

About 2 years ago, some previously famous coral diving spots in Nha Trang such as Hon Mun were required to stop operating to protect coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

Depending on the provider, the price of a day island tour including lunch ranges from 600,000 to 800,000 VND. If you join scuba diving and sea walking, the cost will double. There are also diving classes in Nha Trang. Students must register in advance to reserve a spot and undergo a health check to qualify. Each course costs from 10 million VND.

Phu Quy, Binh Thuan

Bai Can on Phu Quy Island is a place for those who love SUP and diving. This is a coral reef with an area of ​​about one square kilometer, located on the east side of the island. The coral includes many types such as stony coral, table coral, cabbage coral combined with seaweed beds and many colorful fish species.

To reach the coral viewing spot, visitors travel about 300 m from the shore. Tours often combine SUP paddling and scuba diving. The best time to scuba dive is from March to August every year. Visitors are equipped with SUP paddleboards, paddles, life jackets, diving goggles, snorkels, and fins. Diving guests will be photographed underwater or on the SUP using a flycam.

Scuba diving prices range from 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND per adult. Package tours cost around 800,000 VND.

Snorkeling and diving with fins on Phu Quy Island. Photo: Huynh Ka

Phu Quoc, Kien Giang

Tourists to Phu Quoc often choose the 3-4 island sightseeing tour, traveling in one day by canoe, from 7-8am to 4-5pm, departing from An Thoi port in the South of the island.

Popular routes include Mong Tay Island, May Rut Island (Inside and Outside), Gam Ghi Island, Roi Island and several other islands. Visitors will have lunch on the island and take photos with a professional crew (underwater or on SUP from a flycam). Tour prices range from about 550,000 - 700,000 VND, including snorkeling. Note that if you stay in the North of the island, you will have to pay a transportation fee.

If you want to experience seeing the coral more clearly, visitors can sign up for the sea walking service at the Coral Park for tourists. This cost is outside the tour, ranging from 1 to 1.2 million VND per person. Visitors are not allowed to enter the Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area, where coral is preserved.

Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

The best time to dive in Con Dao is from March to September every year. The best diving spots in Con Dao are Hon Bay Canh, Hon Tai, Hon Cau. Tourists who are afraid of traveling can visit Ong Dung beach.

According to an announcement from Con Dao National Park, some corals in Con Son Bay, Dam Tre and Hon Cau are bleaching due to high sea temperatures. This area has been surveyed by scientists since May to find solutions to save the corals and limit tourism exploitation.

The average price for a snorkeling tour in Con Dao is 700,000 VND per person, including the tour and scuba diving. Visitors are provided with snorkeling equipment in Con Dao from the control station and are guaranteed safety throughout the dive.

According to VnExpress

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhung-diem-lan-bien-ngam-san-ho-doc-viet-nam-post385767.html