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Published on 19/07/2026 by Van Trinh - Photo credit: Bubbles & Lenses, unless stated otherwise. Shot on OM System TG7 and GoPro.
Saigon Divers Club is not a dive center. But we organize our own trips! How? They’re created by the community itself. Members come together to find buddies, explore Vietnam’s coastline, and discover new ways of diving familiar sites.
It all began at our monthly meetup in March, after everyone had returned from the Tet Holidays. While some of us had dived, others were clearly showing signs of withdrawal. On a spontaneous idea, someone suggested a dive trip for the upcoming National Holidays of April-May 2026. Seven of us got organized on the Saigon Divers Club’s Reclub message board and eventually made our way to Hoi An to dive in the Cham Islands.
Every dive trip has its own unique vibe. With the last Winter winds still swirling, this trip is vividly remembered for the sea sickness pills being shared like treats among the divers. The stronger winds also meant visibility was a bit limited, so we quickly shifted our focus from the endless blue haze to exploring the underwater world more closely. And guess what? That turned out to be a fantastic change of pace!
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Giant stride entry in a protected bay to descend more safely
Patches of Foliose and Acropora corals
A valley in the coral garden
The first thing that stood out was how healthy much of the reef looked. We came across broad patches of foliose corals, large Porites colonies and plenty of branching Acropora. It’s always reassuring to see reefs with good coral cover, especially knowing how much pressure many reefs around the region have been under in recent years.
One thing we did notice, though, was the surprisingly low number of herbivorous fish. There weren’t many parrotfish or surgeonfish around grazing on the algae. It’s only a snapshot from one weekend, so it’s impossible to draw any conclusions, but it will be something interesting to pay attention to the next time we visit.
We also spotted a handful of Crown-of-Thorns starfish scattered across different sites. They are a natural part of the reef, and seeing an occasional one isn’t unusual. Unfortunately, we were told sightings had increased and if their numbers were to lead to an outbreak, that can damage large areas of coral.
For those who enjoy looking for the small things, the nudibranchs certainly kept us busy. Goniobranchus reticulatus really popped into view once you started slowing down and paying attention. We were also lucky enough to find a large Ceratosoma trilobatum, which is always a nice surprise, along with several different species from the Phyllidiidae family. It’s funny how a dive that begins with everyone talking about poor visibility often ends with people comparing photos of colorful sea slugs and other tiny reef dwellers.
Trips like this are a good reminder that visibility isn’t everything. Sometimes slowing down makes you notice details you would have swum straight past on a 30-metre day.
📖 If you want to learn more about backscatter, these particles in suspension in the water, their causes and impact on photography, our friends at Bubbles & Lenses wrote an article on the subject: "Handling backscatter"
Ceratosoma trilobatum
Goniobranchus reticulatus
Phyllidiae elegans
Banded coral shrimp Stenopus hispidus
Camel shrimp Rhynchocinetes
Hermit crab
Whip coral shrimp
Skunk clownfish playing hide-and-seek
Scorpionfish in ambush
Thanks to everyone who joined the trip. As always, it was great spending a weekend with people who are just as happy discussing corals and marine life and how to dive sustainably. For us, diving isn’t just about exploration. It’s about protecting the places we love.
That’s the spirit of our community: anyone can propose a trip or project, whether it’s a liveaboard, a photography course, or an awareness campaign. Already, members have launched a marine biodiversity website called Sinh Vật Biển Việt Nam, created educational content, and built training opportunities for underwater photographers. Each initiative grows from the same idea that brought us to Cham Islands: diving is more meaningful when shared, and Vietnam still has plenty to discover.
Andy & Deddy
Lee, Chau & Vy
The spirit of the Saigon Divers Club community
Hoi An Old Town
Chess & music
The rice harvest of Spring
👉 Got a dive idea? Share your plan with the community on Reclub and find buddies to join you. Together, we can explore, learn, and protect Vietnam’s underwater world.
Want to make a difference ?
Want to make a difference ?
Stay informed about upcoming conservation and citizen science programs by joining the Saigon Divers Club on Reclub and attending our offline monthly meet-ups in Ho Chi Minh City.
Living in the North? Consider joining our sister club, the Hanoi Diving Club.
Learn the PADI Dive Against Debris Course with Rumblefish Vietnam or other dive centres offering the course.
Learn underwater photography to be at the heart of the adventure and document our impact.
At home or the beach, choose to support brands with a clear pledge towards ocean conservation like Koraï (over 7% of their generated revenue is funding ocean stewardship)
Educate yourself about marine ecosystems and consider taking the free Greenfins Eco-diver training.
Start by understanding better our coral reefs.
Learn how to enjoy a dive in poor visibility - "Handling backscatter" by Bubbles & Lenses
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