섶섬 작은한개창

Saeseom Small Window (세섬 작은한개창) is a beginner-friendly dive site located near Saeseom Island off Jeju's Seogwipo coast in South Korea. Reaching a maximum depth of 15 metres, this site offers an accessible introduction to Jeju's remarkable underwater volcanic landscape in a sheltered setting suitable for newly certified divers. The site takes its name from a natural window-like opening in the volcanic rock formation, a smaller version of the more famous archways found at nearby sites. This geological feature, formed by wave erosion of the softer layers within the basalt, creates a picturesque swim-through that serves as the dive's highlight and provides an exciting taste of Jeju's unique underwater architecture. The volcanic substrate at Small Window supports a diverse community of temperate marine life. Kelp forests sway in the gentle current, their golden-brown fronds creating an atmospheric underwater forest that is distinctly different from tropical dive environments. Among the kelp, numerous species of wrasse, rockfish, and blennies go about their daily routines, largely unperturbed by visiting divers. The rocky reef is encrusted with a mosaic of colourful organisms including sponges, tunicates, and small soft coral colonies. Sea urchins are abundant, their spines a reminder to maintain good buoyancy control. Abalone can be spotted in crevices, though harvesting is strictly controlled by Jeju's famous haenyeo (female free divers) who hold traditional rights to the sea's bounty. Visibility at Small Window ranges from 8 to 20 metres depending on the season, with the clearest conditions typically occurring in winter and early spring. Water temperatures vary dramatically through the year, from 14 degrees in February to 26 degrees in August, necessitating appropriate exposure protection. This site provides an excellent first taste of temperate diving for visitors more accustomed to tropical waters, demonstrating that colourful and engaging diving exists well beyond the coral triangle.