During each trip, we take plenty of underwater pictures, which you will receive as a present at the end at no additional cost. This way you can share the memories of your marine adventures in Okinawa with your family and friends!
Okinawa Dive Sites
The Island of Okinawa is blessed with a number of scuba diving locations each boasting a variety of dive sites.
Currently we operate at the following locations:
- Cape Manza (Onna Village)
- Kerama Islands
- USS Emmons
- Minna Island
- Sunabe (Chatan)
- Motobu (Gorilla Chop)
- Cape Zampa
- Itoman
- Cape Hedo
- Cape Maeda (Blue Cave)
To learn more about each dive area that interests you, please browse through the descriptions below and explore the [Read more] links. The numbers on the map indicate the approximate geographical location of the corresponding list entries.
At each scuba diving location we use different boats which leave from the respective nearest port.
We can help you choose the best option for you depending on your own preference and certification level. All you need to do is contact us and ask for advice!
Cape Manza near Onna village is the most popular diving area on Okinawa mainland as it includes a number of exceptional dive sites with extremely rich and varied terrain ranging from sandy bottoms to vertical drop-offs and caves, boasting a variety of marine life and plenty of corals. The spectacular Manza Dream Hole is located here. Manza is ideal for guests who seek flexibility since here one can dive anywhere between 1 and 4 times a day.
Schedule: boats leave at 9am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm and return to port after each dive
Amenities: toilet and rinsing water available at the port
Appropriate for: beginners to advanced divers and snorkelers
If you close your eyes and envision paradise on earth, the image that will pop into your mind will most likely closely resemble the scenery of the Kerama Islands. The ocean here has a unique emerald color, which the locals call the Kerama blue. Once beneath the surface, the water will amaze you with its crystal clarity and abundant life. The healthy coral reefs are teeming with turtles and sharks as well as a variety of tiny critters.
Schedule: boats leave at 8am and return to port around 4pm with up to 3 dives per day; the entire day is spent on the boat
Amenities: double decker boat with shower and toilet
Appropriate for: all diver levels and snorkelers
The USS Emmons is a 106 m (348 ft) long military destroyer sunk on April 7 1945 by the American navy after having been hit by five Japanese kamikaze planes the day before. The wreck lies on its starboard at a depth of 45 m (145 ft) as a solemn reminder of the battle of Okinawa. For technical divers with sufficient experience we offer guided technical dives with longer bottom times and accelerated decompression.
Schedule: boats leave at 9am and noon and return to port after each dive
Amenities: toilet and rinsing water available at the port
Appropriate for: deep divers and technical divers
Minna Island is a small crescent-shaped island with golden beaches and beautiful scenery. The dive sites here boast colorful and abundant corals and mostly sandy bottoms. The dive sites are relatively shallow which means that on a sunny day divers can witness the splendor of the healthy reefs in the whole spectrum of colors. Many garden eels as well as Dory can be spotted here. The surface interval is usually spent on the beach at Minna Island.
Schedule: boats are flexible but usually leave at 9am and 1:30pm with up to 2 dives per outing
Amenities: toilet available at the port
Appropriate for: intermediate divers and snorkelers
You can take a plunge just off the seawall in Chatan and enjoy the abundant soft corals and rich marine life that these dive sites offer. A particular attraction is the large school of barracuda which can often times be spotted here, as well as an underwater mailbox where you can mail a postcard. Due to the easy access, night diving is also popular here. You can culminate you experience with a snack in one of the shoreside cafés at the end.
Schedule: any time during the day or at night
Amenities: toilet available along the shore
Appropriate for: beginners to advanced divers and scuba diving courses
A calm and shallow area with abundant and colorful corals. In a way this place is a real-life aquarium. Many critters can be spotted around the sandy bottom and occasionally sting rays and turtles can be seen playing around in the sun. The area is protected from northern swells which makes it perfect for guests who are looking for a relaxing experience. A big bonus in the autumn months is a large school of sardines which seek refuge here.
Schedule: any time during the day or at night
Amenities: toilet and showers available in the parking lot
Appropriate for: beginners, scuba diving courses, and snorkelers
Cape Zampa is located towards the center of Okinawa mainland and is a real treat for experienced and technical divers. The dive sites here boast spectacular walls, deep crevasses, several caverns and countless swim-throughs all the way down to 40 meters. Since the area is exposed, currents can be strong which is why divers need to be careful. However, the strong currents also attract large marine life which use the area as their feeding ground.
Schedule: boats leave at 8:30am and 1:30pm with 2 dives per outing
Amenities: toilet available at the port
Appropriate for: advanced, deep and technical divers
Itoman seems to be the forgotten gem of Okinawa. The port is a mere 15 minutes away from Naha airport and with flexible boat times the location is ideal for guests who would like to dive on the day of their arrival. The dive sites offer plenty of variety - dramatic vertical drop-offs, narrow swim-throughs, sunlit crevasses, abundant corals and diverse marine life. In addition, the area has quite important cultural significance for the Okinawan people.
Schedule: boats are flexible but usually leave at 8:30am and 1:30pm with up to 2 dives per outing
Amenities: toilet on board, toilet and rinsing water available at the port
Appropriate for: intermediate and advanced divers
Due to its relative remoteness, Cape Hedo is rarely visited. Yet, the long trip here is definitely worth it, since the corals and marine life are pristine. As the area is located at the very north tip of the island where the Pacific Ocean meets the East China Sea, currents can be strong and drift dives are spectacular. The stunning Hedo Dome cave, which should be on the bucket list of every diver visiting Okinawa, is located here.
Schedule: boats leave at 8:30am, 11am, and 1:30pm and return to port after each dive
Amenities: toilet and rinsing water available at the port
Appropriate for: intermediate and advanced divers
Maeda is by far the most famous dive site in Okinawa, which is why it can get extremely busy in the summer to the point where divers and snorkelers bump into each other. On the other hand, the ease of access and the abundant colorful fish make this area ideal for families and beginners. The Blue Cave is peaceful early in the morning or at night and the corals are best preserved away from the concentration of the crowds.
Schedule: any time during the day or at night
Amenities: toilet and showers available in the parking lot
Appropriate for: beginners to intermediate divers, scuba diving courses, and snorkelers
Booking or inquiries?