Dive-site story
Situated at the eastern tip of volcanic Guishan Island off Yilan, Turtle Head features active submarine hydrothermal vents. Acidic, mineral-rich thermal fluids bubble up through fractures in the volcanic rock, creating an ethereal milky-white haze over the seascape. The seabed transitions from bare volcanic boulders colonized by endemic crabs to rocky reefs populated by schooling reef fish further from the thermal plumes.
Submarine hydrothermal vents releasing streams of sulfur bubbles and hot mineral fluids
Dense colonies of hydrothermal vent crabs scuttling over the sulfur-coated volcanic seabed
Dramatic visual contrast where thermal milky water mixes with deep open-ocean blue
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Summer offers calmer seas and minimal boat cancellations, whereas strong northeast monsoons make the area inaccessible throughout winter.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrothermal Vent CrabXenograpsus testudinatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail DamselfishChrysiptera parasema | Common | ||||||||||||
| Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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