Gimnyeong, Jeju sea walking cut short by equalizing: Underwater Play

I wanted to try something a little special with my kid in Jeju, so we went to Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking. It was a bit cloudy that day, but we were told rain wouldn't really be a problem for the experience itself.

It was just the two of us — one adult and one elementary schooler. My son couldn't equalize well after going in and ended up stopping the experience, while my husband finished it and actually walked along the seafloor of Jeju's ocean.

How to get the Underwater Play ticket cheaper

Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking's Naver Reservation price is much cheaper than the walk-in price, so I'd definitely recommend booking that way for the discount!

Parking and check-in at Gimnyeong Fisheries Culture Complex

We parked in front of the Gimnyeong Fisheries Culture Complex and headed to the check-in desk.

You fill out a mobile application form by scanning the QR code at the on-site desk.

You don't go straight into the water after checking in — there's a safety briefing and a change of clothes first, so it's easier if you arrive about 15 minutes before your reservation time.

While checking in, you can also add extras like underwater photography, fish feeding, or wetsuit and towel rental, depending on what you need.

What add-on options can you book?

Prices can change over time, so please check the latest info on the reservation page before you go.

What should you bring for sea walking?

Bring clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet, plus a towel. Aqua shoes or something similar that can get wet are handy.

If you have long hair, it's best to tie it up neatly so it doesn't get in the way of wearing the helmet.

Since you'll need to shower and change afterward, make sure to bring a spare change of clothes and your own towel too!

What do you learn before entering the water?

Before the experience, we watched a safety briefing video to learn the underwater hand signals and precautions.

Since your ears can feel blocked as you descend, it was important to learn equalizing properly. They also told us other things to watch out for, like not bending your body too suddenly while moving underwater with the helmet on.

Can an elementary school child manage sea walking?

Before entering the water, we went through the safety briefing and they explained the underwater hand signals and precautions. Sea walking is something you can try even if you can't swim.

But an unexpected problem came up for my son. Not long after going underwater, he said his ears really hurt.

Maybe because of his usual rhinitis, he couldn't equalize the ear pressure well.

In the end, we didn't push it and came right back up. He'd been so excited, so he was pretty disappointed — we decided to try again another time when he's feeling better, haha.

What the seafloor walk was like for my husband

In the end, only my husband finished the experience. He put on the dedicated helmet, slowly descended into the water, and walked directly along the seafloor.

He said it felt totally different from regular snorkeling, where you look down from the surface — this was actually being in the ocean and looking around from inside it.

With fish swimming right in front of him and the underwater scenery so close, he said it felt completely different from looking at Jeju's ocean from outside.

If you're looking for something a bit different from Jeju's usual tourist spots, sea walking is memorable enough to be worth it.

That said, like us, your child might end up coming out early because of ear pain, so it's more important to watch your kid's condition and not push through than to insist on finishing.

After the experience, they give you a certificate of completion ^^ It could turn into a memory worth keeping~!

Checklist to save before visiting Underwater Play

• Arrive about 15 minutes before your reservation time
• Bring clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet
• Pack your own towel and a spare change of clothes
• Tie long hair up
• Have kids practice equalizing beforehand
• Check photo and feeding options on-site

My son's first attempt was disappointing, but actually walking along the seafloor of Jeju's ocean was special enough on its own.