Are you new to the island, looking forward to dodging the monsoon weather and heading to the beaches this summer? Not sure which beach to check out? Here’s some information that might help get you started.

1. Samyang Beach - Located to the immediate east of Jeju City, this beach is accessible by city bus and is famous for its black sand. The black sand is known for its dermatological properties, and “there are even trenches so that you can be buried in the sand - it’s great for your skin,” commented English instructor and Jeju resident Anj Schroeder. Anj added that Samyang is best visited in the peaceful early hours of the morning.

We’re a little spoiled for choice when it comes to UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites on the island. There is Hallasan National Park, a behemoth of a place that has South Korea’s tallest mountain at 1950 meters high. Sunrise Peak, the strikingly formed tuff cone, sits on the eastern coastal tip at Seongsan. Finally, the kilometre long, subterranean, Manjanggul cave stretches out beneath us that is part of a mysterious - not open to the public – larger tube system. Distinct, unique and downright breathtaking, the sites were inscribed on to the UNESCO Natural World Heritage list in June 2007.

Pre-dive jitters were setting in as this intrepid reporter stepped off the bus in Seogwipo, but one look at Ralf Deutsch, the owner/operator of Big Blue33, quickly quelled those fears. Ralf’s calming, open manner instils trust – we would be safe under the water with this man. Ralf has run Big Blue33 (so named because Jeju lies on the 33rd parallel) for the past seven seasons; deciding after his contract as German professor at Jeju National University finished, to stay here. So he opened the dive shop.

It’s a cold day on Halla Mountain. Gnarled trees cast ghastly shadows on the forest floor. We’re hunting a group of Koreans who’ve taken cover on the far side of a ravine. I take up a defensive position with Zach and Pete on the opposite ridge. As the wind blows bitter cold through the leaves, we see figures in camouflage fatigues moving through the underbrush. I flip the safety off my AK-47 and watch in silence as they break through a tangle of thorn bushes. My finger hangs wearily over the trigger as we wait for them to come into range. I feel my heart beating in my chest as I work to steady my breath.

Rumour has it that there are some beautiful things under the waters of ocean surrounding this rock of an island, but believing is in the seeing. There are two options for viewing these underwater wonders: scuba gear or submarine. The latter is more practical and easy with two submarines operating on the South side. The Seogwipo submarine is located at the very end of the point in Seogwipo harbour (past Cheonjiyeon falls), and shares a building with a boat tour place so enter the left side for the submarine. Apparently the tour is fairly popular and reservations are recommended. It starts off with a boat ride out through the harbour to the submarine docking area. The boat has an open seating area so the more intrepid voyagers are treated to the sight of squid boats heading out to the fishing grounds and people fishing off the lighthouse platform. On the way back the boat circumnavigates the islet so the unique rock formations can be viewed.