Post by Michael on Aug 10, 2009 14:06:10 GMT 8
Dive report on Gogae
Gogae & Tongyong Islands
On Gogae Island the resort is “Gujora ATV & scuba” Mr. Choi. It’s located south of Gujora beach on the east south side of the island. Driving south It’s up the hill approx 800 meters past the beach on the left. It looks like a café.
On Tongyong the resort is “Best Dive” (Writers choice) Mr. Kim. PADI 5 star CDC. It’s located at Nonarekae Harbor on the South east side of the Island. It is difficult to find. Drive through the city of Tongyong following the signs to Tongyong Island. Cross over to the island on the western most and bigger bridge. Go right and then left off the bridge. Follow the road for a few Kilometers, You will see a sign for the Enter motel, but it is small. When you come to a village the road forks, take the left fork. You will find the “Enter Motel. Head south for approx 1 Km. you will find a School on the left. Turn left before the school and follow the road up and around the hill. The dive resort is at the end of the road
Region = Southwest
Location = End of express way 35
Dive site name = Numerous dive sites
Type of dive = Boat dive/beach dive
Month = Year round
Water Temperature: Celsius = 14-22
Max depth reached during dive in meters = 3-40
Max depth of dive site in meters = 3-40
Visibility in meters = 2-12
Night diving available? = yes
Day or night dive? = night dives are beach dives only
Washrooms available? = Yes
Local support available in English? = yes/No
Quality of local support = varies
Marine life = Starfish, flounder, sea horses, octopi, yellow jacks, lots of different fish. Large schools, small schools of fish abound.
Worst time of year to go: Summer and winter.
The biggest thing about diving in the south is the visibility connected with the lunar cycle so you need to go between full and no moon phases. Diving can be great and it can be terrible. You really have to take your chances when going there. If there is the slightest chance of bad weather don’t go unless you absolutely have too, but when the vis is on it’s worth it.
Most people go to Gogae and Tongyong for the boat diving. There are about a half dozen different islands to choose from and the all offer something unique: Tunnels, walls, coral, rocks, and wild life. All of the dive operations have boats capable of carrying 10-20 divers.
Be ready for a minimum of an hour boat ride out to the sites. Some site cost more the farther out you have to go.
There is beach diving, but be careful many beaches are managed by the local city/village. They claim complete ownership of some beaches and you need to get permission to dive first. The dive shop operators can fix it for you. If you get caught diving on your own the police can confiscate your equipment.
I have been to several other dive operations around these Islands and these two are the only ones worthwhile. Gujora ATV & Scuba is border line acceptable. His operation is starting to get run down.
Lodging and Transportation
Around Gujora there are some small motel and boarding houses. You have to drive back to the city to find some better motels and restaurants.
At Best dive they have rooms that are clean, but not so cheap. The Enter motel is very nice, and not too expensive. If you want cheaper you have to go the city of Tongyong and find one cheaper. There are lots of cheap love motels in the city.
There is a Bus station just outside of Tongyong so it is possible to get to Best Dive by bus and taxi. A taxi to Gogae island will run you quite a bit so you would want to take another bus to Gujora beach.
Also there are ferries from Busan to Tongyong and Gogae. So you can take the train to Busan and then the ferry to Tongyong or Gogae. The Busan train station is a taxi ride from Ferry terminal.
Gogae & Tongyong Islands
On Gogae Island the resort is “Gujora ATV & scuba” Mr. Choi. It’s located south of Gujora beach on the east south side of the island. Driving south It’s up the hill approx 800 meters past the beach on the left. It looks like a café.
On Tongyong the resort is “Best Dive” (Writers choice) Mr. Kim. PADI 5 star CDC. It’s located at Nonarekae Harbor on the South east side of the Island. It is difficult to find. Drive through the city of Tongyong following the signs to Tongyong Island. Cross over to the island on the western most and bigger bridge. Go right and then left off the bridge. Follow the road for a few Kilometers, You will see a sign for the Enter motel, but it is small. When you come to a village the road forks, take the left fork. You will find the “Enter Motel. Head south for approx 1 Km. you will find a School on the left. Turn left before the school and follow the road up and around the hill. The dive resort is at the end of the road
Region = Southwest
Location = End of express way 35
Dive site name = Numerous dive sites
Type of dive = Boat dive/beach dive
Month = Year round
Water Temperature: Celsius = 14-22
Max depth reached during dive in meters = 3-40
Max depth of dive site in meters = 3-40
Visibility in meters = 2-12
Night diving available? = yes
Day or night dive? = night dives are beach dives only
Washrooms available? = Yes
Local support available in English? = yes/No
Quality of local support = varies
Marine life = Starfish, flounder, sea horses, octopi, yellow jacks, lots of different fish. Large schools, small schools of fish abound.
Worst time of year to go: Summer and winter.
The biggest thing about diving in the south is the visibility connected with the lunar cycle so you need to go between full and no moon phases. Diving can be great and it can be terrible. You really have to take your chances when going there. If there is the slightest chance of bad weather don’t go unless you absolutely have too, but when the vis is on it’s worth it.
Most people go to Gogae and Tongyong for the boat diving. There are about a half dozen different islands to choose from and the all offer something unique: Tunnels, walls, coral, rocks, and wild life. All of the dive operations have boats capable of carrying 10-20 divers.
Be ready for a minimum of an hour boat ride out to the sites. Some site cost more the farther out you have to go.
There is beach diving, but be careful many beaches are managed by the local city/village. They claim complete ownership of some beaches and you need to get permission to dive first. The dive shop operators can fix it for you. If you get caught diving on your own the police can confiscate your equipment.
I have been to several other dive operations around these Islands and these two are the only ones worthwhile. Gujora ATV & Scuba is border line acceptable. His operation is starting to get run down.
Lodging and Transportation
Around Gujora there are some small motel and boarding houses. You have to drive back to the city to find some better motels and restaurants.
At Best dive they have rooms that are clean, but not so cheap. The Enter motel is very nice, and not too expensive. If you want cheaper you have to go the city of Tongyong and find one cheaper. There are lots of cheap love motels in the city.
There is a Bus station just outside of Tongyong so it is possible to get to Best Dive by bus and taxi. A taxi to Gogae island will run you quite a bit so you would want to take another bus to Gujora beach.
Also there are ferries from Busan to Tongyong and Gogae. So you can take the train to Busan and then the ferry to Tongyong or Gogae. The Busan train station is a taxi ride from Ferry terminal.