Under the sea

Yalong Bay, an 8km crescent of silver-white sand lined with coconut palms, faces the azure waters of the South China Sea. Standing by the water, you can see the jeweled twinkle of corals that hints suggestively at the treasures that lay beneath.

The Yalong Bay Underwater World resort is your gateway to this watery paradise. Strap on a pair of flippers, grab a snorkel and mask. Here you can swim out into the clear waters or embark on a full-on scuba diving safari through a 9km zone of protected coral reef habitat – with visibility down to a glorious 16 metres. (Pictured below: Yalong Bay’s scenic palm trees and sightseers enjoying Sanya’s water sports)

This sightseeing cruise is like no other. This half-submarine, half-boat glides underwater past coral reefs and darting tropical fish around Yalong Bay. It carries 60 passengers sitting in air-conditioned comfort 1.7 metres below sea level, each watching the movie Finding Nemo come to life through reinforced glass windows.

More and more people can experience the joys of being underwater on a coral reef, thanks to Sanya’s embrace of advanced marine technology.

Just 2.5km offshore from one of Sanya’s four major bays, Haitang Bay, is the butterfly-shaped Wuzhizhou Island. Here, coral reefs teem with spiny sea urchins, fluorescent fish and ambling crustaceans. This is the location where ship-shaped artificial reefs were submerged in the shallow coastal waters alongside existing natural reefs – to make China’s first tropical “sea ranch”. Thanks to these efforts, this is a sustainable habitat for marine creatures with increased breeding and biodiversity.

Through this vivid underwater kingdom move a peculiar group of hikers, walking upright in slow-motion, and wearing what look like astronaut helmets. These hikers are using the latest tech from American firm SeaTrek, which is only available in 50 locations globally. These pressurised helmets supply a constant flow of oxygen so users can breathe normally as they stroll along the seabed, marvelling at marine life. It’s a walk in the park, literally.

And if that experience serves to whet your appetite, Wuzhizhou Island is also the first dive site in China to offer a one-day Padi resort diver course, a beginner qualification that means you can dive anywhere in the world up to 12m deep in the presence of a certified Padi instructor.

In May 2019, the “Love the Deep Blue” International Underwater Photography Competition was held on Wuzhizhou Island, a four-day event attracting professional divers and underwater photographers from around China. Aside from capturing the wonders of the deep, the event was held to raise awareness of the need to protect the fragile marine environment so it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Back on dry land after a day of underwater discovery, visitors can retreat to one of Sanya’s world-class resort hotels from the biggest and best names in global hospitality, whether it’s classic luxury at the likes of Mandarin Oriental and Banyan Tree, family fun at Atlantis Sanya and Shangri-La, or even designer style at Rosewood and Sanya Edition. (Pictured below: Shangri-La's Sanya Resort & Spa, Hainan and the Sanya Edition)