- Area
- Exposed offshore waters in southeastern Hong Kong, off Clear Water Bay.
- GPS
- 22.258837, 114.350463
- Depth
- From 3 m to more than 30 m: Big Garden about 11 to 25 m; South Ninepin's inner bay about 3 to 6 m; Yat Chek Shek about 20 to 30 m or more.
- Minimum certification
- OW
- Conditions
- Difficulty ranges from intermediate to extremely high, depending on the site. Ninepin's Big Garden, between South and North Ninepin at about 11 to 25 m, has dense soft corals and sea fans. South Ninepin's inner bay, about 3 to 6 m deep, is more sheltered and suits beginner and intermediate divers. Yat Chek Shek is an entirely unsheltered offshore submerged reef, about 20 to 30 m deep or more, for advanced or exploration-level dives, with possible strong currents. The whole area lacks natural shelter, and strong, unpredictable currents often affect both the surface and seabed. During calm midsummer weather after several sunny days, visibility may reach 15 m in clear blue water.
- Hazards
- Strong currents and surge demand considerable fitness and ability to swim against current. The classic Big Garden site lies in the middle of a route used by dive boats and coastal vessels. Every diver must carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and whistle, and deploy the SMB underwater before surfacing to warn vessels away. Never surface without an SMB. Some offshore sites, including East Ninepin and Yat Chek Shek, are deeper: closely monitor the dive computer's no-decompression limit (NDL), and do not enter decompression diving. A larger-capacity cylinder, such as 12 litres, is recommended. Under Hong Kong Underwater Association guidance, diving is unsuitable in westerly, southwesterly or northwesterly winds at Force 4 or above, or excessive easterly swell.
- Access
- Take a dive boat from Sai Kung Pier. The one-way distance is about 14 to 19 km and the trip takes about 60 to 75 minutes. Those prone to seasickness are advised to take seasickness medication in advance. Common paired sites include North Ninepin, South Ninepin, East Ninepin and Yat Chek Shek.
Introduction
Ninepin Group (also known as the Kwo Chau Islands) lies far offshore in the southeast of Hong Kong, isolated in the waters off Clear Water Bay. It is made up of North Ninepin, South Ninepin, East Ninepin and several reef clusters (such as Fo Siu Pai and Yat Chek Shek). It is not only a landmark of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, but is also widely recognised within Hong Kong's diving community as one of the finest and most extensive dive destinations, earning the nickname "underwater garden" for its vividly coloured soft corals, sea fans and exceptionally rich marine life.Core dive sites: The Big Garden (the classic core site) sits between South and North Ninepin at a depth of roughly 11–25 m, its seabed densely packed with vividly coloured tree corals, soft corals, sea fans (gorgonians) and black coral. South Ninepin's inner bay (suitable for beginner/intermediate divers) is about 3–6 m deep with relatively sheltered terrain, and in recent years large colonies of anemones and clownfish have been found there, rivalling Basalt Island's anemone gardens. Yat Chek Shek (advanced/exploration-level) is an offshore reef with no shelter at all, reaching depths of 20–30 m or more, sometimes with current, but with extremely rich marine life.Underwater highlights: Ninepin Group has over 200 recorded reef fish species and extremely diverse invertebrate life. It is a paradise for nudibranchs, where divers can find tiny, rare species such as the pink cheese nudibranch (just 3 mm long), as well as flatworms, boxer/hingebeak shrimp and various decorator crabs disguised as part of the coral. The open-water setting also brings large schools of trevally, and 29 species of locally rare or endangered fish have been recorded here, including wild coral grouper.Access and best season: Divers usually depart from Sai Kung Pier, a one-way distance of about 14–19 km and a boat ride of roughly 60–75 minutes; those prone to seasickness are advised to take medication in advance. Peak summer (April to October) is the main season. To protect the precious coral ecosystem, the AFCD has designated a no-anchoring zone in the waters north of South Ninepin — remember "look, don't touch" and never touch or damage the marine life underwater.
Highlights
Over 200 recorded reef-fish species; nudibranchs, including pink cheese nudibranchs, flatworms, boxer/hingebeak shrimp and decorator crabs; large schools of scad; 29 locally rare or endangered fish species, including wild coral grouper.
Notes
The best season is April to October, particularly midsummer. Under Hong Kong Underwater Association guidance, diving is unsuitable in westerly, southwesterly or northwesterly winds at Force 4 or above, or excessive easterly swell. AFCD has designated the waters north of South Ninepin as a no-anchoring zone. Protect the coral ecosystem: look, don't touch.