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South Korea

Divesites
5
Centers
87
Courses & Events
3
Wildlife
15
© Shutterstock/Travel Take Photos

Explore South Korea

South Korea offers a unique diving experience, blending its rich cultural heritage with the beauty of its underwater landscapes. Divers can explore the waters around Jeju Island, known for its volcanic rock formations and vibrant coral reefs. Jeju’s marine life is diverse and colorful, featuring soft corals, sea fans, and a variety of fish species. The island's temperate climate and clear waters make it a prime spot for shore dives, allowing easy access to its underwater wonders right from the beach.

In addition to Jeju, South Korea's east coast is popular for wall and wreck diving. Sites like the famous ‘Ulleungdo’ provide dramatic underwater cliffs and shipwrecks that attract seasoned divers. The waters here house seasonal visitors like giant pacific octopuses and jellyfish. South Korea's distinct seasons offer varied diving conditions, with spring and autumn providing the best visibility. These regional and seasonal features make South Korea a fascinating destination for divers seeking adventure beyond the typical tropical experience.

Power Plug Type
C, F
Payment Method
AMEX, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
0-10%
Airports
CJU, PUS, ICN, GMP
Currency
KRW
Dial Code
+82
Electricity
220 V / 60 Hz
Time
UTC+9

Courses and Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in South Korea

South Korea's marine life offers a rich tapestry for divers to explore. Common reef fish such as damselfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish populate the coastal waters, providing colorful displays around the rocky reefs and kelp forests. These species are frequently encountered in areas like Jeju Island, known for its clear waters and abundant marine biodiversity.

Seasonal highlights include sightings of larger marine animals. During warmer months, divers may encounter migratory species such as whale sharks and various types of rays near the southern coasts. Sea turtles, particularly the endangered loggerhead turtle, can occasionally be spotted around Jeju and Ulleungdo, though these sightings are less common and depend on the time of year and water conditions.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

32 Sightings
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0
F
0
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0
A
2
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
12
S
0
O
14
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

10 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
8
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

65 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
2
J
11
J
2
A
0
S
22
O
18
N
5
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

54 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
20
S
9
O
16
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

52 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
14
S
13
O
21
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

28 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
12
O
15
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

15 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
14
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

14 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
10
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

13 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
8
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

12 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
4
O
6
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

11 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
8
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

9 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

6 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 50

Sea Wasp

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0