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Diving in Gyeongsangnam-do

Gyeongsangnam-do sits at the southeast tip of the Korean peninsula and is home to the two bordering metropolitan cities of Busan and Ulsan. This area of South Korea is close to Japan; therefore, you can find many historical sites related to the war with Japan. Its jagged coastline borders the West Korean Sea and consists of more than 500 large and small islands. Diving in Gyeongsangnam-do offers an underwater landscape like nowhere else in the world. In the southwest corner of Gyeongsanganam-do, you will find the Namhae coast, where the Sobaek mountain range extends from the land into the sea. The submerged mountain range makes for a unique diving experience with an underwater topography of deep canyons and tall pinnacles to explore. Most Gyeongsanganam-do diving takes place within the Hallyeohaesang National Park. This national park encompasses most of Gyeongsanganam-do’s coastal region and is the only designated maritime national park in South Korea. Thanks to its protected status, diving in Hallyeohaesang National Park is excellent, with good visibility and abundant marine life.

Wildlife Encounters in Gyeongsangnam-do

The Gyeongsangnam-do region is home to some spectacular South Korean marine life. With over 500 large and small islands, the range of underwater topography is vast, offering sandy bottoms, rocky outcrops, steep drop-offs, and interesting caves as a habitat to many marine species. Species diversity is very high thanks to the unique combination of warm and cold currents that alternately flow through these waters. You will see many species such as Ryan fish, stingrays, sea horses, crabs, damselfish, squid, octopus, nudibranchs, and the occasional dolphin, just to name a few.