The northeast cape is a popular tourism destination for water activities in summer. In order to ensure safety, the Headquarters has banned or restricted water recreation activities in four locations within its jurisdiction (Longdong Bay Waters, Longdong South Waters, Fulong Waters and Neipi Waters). The types and scopes of activities have already been announced, and two water activity business discussions are scheduled for this year to remind operators of the need to be cautious when taking customers and observe prohibitions and restrictions.
The Headquarters formulates relevant regulations for “water recreation activities,” including diving, canoeing, surfing and standup paddleboarding (SUP), based on the needs of water recreation area management, providing relevant information on water recreation activities for customers.
The Headquarters calls on tourism operators to carefully select qualified operators when arranging itineraries for water recreation activities, and check whether the liability insurance purchased conforms to regulations, so as not to ensure the rights and interests of consumers are protected.
In response to the rise of free diving activities in recent years, the MOTC revised the “Regulations Governing Water Recreation Activities” in April 2024 to add the new category of “free diving,” while also adding new regulations for businesses offering free diving: those taking customers to engage in scuba diving or free diving activities shall possess certification as a qualified diving instructor issued by a domestic or foreign diving institution. Each free diving instructor is limited to 4 people at a time, though with the addition of an assistant who meets the regulation requirements, the limit can be increased to six persons. Those engaging in “free diving” activities should carry surface marker buoys and be accompanied by a qualified person who holds diving certification issued by a domestic or foreign diving institution and who is familiar with the diving location and meets the requirements in the preceding article.
Visitors who come to enjoy water activities are required to abide by the regulations in water zoning activity announcements and can buy comprehensive insurance for specific activities. The most important thing is to enjoy a happy trip and return home safely.