Getting around
Okinawa is relatively small, however you definitely do need a car to get around, especially when travelling to some of the dive areas located at the very north or very south of the island. This is why, for the convenience of our guests, we offer free pick-up service from hotels in Onna, Yomitan and Chatan. Pick-ups from other locations (including on occasion all the way from Naha airport) are also possible upon request. Please inquire.
We do think it is best that you take advantage of our pick-up service, especially since the travel time from your accommodation to the port can be used to get to know each other. After all, even though the main focus of scuba diving with us is the time spent in the beautiful Okinawan ocean, we do believe that personal interaction and interesting conversations can further improve your experience. Of course, you are also welcome to drive yourself to the port if you wish to do so.
Eating
If you choose an activity that requires us to spend the entire day on a boat, such as the Kerama Islands trip, we pick up lunch boxes from a convenience store on the way to the port in the morning. Otherwise, if the boat returns to port at lunch time, we usually eat at one of the nearby restaurants where you can sample the delicious Okinawan cuisine.
Dive boats in Okinawa
Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, marine activities in Japan have historically been heavily regulated by the fishermen's union. This is why even to this day, almost all dive boats in Okinawa are controlled and operated by local fishermen.
When customers make a booking for boat diving with us, we in turn make a booking with the respective boat captain for the trip. This is how the vast majority of scuba diving shops in Okinawa operate.
This practice means that we do share the boats we use with other dive shops. Luckily, most dive operators in Okinawa are quite small, so the atmosphere on deck is amicable with enough space for everyone.
Once we enter the water and start the dive, we split from the other groups and try to find secluded areas so we can enjoy the calm marine environment in peace.
If you are a large group or would prefer not to share the boat with others, you can also charter the dive boats we use for private trips.
We have used the boat booking system on the island to our advantage and have built a large network of captains we work with who can take us to dive sites throughout Okinawa. This is particularly beneficial for guests who dive with us on multiple days, since it allows them to see how diverse scuba diving in Okinawa really is!
All the boats that we use are clean and reliable, and are staffed by captains with decades of experience, which makes our journeys safe and enjoyable. The vessels vary in size depending on how far we need to travel on them - from large cruisers with a sundeck and dry area, to smaller open deck boats. Entry in the water is done either through a giant stride or back roll.