Located on the west coast of Xiao Liuqiu, Shanfu Fishing Harbor is one of the island’s most popular beginner-friendly shore dive sites, especially well known for its high concentration of sea turtles and calm, training-friendly terrain.
The entry point is a small sandy beach to the left of the harbor, facing the sea. Walking along the breakwater on the right, divers will often spot large sea turtles grazing on seaweed in the shallows during high tide—sometimes even before entering the water.
Once submerged, divers are greeted by distinct coral reef fissures. On clear days, sunlight filters through the water and illuminates pillar corals on top of the reef, creating a beautiful and photogenic scene.
At around 6 m depth, a buoy line marks the primary underwater landmark and serves as a clear reference for entry and exit. Turtles are occasionally seen rubbing themselves against the rope.
Right side of the rope - a wide sandy area starting around 8 m, ideal for buoyancy practice and fin-kicking drills. Careful observers can find garden eels, flounders, and stingrays camouflaged in the sand.
Left side of the rope - a broad reef-plateau zone rich in macro life. Nudibranchs are commonly found along the reef surface.
Maintaining a depth of around 12 m and heading south (left), divers encounter a long stretch of stone coral reef populated by damselfish, snappers, octopus, and sea turtles. With luck, barracuda schools may also pass through.
Continuing forward, a large porous coral formation—nicknamed “Little Mushroom” by local instructors—comes into view. It’s often covered with Christmas tree worms, and large turtles are sometimes seen resting or scratching beneath it.
Beyond this point lies the famous “Shanfu Turtle Island”, a major turtle resting area. A large reef block at 12 m depth often hosts multiple turtles resting together, occasionally displaying territorial behavior. This is an important turtle habitat, so divers should maintain proper distance and avoid sudden movements.
