TL;DR: Taiwan's Tourism Administration published advisory guidelines covering snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving that require qualification certificates and list specific breathing tubes and related gear after a fatal training dive and a six-diver wave rescue.

Taiwan's Tourism Administration published guidelines for diving activities following a series of diving-related accidents over the past few years, according to the Taipei Times. The document covers snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving and addresses equipment, qualifications, supervision and risk management. The administration said the guidelines outline the legal framework governing water recreation activities, clarify the responsibilities of the authorities, and define diving activities and equipment requirements.

The release was reported on Sept. 28, 2026, on page 4, by staff writer Fion Khan with CNA, according to the Taipei Times. A second report on the same action, published Sept. 28, 2026 by Dive Journal, described the move as advisory rules on certification, gear and supervision issued after a fatal training dive and a wave rescue. The administration said the guidelines are advisory in nature and can serve as a reference for local governments, national scenic area administrations and national park administrations responsible for managing water recreation activities.

Two September incidents prompted the action

Earlier this month, a diving student experienced hypoxia, lost consciousness and died after a training dive at a bat cave in New Taipei City's Rueifang District when sea conditions worsened, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal reported the same incident as a diving student who died of hypoxia during a training dive at a bat cave in Rueifang, New Taipei City, after sea conditions worsened.

On Sunday last week, six divers were trapped by high waves off Longdong in New Taipei City's Gongliao District, according to the Taipei Times. They were rescued by the Coast Guard Administration and no injuries were reported. Dive Journal reported the same rescue, stating that six divers were caught by high waves off Longdong in Gongliao District, that the Coast Guard brought all six back, and that no injuries were reported.

The Tourism Administration said the guidelines aim to improve safety and provide a clearer regulatory framework for operators, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal said the guidelines were published in response to a run of recent incidents along the island's coast.

What the guidelines cover

The guidelines define snorkeling as diving activities involving a mask, fins or snorkel, according to the Taipei Times. Scuba diving is defined as diving with a mask, fins, snorkel and breathing apparatus. Freediving is defined as diving without breathing equipment.

Dive Journal summarized the same three categories, noting that snorkelers need a mask, fins or a snorkel. The Tourism Administration said the document also provides guidance on dive leaders and dive buddies, and addresses safety and risk management, according to the Taipei Times.

The guidelines outline the legal framework governing water recreation activities and clarify the responsibilities of the authorities, the administration said. Government agencies, site managers, diving organizations and divers can also use the guidelines as a reference for site management, professional practices and improving safety standards, according to the Taipei Times.

Who needs a certificate

Under the guidelines, people scuba diving or freediving must hold a qualification certificate issued by domestic or international diving organizations, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal reported the same requirement, stating that participants in scuba diving and freediving should hold a qualification certificate from a Taiwanese or international diving organization.

People who engage in such water activities should meet internationally recognized training standards, including age and health requirements, basic swimming ability, marine safety awareness, and appropriate supervision and companion arrangements, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal listed the same standards, covering age, health, basic swimming ability and awareness of marine safety.

The emphasis on supervision includes dive leaders, dive buddies and companion arrangements across all three activities, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal reported that across all three activities, the guidelines call for proper supervision and a buddy or companion arrangement.

Breathing tubes and related gear listed

Scuba divers should be equipped with a complete breathing system, including a regulator, buoyancy compensation device and air tank, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal described the same system as a regulator, a buoyancy compensator and a tank.

Freediving gear includes a snorkel, mask, wetsuit and surface identification devices, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal described the freediving expectation as a mask, snorkel and wetsuit, along with a surface identification device such as a buoy, which lets boats and rescuers see where a diver is.

The distinction matters for pack planning because the two categories use different breathing tubes. Scuba relies on a regulator connected to a tank, while freediving and snorkeling rely on a snorkel carried with a mask, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal made the same distinction, listing a regulator, buoyancy compensator and tank for scuba and a snorkel, mask and wetsuit with a surface buoy for freedivers.

Announcement status and penalties

The Tourism Administration said the guidelines are advisory in nature, according to the Taipei Times. They can serve as a reference for local governments, national park administrations and national scenic area administrations responsible for managing water recreation activities. Dive Journal also reported that the guidelines themselves are advisory and are meant as a reference for government agencies, site managers, diving organizations and divers rather than binding law.

Penalties described in the reports come from existing law, not from the new document creating a new offense. Contravening the Act for the Development of Tourism, such as engaging in water recreation activities in prohibited areas, are punishable by a maximum fine of NT$50,000, while commercial operators may face fines of up to NT$200,000, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal reported the same figures, stating that individuals who enter the water in a prohibited area can be fined up to NT$50,000, and commercial operators up to NT$200,000.

Other violations involving facilities, personnel or certification requirements would be handled under the regulations of the responsible authorities, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal stated that penalties already on the books still apply.

Reaction from the freediving community

Taiwan Freediving Development Association secretary general Wu Ping-yu said the guidelines are an important first step in clarifying responsibilities and obligations, according to the Taipei Times. Wu said that while the guidelines primarily aim to help the public and operators understand regulations, few follow new rules.

Wu said the Tourism Administration could produce simplified guides or use other methods to improve public awareness of the new standards, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal reported the same assessment, stating that Wu called the guidelines an important first step in clarifying who is responsible for what, pointed out that compliance is still limited, and suggested simplified guides so that ordinary divers actually learn the rules.

What it means for an evacuation go-bag

For readers who keep water gear in a bug-out bag or vehicle kit, the reports point to a practical check. A snorkel alone does not meet the scuba definition in the guidelines, which requires a mask, fins, snorkel and breathing apparatus together with a regulator, buoyancy compensation device and air tank, according to the Taipei Times. A freediving setup described in the reports centers on a snorkel, mask, wetsuit and surface identification device.

The reports also link survival to supervision and site selection. The guidelines call for appropriate supervision and companion arrangements, and for dive leaders and dive buddies, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal noted that divers visiting any rocky shoreline should check forecasts, agree on an abort plan before entering and dive with a certified instructor or guide who knows the site, while describing training, a buoy, a buddy and willingness to cancel when the sea turns as standard practice.

That aligns with the two incidents cited as the reason for the announcement. One involved worsening sea conditions at a bat cave in Rueifang that ended in hypoxia and death, and the other involved high waves off Longdong that required a Coast Guard rescue, according to the Taipei Times. Dive Journal tied the same lesson to exposed coasts, noting how quickly conditions can change and the need to check forecasts before entering.

Sources referenced