Swimming, snorkelling and diving

The Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A) does not ban swimming or diving in a marine park. These rules apply to everyone in the park:

Injuring, removing or taking any animal or plant is prohibited, apart from permitted fishing (s. 3); collecting marine life needs a permit for education or research (s. 15B).
Stony corals, true corals and black corals are protected species (Schedule 2). Damaging shoreline features on beaches, mudflats, cliffs or the seabed is prohibited (s. 8).
No spear guns: having one in a marine park or the reserve is prohibited (s. 4, Schedule 3).
Boats may moor or anchor only at mooring buoys or sites provided by AFCD, or under a permit (s. 11).
Power-driven vessels may go no faster than 10 knots (s. 10).
Any activity for, or incidental to, a business needs a permit (s. 15(c)).
AFCD may prohibit or restrict entry to all or part of a marine park or the reserve by notices posted on site or in the Gazette (s. 16).

Boats supporting divers

The collision regulations apply to all vessels in Hong Kong waters (Cap. 313, s. 10). A vessel engaged in diving operations that is too small to show all the signals of Rule 27(d) must show three all-round lights in a vertical line, red, white and red, and a rigid replica of the International Code flag “A” at least 1 m high. The exemption for vessels under 12 m does not apply to diving operations (Cap. 369N, Rule 27(e) and (g)).

Before you go

Harbour gives no diving, medical or weather advice. Read the Government’s diving tips and check the Observatory’s forecasts and warnings before going in the water.

Harbour’s summary in its own words, not the legal text and not legal advice. It covers only the marine parks, the marine reserve and the signals for dive boats, and says nothing about other waters.

Sources checked · Oct 18, 2026

Weather & observations

Tung Ping Chau Marine Park

Swimming, snorkelling and diving

Boats supporting divers

Before you go