Jeju sea walking with fish feeding: Underwater Play

I’ve been to Jeju Island several times, but I was starting to get tired of the restaurant-café routine. Pretty cafés are great and good restaurants are great, but doing only that over and over left me feeling like something was missing. So I even went to a zoo, but still... my thirst for a Jeju activity wasn’t quite quenched.

Then I found somewhere near my accommodation where I could go sea walking. It was Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking (언더워터플레이 바다씨워킹).

※ Operating hours and closing days may change, so I recommend checking before you visit.

Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking: Parking and surroundings

Outside the venue

When I arrived, the generous parking immediately put me at ease. And the surroundings were so peaceful...ㅠㅠ

It really felt like I had come to the sea, and I was in a good mood before the activity had even started.

At Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking, you first go indoors for instructions, then change clothes in the building next door.

Check-in and safety briefing before the experience

Inside the venue

You scan a QR code for a quick check-in, and you can pay any additional fees here too.

I paid ₩10,000 because I didn’t have a suit, swimsuit, or clothes I could throw away afterward.

After changing, we got a quick lesson through a YouTube video on equalizing and hand signals. You go underwater with an instructor, but still, you have to look after your own body too~~ right?

After watching the video, I looked to see what fish were underwater while waiting for the guests ahead of us to finish. There were so many different kinds. The ones I always ate as assorted sashimi...

I liked that Underwater Play gave such thorough instructions before the experience. It was my first sea walk, so I was nervous, but the instructors kept guiding us and that made me feel a little calmer.

I also saw a woman in her 60s doing the experience before us. Watching her, I thought, ah, maybe this is possible for people of all ages. If you’re looking for a Jeju activity with kids, it may be worth considering as long as they aren’t terribly afraid of water.

Showers

I received my suit and shoes, changed in the building next door, and came back. The water was warm, so it was fine.

When I think of things to do in Jeju Island, I imagine complicated equipment and getting nervous, but the process was neater than I expected. I don’t think first-timers need to be too scared.

But body wash and shampoo are not provided. Bring your own, or buy some there and use it.

Sea walking while feeding fish underwater

The experience

We got the notification that it was our turn and went straight into the water—go go. I chose the photo-taking + fish-feeding course. You put on helmet-like gear and ease right in; it isn’t heavy at all, so it was okay.

I climbed down the ladder and slipped right in, and honestly, being immediately underwater surprised me at first. Gasp gasp...

But from then on, such a mysterious experience began. There were seriously sooooooo many fish underwater. There were lots of kinds too, and they all looked so healthy.

Not sickly fish—truly healthy fish. As people entered, they all swoooshed over to me. The ones I always ate as assorted sashimi...22...

I’d never done a Jeju activity like this in my life. It was an eastern Jeju experience that will stay with me in a completely different way from going to cafés and eating meals.

You just hold the railing and move along following the instructor’s directions. The water only comes up to your chin.

At first, the instructor held on to us as we moved a little, then the feeding began. Then, just like at a hot spot, the fish came swarming over in a huuuuge rush. They just kept coming. It felt like I was seeing fish much closer than I had imagined for sea walking.

I quit sashimi.... I really didn’t eat sashimi for the rest of my Jeju trip after that day.ㅜㅜ hahahahaha

Underwater Play kept taking photos, then I held the railing and moved spots, walked a little, and took photos at a photo spot too. Then we moved again and took more photos.

I think I did well choosing the photo option. This was too precious to leave only as a spoken memory. For anyone looking for an eastern Jeju activity that leaves you with photos too, this is a great point. You hardly ever get the chance to take underwater photos, after all.

The experience lasted about 10–15 minutes. At first I wondered whether it would be short, but once I did it, it was just the right length. Going any longer would probably be a bit much. You have to stay focused underwater, and because it was my first time, it quietly took some energy.

For an experience like this, kind staff are really important, right? If you feel anxious for no reason, you’ll be scared the whole time, but I was satisfied with Underwater Play on that front.

The strongest memory left on my eastern Jeju itinerary

This is what I remember most from this Jeju trip. I went to restaurants, cafés, and a zoo, but the most intense of all the things to do in eastern Jeju was being underwater. I still think about the moment I was surrounded by fish and feeding them.

It fits nicely into an itinerary around Gujwa and Gimnyeong in eastern Jeju, and the route works well if your accommodation is in the east. Because this is the Bada branch, it felt even better to do it in the actual sea.

If you’re looking for a Jeju activity with kids, it would be good to check the age, height, and safety requirements before booking. Adults will have plenty of fun too, not just kids.

• People like me who feel it would be a shame to visit Jeju and only go around restaurants and cafés.
• People thirsty for an activity.
• People who want to meet underwater fish up close.

I recommend Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sniffle score is 💚💚💚💚💚