Daya Bay Reef

Huidong Coastal Wall

Shuangyue Bay Reef

Huizhou’s culinary traditions reflect its Hakka heritage combined with abundant coastal seafood resources. Hakka cuisine is characterized by hearty, flavorful dishes such as stuffed tofu, salt-baked chicken, and braised pork belly that provide satisfying post-dive meals. The Daya Bay fishing communities supply incredibly fresh seafood to local restaurants, with specialties including steamed sea bass, salt-and-pepper squid, and the famous Daya Bay sea urchin. Xunliao Bay is known for its oyster farms, producing plump Pacific oysters that are served raw, grilled, or in soups. The combination of Hakka mountain cuisine traditions with fresh coastal seafood creates a unique and satisfying dining experience that differs markedly from the Cantonese flavors of Guangzhou.

Shuangyue Bay Marriott Resort

Daya Bay Hotel

Xunliao Bay Beach Resort

Huizhou City Hotel

Huizhou and Daya Bay represent Guangdong’s most productive diving region, where extensive artificial reef programs combined with natural rocky reef systems create thriving marine habitats along a dramatic subtropical coastline. Daya Bay’s marine ecosystem benefits from the convergence of warm South China Sea currents with sheltered bay conditions, supporting coral communities at their northern distribution limit alongside kelp forests and sponge gardens. The artificial reef program here is one of China’s most successful, with decommissioned vessels, concrete reef modules, and purpose-built structures creating fish aggregation zones that attract impressive schools of golden trevally, snapper, and grouper. Shuangyue Bay on the eastern side of the peninsula offers natural reef diving with granite boulder formations, seasonal soft coral blooms, and encounters with sea turtles and reef sharks. The Huidong coastline features pristine beaches and fishing villages that have escaped the intense development seen in nearby Shenzhen. Water visibility averages 8-15 meters, improving significantly during autumn months when plankton levels drop. The region’s combination of productive artificial reefs, natural rocky coastlines, and authentic fishing culture provides a diverse and rewarding diving experience.

Guangdong – Huizhou & Daya Bay

Optimal diving with warm water, excellent visibility, and calm seas.

Cooler winter months or typhoon-prone summer period with reduced visibility.

Good conditions with slightly cooler water and fewer crowds.

Hike to the hilltop viewpoint overlooking both crescent-shaped bays

Shuangyue Bay panoramic viewpoint hike

Visit traditional Hakka fishing communities and observe net-mending traditions

Daya Bay fishing village cultural tour

Enjoy the long sandy beach with swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding

Xunliao Bay beach and water sports

Explore the historic lake district with temples, pagodas, and gardens

Huizhou West Lake scenic area

Walk through protected mangrove forest with birdwatching opportunities

Daya Bay mangrove nature reserve

Learn to prepare traditional Hakka dishes using local ingredients

Local Hakka cuisine cooking class

Huizhou is accessible by high-speed rail from Guangzhou (1 hour) or Shenzhen (30 minutes). The Daya Bay and Shuangyue Bay diving areas are approximately 1-2 hours from Huizhou city center by car. Huizhou Pingtan Airport (HUZ) has limited domestic connections.

Dive Sites in Guangdong – Huizhou & Daya Bay

Daya Bay Reef

Huidong Coastal Wall

Shuangyue Bay Reef