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Region 05 · East Sea offshore

Ulleungdo·Dokdo

Korea's clearest sea. A volcanic island known as the Pacific's last pristine waters, and Dokdo — the easternmost point, 87km to its southeast.

Ulleungdo & Dokdo
37.39°N 131.34°E
Visibility
20–50m
Water temp (Jun)
~21°C
Best season
6–10mo
Access
Ferry 3h+
01 — Signature / Visibility

The nation's
finest visibility

20–50m

About 20–30m is assured year-round, opening to 40–50m by season. Some sites, such as Ssangjeongcho, always hold 30–40m. Compared with other regions, the visibility is on another level.

West Sea
Low viz
Jeju
5–8m
East Sea
5–15m
South Sea
~15m+
Ulleung·Dokdo
20–50m
Volcanic-rock cove · clear emerald
02 — Overview

A volcanic island offshore in the
East Sea, and the easternmost isle

A region made up of Ulleungdo, a volcanic island far offshore in the East Sea, and Dokdo about 87km to its southeast. It is defined by underwater visibility rarely seen elsewhere in Korea, dynamic volcanic-rock terrain, and large migratory fish. Because access is hard (mainland port↔Ulleung ferry, Ulleung↔Dokdo ferry), diving is boat-based, and cancellations due to weather and swell are frequent.

"The Pacific's last pristine waters" — volcanic-rock walls, sea caves, and colonies of black coral and sea fans unfold.
03 — Underwater scenery / Signature

A sea you'll find only here

Volcanic-rock walls & sea caves

Dynamic volcanic terrain continues underwater.

Large migratory fish

Big schools of fish out in the open sea.

Black-coral & sea-fan colonies

Lush coral colonies nurtured by clear water.

Dokdo's endangered corals

Korea's largest coral colony, underwater off Dokdo.

04 — Season calendar / Season

When to go

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Jun–Jul
Abundant fish

Peak early season, when marine life is most active.

Aug–Oct
Warm-current tropical fish

The Kuroshio Current carries tropical fish north.

Nov–May
Rough seas · limited access

Frequent swells and cancellations limit diving.

05 — Sub-regions

Four dive bases

01
Jeodong · Naesujeon
Jeodong / Naesujeon

Ulleungdo's eastern diving hub (Jukdo, Gwaneumdo, Ssangjeongcho). Home to Aqua Camp, with fast dive-boat departures.

02
Hyeonpo
Hyeonpo

An 'all-in-one' dive resort based at Hyeonpo Port. Relatively less affected by weather year-round.

03
Hakpo
Hakpo

Beach and discover diving at Hakpo Beach. A hub for foreigners' online booking (Klook).

04
Dokdo (Dongdo · Seodo)
Dokdo

Korea's easternmost point. Centered on research and underwater photography; dependent on landing permits and weather.

06 — Access / Getting there

A place you reach only across the sea

Seoul → mainland portKTX / bus

Travel to Pohang, Gangneung, Donghae (Mukho), or Uljin (Hupo).

Mainland port → UlleungdoApprox. 3–3.5h

Reach the island by ferry (Ulleung Airport not yet open).

Ulleungdo → DokdoTransfer ferry

Transfer to a Dokdo-bound ferry at Dodong, Jeodong, or Sadong Port.

Landing on Dokdo — weather-dependent

The route to the easternmost point

Apply for a landing permit 14 days ahead
Requires a further ferry transfer from Ulleungdo.
Docking only when swells are under 3–5m
About once every 40 days on average — highly variable.
Challenging for foreign visitors
Travel and weather variables make advance preparation essential.
07 — Dive sites / Sites

Dive sites in this region

20–30m

Jukdo

Jukdo

An uninhabited-island site off Jeodong.

20–50m

Dokdo

Dokdo

Easternmost volcanic rock with endangered coral colonies.

30–40m

Ssangjeongcho

Ssangjeongcho

A submerged reef with consistently open visibility.

08 — Dive shops / Shops

Regional dive shops

Aqua CampHyeonpo DiveHakpo
Limits · needs checking
  • Water temperature includes a single June real-time observation — a year-round representative value still needs reinforcing. Ssangjeongcho's coordinates are unconfirmed (a submerged reef).
  • Access routes will need updating once Ulleung Airport opens. Dokdo landing requirements and weather variables change over time.
Korea's clearest water

To the farthest sea,
the clearest sea of all

Dive into Ulleungdo & Dokdo.

Dive sitesRegional dive shops