Traveling to Phu Quoc, you really love the colorful coral reefs under the sea but are… afraid of water, can’t swim, or traveling with young children? Watching people dive and swim with fish makes you envious, but should you just sit on the canoe and look down?
Don’t worry, in this article we will break down “everything” about the Phu Quoc seawalker service (also known as walking under the sea). From the latest ticket prices, the actual feeling of wearing a heavy diving helmet underwater, to giving you a straightforward answer on whether it is truly as safe as rumored.
After reading this, you will confidently decide whether to book a ticket to go under the sea and hug the corals!
Why do many people hesitate before trying Seawalker?
Running tours for over 6 years in South Island, we get hundreds of the exact same questions every month:
“I’m a weak swimmer, what if I suffocate?”
“My kid is only 6 years old, will diving like this cause chest pressure?”
“The price is nearly 2 million for ten-something minutes, is it a waste of money?”
These are completely reasonable worries. With the psychological fear of deep water, fear of confined spaces under the diving helmet, plus a price that isn’t cheap, tourists hesitating is a given. Not to mention, if you choose the wrong operator or aren’t guided carefully, your underwater experience will turn into panic. So what is the truth about this experience?
What is the actual Phu Quoc Seawalker experience like?
The feeling of wearing an astronaut helmet walking in an aquarium
Many of you wonder what Phu Quoc seawalker includes that makes the price so high? Unlike scuba diving where you must bite a breathing tube, walking under the sea is much more relaxing. You will wear a diving helmet that provides continuous oxygen, designed exactly like an astronaut helmet.
- Actual experience: On land, the helmet weighs about 30-40kg. But right when it touches the water surface, thanks to Archimedes’ buoyant force, it only weighs about 4kg, enough to keep you standing firmly on the sandy bottom.
- Biggest plus: Water does not enter the helmet at all. From your neck up, you are completely dry. You just breathe naturally through your nose, can even mumble inside the helmet or… wear your regular prescription glasses to see the fish clearly.
How much does walking under the sea in Phu Quoc cost?
Currently, the listed Phu Quoc seawalker ticket is 1,820,000 VND /person (~$73 USD).
This price usually includes:
- Canoe transfer to the Coral Conservation Park in the South Island.
- Equipment (diving helmet, underwater sandals).
- Professional instructor (1-on-1 accompaniment throughout the journey).
- Underwater filming and photography package (depending on the policy at each time, remember to ask the ticket booking place carefully if media is included to avoid extra costs).
Decoding safety: Can non-swimmers do it?
Can children and non-swimmers participate?
The keyword customers ask us the most is: can I do the seawalker if I don’t know how to swim? The answer is: 100% YES.
You don’t need to know how to swim, nor do you need diving skills. There are handrails already set up on the seabed, you just hold onto them and walk like on land. Furthermore, for every 1 guest in the water, there is 1 instructor accompanying, holding your hand and keeping you safe throughout the journey.
Regarding age, how old do children have to be for Phu Quoc seawalker? As long as the child is over 5 years old (or their head circumference fits the diving helmet) and doesn’t panic when going down into the water, they can experience it. Even for the question can the elderly do Phu Quoc seawalker, the answer is still yes, as long as they don’t have severe underlying medical conditions regarding cardiovascular or high blood pressure.
Technical specs: How deep, how long?
- How many minutes is the seawalker? You will dive at a safe depth, about 4 – 5 meters. At this depth, the sunlight shines down beautifully, the corals are most vibrant, and the water pressure won’t make you too uncomfortable.
- How long is the Seawalker time? You will have 15 – 20 minutes walking under the water. It sounds short, but trust me, staying under that water pressure for that amount of time is the most ideal duration so your body doesn’t get tired while still fully admiring the South Island coral reefs.
Comparison: Seawalker or Snorkeling in Phu Quoc?
Many of you are torn between seawalker vs Phu Quoc snorkeling (wearing goggles with a breathing tube). Let us clarify this for you:
| Criteria | Snorkeling | Seawalker |
| Viewing angle | Floating on the water surface, looking down. | Walking on the bottom, corals and fish at eye level. |
| Skills | Need to wear a life jacket, knowing how to swim a bit is an advantage, easy to choke on water if not used to mouth breathing. | No swimming required. Breathe naturally through the nose. Hair stays dry. |
| Realism level | Beautiful, but from afar (due to snorkeling in shallow 1-3m water). | Excellent. Fish swimming right in front of your face, can gently touch the fish schools. |
| Cost | Usually free (included in island hopping tours). | Paid separately (about 1,820,000 VND/person). |
Local tip: If your budget is comfortable and you want a “premium, high-quality, easy” experience for the whole family, choose Seawalker. But if you like swimming around freely, just sign up for the island tours, the canoe will take you out to Hon Gam Ghi Phu Quoc for snorkeling, which is already satisfying enough.
Preparation guide: Small tips from locals
To have the most complete sea walking experience, remember to note down a few points:
- Overcoming ear ringing: When you first drop down the initial 1-2 meters of water, you will feel a slight ringing in your ears due to the pressure change. Local tip: Just swallow saliva continuously or move your lower jaw, this condition will disappear immediately.
- Outfit: Even though your head doesn’t get wet, from the neck down you are still submerged in water. Please wear neat swimwear or shorts and a fitted t-shirt to move easily.
- Strict warning: When fish swim close, you can reach out your hands to play with them. However, ABSOLUTELY do not step on or break corals to bring back. The coral reefs in Phu Quoc are being very strictly conserved.
Final Verdict: Is Phu Quoc Seawalker worth it?
Frankly speaking, spending nearly 2 million for 20 minutes underwater is not a cheap decision. But is Phu Quoc seawalker worth it? To us, it is absolutely worth it. The feeling of overcoming the fear of water, getting to see the magical aquarium world with your own eyes at the closest range, breathing normally at a depth of 5 meters is a privilege that everyone should try once in their life.
Normally, very few guests go to the harbor just to buy a Seawalker ticket and then go home. People usually integrate this experience into the all-inclusive Phu Quoc Seawalker Tour itinerary, or most popularly, combine it with the Phu Quoc 3 Island Tour. You will stop at the coral station to dive first, then the canoe will take you over to Hon Mong Tay Phu Quoc for swimming, eating a seafood lunch, and heading to Hon May Rut Phu Quoc to take the famous flycam paddleboard photos.
If you are still hesitating about the itinerary, you can read the analysis article on whether to go on the 3 island or 4 island tour to make an easier decision, or refer to more Phu Quoc Travel Experiences from A-Z that we have summarized.
