Diving in Okinawa offers some of the best variety, from swimming through tunnel and cave systems, along reef walls, to deep dives to visit World War II history.
Okinawa is nicknamed in Japan “Churashima” which means beautiful islands. A visit to Okinawa will quickly proof the nickname as well deserved.
Quick Trip Overview
- Location: Okinawa, Japan
- Closest Airport: Naha Airport
Diving at Okinawa Quick Information
- Wet Suit: 3mm / Shortie / Skin
- Water Temperature: Average 30 surface, 28 bottom
- Current: Majority of dive sites do not have a current
- Average Depths: 20m
Dive Season in Okinawa
The rainy season in Okinawa starts in May and last through to about June – sometimes leading into July. There is also the chance of typhoons in the month of September.
The best period to dive at Okinawa, and when the dive season in Okinawa is from June (end of rainy season) to September. Another period is from March until May. This is when the ocean conditions are the best.
Recommended Certifications for Diving in Okinawa
There is a variety of dive sites and most shops take you to the dive sites that are best for your skill ability.
If you want to dive one of the most famous dive sites though, the USS Emmons, you will need to have a deep diver certification. This is normally included in any PADI or SSI Advanced Certification. You will not be penetrating the wreck, so the wreck course is not required.
Wildlife to Spot at Okinawa
- Pygmy Seahorses – if you are into macro photography then a pygmy seahorse is probably on your bucket list. There are a couple of locations where you can potentially see some orange or yellow pygmy seahorses in fan corals.
- Four different types of anemonefish – from the classic Nemo to a variety of other anemonefish in their host anemones there is a variety of clownfish to see!
- Seasnakes – next to Bohol, this is one of the locations where I have seen a lot of Sea snakes! While the ones in Bohol quickly surface and then disappear, the ones here are freely roaming and searching for food without much care to divers in the area.
- Schools of Butterflyfish
- Surgeonfish
Dive Spots at Okinawa
Here are some of the popular dive sites off of Okinawa:
- USS Emmons: mentioned already, the USS Emmons is the most popular dive spot in Okinawa. This fairly preserved wreck is an amazing way to interact with some World War II history. This spot will require a deep diver certification as it is resting at the bottom at approximately 41 meters.
- Manza Dream Hole: the boat will drop you off at the top of the entrance to this cave. The dive begins with going through some tunneling, before popping out the other side (the cave portion is a small section of the dive). The fan that is at the exit of the dream hole is a great location to look for pygmy seahorses.
Where to Eat at Okinawa
Well, Okinawa is actually quite a large island. So the determination of where to eat really depends on where you end up staying at! I would recommend staying near the dive shop that you plan to use. That way you can either be picked up, or be able to walk to your dive location.
The most common public transportation around is going to be by taxi. There is a bus system, but sometimes getting into the various areas of Okinawa is difficult.
Dive Shops in Okinawa
Picking a dive shop in Okinawa can be a bit of a chore. There are a variety of dive shops all along the island coast, and unlike other diving locations, they aren’t centrally located on one particular coast. Research the dive shops, and the dive spots, and contact the shops to check availability and to see if they are willing to visit the spots you are most interested in.
For example, I was determined to dive the USS Emmons, therefore my selection of shops was based on who would be able to take me to the wreck during my four days at Okinawa.
- Piranha Divers Okinawa: This is the dive shop that I used during my visit. The shop will help set you up a stay at a local guesthouse – which is affordable, walking distance from the shop, and offers a yummy breakfast. The dive shop has plenty of divemasters / instructors to accommodate numerous divers and levels.
- Aloha Divers Okinawa – Mergulho em Okinawa: this is another popular dive shop on the island – and highly recommended by female divers as one of the owners is a female diver!
How to Get to Okinawa
Well, Okinawa is an island, so the options of getting to Okinawa are pretty limited. Most likely you will have to fly over.
Airport Options
Naha Airport: this is the main airport and is located on the southern portion of the Island. The airport is large, and very well established. However, there are not many direct flight options to reach Okinawa. You will only get a direct flight option from these countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand.
Ferry Option
If you are making a large trip out of Japan, and intend to go all the way to the southern part of mainland Japan, then there is an option of taking a domestic ferry from Kagoshima to Naha on the “A-Line” ferry. The ferry only runs 3-4 times a week taking approximately 26 hours for travel, and cost 15,000 yen for accommodation that is without a bed.
Transportation around Okinawa
- If you have an international license then a rental car may be the best way to get around, as there is a lot to see on Okinawa, however it is spread out.
- Bus: there is the Okinawa Airport Shuttle. I would recommend this if the route goes along to your destination. The bus is not normal public bus transportation but is a resort liner – or a massive tour bus. Therefore there is plenty of room to store your luggage under the bus and then relax on the way to the airport. Just make sure you have exact change to pay the bus driver for your ticket.
- Taxi: There is also the option of paying for a taxi, or a private driver, but of course depending on your distance from the airport this can quickly be the most expensive option of transportation.
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