Scuba Diving and Snorkelling around Nanji Islands

Scuba diving and snorkelling around the Nanji Islands Marine Nature Reserve in Pingyang County, Wenzhou, gives access to one of Zhejiang's few designated marine protected areas, with dive sites reached by a half-day boat trip from the main harbour village. Certified diving requires participants to hold a recognised open-water certification card and logbook, since dive centres based at the harbour generally do not offer introductory try-dives for complete beginners; snorkelling from the surface, by contrast, has no certification requirement and suits swimmers of most ages and abilities. A full scuba kit and wetsuit are available for rental, along with a snorkel set for those staying on the surface; visibility and water temperature vary through the season, so a wetsuit is recommended even for confident swimmers. The dive centres operating from the Nanji Islands harbour are small, locally run operations, so it is worth checking in advance that the dive master holds a recognised instructor certification and that the boat carries oxygen and a first-aid kit for emergencies, given the islands' distance from mainland medical facilities. A safety briefing before each dive covers hand signals, buddy checks, maximum depth and the plan for surfacing if a diver becomes separated from the group; dive time on any single tank is generally limited to 30-45 minutes. June to September is the best window, when the East China Sea around the islands is calmest and warmest; typhoon season and winter swell make the crossing to the islands unreliable outside these months.