熊潛水 Bear Diving - Curso de Mergulhador em Águas Abertas PADI em Xiaoliuqiu

Arrive at Donggang before 9 AM on the day of departure to exchange your ferry tickets. Just tell the counter you're with "Bear Dive" to get your round-trip tickets. Upon arriving at Xiaoliuqiu, walk directly to the partnered scooter rental shop to pick up your scooter. However, the scooter rental period is only 48 hours; if you return it late, you'll need to pay an additional NT$50 per hour. The room booked for two people is a double room; you'll need to bring your own towels and toothbrushes, but the room is very clean and comfortable. Although brunch is included, it consists of simple small burgers or bento boxes, which might be a bit small for men, but we didn't mind this much as we could go out and find more food ourselves. The diving instructor was excellent, guiding three people and quickly offering advice and corrections tailored to each person's issues. They clearly taught important diving knowledge, all of which is covered in the PADI online test. We completed 5 dives in two days, which was tiring, but it meant we could fully enjoy our third day of sightseeing! 👍

The instructor was patient and helpful, assisting with photos and videos. During the evening class, we reviewed the course content and watched the recorded videos for tips on improving our movements. The included breakfast and lunch were delicious. The backpacker room was simple and normal; the air conditioning broke down once, but the shop quickly found a technician to repair it. For ferry tickets, you can go directly to Donggang Pier and choose any of the three ferry companies. Report the dive shop's name at the counter, and after confirmation, you can exchange for a round-trip ticket (the return trip must be within seven days, with no time limit). It's recommended to confirm the first day's class time with the dive shop before departure, as the instructor might have other courses or introductory dives in the morning, potentially shifting your class to the afternoon, so there's no need to arrive very early. Additionally, the scooter provided in the package is for a three-day, two-night period (48 hours), so when I returned it, it was overdue, and I had to pay for an extra day (NTD300). It's advisable to confirm the scooter rental shop's location with the dive shop before departure so you can rent a scooter immediately after getting off the ferry. Also, confirm the rental period with the scooter shop when you rent it.

To help me pass the exam, the instructor even offered evening tutoring sessions and highlighted key points. I passed on my first try, so give them a thumbs up!

I'm so glad I chose Bear Dive as my dive shop for getting my OW certification; it made my first trip to Xiaoliuqiu a truly happy experience. Our instructor this time was Guanyu, who is a super nice and patient instructor. All my nervousness disappeared under his guidance, and we successfully completed our OW certification. I'm really grateful to the instructor. This all-inclusive package is quite convenient, but be aware that the scooter rental shop might charge an extra day's fee when returning the scooter on the third day. I recommend asking the owner of Bear Dive about the scooter rental situation beforehand.

The coach is very kind and also provides thoughtful individual guidance! Bear Dive - the food and accommodation are also quite good. Overall, it's excellent!

My first diving experience was amazing, thanks to the instructor's patient guidance. It was truly wonderful to see small fish and sea turtles swimming right beside me!

The instructor was very thoughtful. Because our diving trip coincided with a typhoon, the instructor specially arranged for us to change from a three-day, two-night diving course to a two-day, one-night one. When we felt discouraged, they would also encourage us. Moreover, the instructor was very humorous. Finally, when we had an accident in Xiaoliuqiu, the instructor accompanied us to report it to the police and to the health clinic. I highly recommend Bear Diving to friends.

It was a great experience, and the instructor's teaching style was relaxed, not like an exam. If you felt you didn't do well, you could ask for another practice session. We saw sea turtles several times, as well as salamanders and other creatures. Lunch was bento with the dive shop, and for dinner, we ate whatever the owner was having, and we were super full. The two cats were very cute, but unfortunately, they didn't like being petted. I sincerely recommend bringing aloe vera gel and ocean-friendly sunscreen. The sun was so strong that my skin peeled. If you can't make the boat schedule on time, you must take the 10:10 AM boat at the latest, otherwise, the subsequent lessons will be a bit rushed. It's recommended to arrange transportation from the train station to Donggang in advance if you're going on a weekday, otherwise, it's hard to find a taxi on weekdays, and chartering a car is much more expensive.

Diving is super fun! The instructor is attentive, and the owner is very energetic. The accommodation is comfortable overall, and the bed is big enough. The package including a scooter and three meals is excellent value. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn diving. On the first day, you'll use one tank in calm waters, and on the second and third days, two tanks each. Reviewing the textbook content at night will make the written test easier 👍 (So lucky to see a sea turtle in the ocean on the first day 😊)

Thank you to the boss, the proprietress, and the coaches for giving us such wonderful memories and experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend Bear Dive.