금강산

Geumgangsan (금강산) dive site is located off South Korea's northeastern Gangwon Province coast, in the cold, deep waters of the East Sea. Reaching an impressive 40 metres, this advanced site offers experienced divers access to one of Korea's most pristine and least-visited underwater environments, where the dramatic mountainous landscape of the Geumgang range continues beneath the waves. The underwater topography mirrors the grandeur of the mountains above, with steep rocky walls descending from the shore into deep water. Massive granite boulders, shaped by millennia of wave action, create a labyrinth of swim-throughs and overhangs at various depths. The rock surfaces are colonised by cold-water organisms including hydroids, bryozoans, and encrusting sponges that create a subtle but beautiful tapestry of colour. The East Sea waters off Gangwon Province are among the coldest diving environments in South Korea, with winter temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Celsius and summer peaks rarely exceeding 20 degrees. This thermal regime supports a unique assemblage of marine life including species more commonly associated with Russian and Japanese northern waters. Large spider crabs, various species of sculpins, and impressive displays of cold-water anemones are among the highlights. Kelp forests dominate the shallower sections, their towering brown fronds creating cathedral-like canopies that filter the available light into golden shafts. These kelp forests are among the most extensive on the Korean coast, providing critical habitat for juvenile fish and invertebrates. The health of these forests has become an important indicator of ocean temperature changes in the region. Deep diving at Geumgangsan requires careful planning given the cold water temperatures and the site's remote location far from hyperbaric facilities. Most divers visit during the summer months when conditions are most accessible, though visibility paradoxically tends to be best in the cooler months when plankton levels drop. This site appeals to adventurous divers seeking frontier diving experiences in unexplored Korean waters.