As you are gliding through the water, enjoying your dive, a flash of
light ahead of you catches your attention. Curious, you move ahead to
investigate, when suddenly, a large, silver torpedo darts past you,
followed by several more, close behind. After a few moments, they swim
by again, and you get a closer look. You notice the amber colored
stripe along the body; which connects the mouth, eye, and fin. Their
size and speed is astonishing and it gets your heart pumping as you
realize you have finally spotted an “Amberjack”!
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| A school of Amberjacks at Long Dong Bay |
The
name jack fish includes numerous species around the world but the type
most commonly spotted in the waters around Taiwan is the Greater
Amberjack. The Greater Amberjack averages from 7 to 15 kg but fishermen
have caught some as large as 70 kg. They are commonly found between 20
and 70 meters deep in rocky areas or near wrecks and other underwater
structures but also venture closer to shore to hunt.
Amberjacks
are predators so they are built for speed, which is apparent from their
shape. Their size and strength also makes them a prized gamefish for
anglers since they put up a big fight and are challenging to reel in.
Unfortunately, because of their fleshy meat, they are also a popular
fish for sushi and are commonly found in restaurants worldwide.
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| An angler with a very large Amberjack |
Your
best chance to see Amberjacks is from winter into late spring when they
spend more time closer to shore for mating. They head into deeper
waters after May, but can be spotted occasionally year round if you’re
lucky. They seem fearless, and almost playful when in the vicinity of
divers and can often be seen swimming circles around divers and their
bubble columns, so be sure to take the chance and marvel in this
exquisite sight before they depart for another year!
In northern
Taiwan, Long Dong Bay is a familiar, welcoming place to practice your favorite
recreational water activities, scuba diving and snorkeling. It is located along
the scenic northeast coast of Taiwan just south of Keelung City and is
accessible via the coastal highway number 2. Long Dong means ‘Dragon’s Cave’ in
Chinese. The name comes from the underwater rock formation near dive site
Number 4, which is said to resemble a dragon squatting down with its spines sticking
up from the sea bottom, and the cave being the bay itself. 
The calm
waters of Long Dong Bay make it a great location for beginner and experienced divers
taking any of the PADI courses. Students
are able to work on their diving skills while enjoying the various fish around
them. Advanced divers can try to
identify those fish, search and lift objects, go as deep as 26m while
navigating the underwater terrain and much more. Divers can encounter some unique
species such as the flying gurnard or flounders along the sandy bottom or head
towards the wall and see the schools of puffer fish or striped yellow
snappers. 
photography can find picturesque moments with the lovable clown anemone fish or
spend the dive at the squid nursery seeking out that perfect shot while
practicing their buoyancy.
Nowhere is this truer than at Fun Divers Dive Center, where we have
been busy getting everything ready so we can start the 2017 season with a
SPLASH. The shop has been revamped and is better than ever. With a new
look and more space, we can hang out and be dive geeks in comfort.
We have a big season planned with monthly trips to a variety of
destinations, domestic and international, as well as some fun new dive
locations and courses available to try. Another new thing for this year
is this blog, where we will be sharing interesting facts, information
on equipment, tours and any other cool things relevant to you guys!
