Okinawa – a subtropical diving paradise
This page is for certified divers seeking the perfect spot for their fun diving adventures. Below, you’ll discover brief descriptions of Okinawa’s primary dive sites along with images captured during these excursions. Click on the images or the provided button to access more detailed information on each site. This overview will assist you in selecting the dive spot that piques your interest.
Fun Diving in the North part of Okinawa
Fun Diving at Cape Manza – one of the best diving in Okinawa
Cape Manza offers more than 8 different dive sites. Most of them are just accessibly by boat, but a few are also suitable for having an adventurous beach dive. Here you find also cave systems and overhangs to explore and stunning deep walls. If you want to see white tip reef sharks and green sea turtles, Manza would be the perfect place for you.
Suitable for advanced divers by boat or shore
USS Emmons – historical shipwreck from WW2
The USS Emmons rests at approximately 42m (140 feet) near Kouri Island. After just a 15-minute boat ride from the Kouri Jima port, divers can explore this remarkable historical shipwreck. This excursion includes two boat dives with an extended surface interval due to its depth. The Kouri Jima port provides an ideal location to spend this interval before the boat departs for the second dive. Click on the picture of the stern of this magnificent shipwreck for further information.
Boat diving for advanced divers
Cape Hedo – Okinawa’s most northern diving spot
Cape Hedo offers some true diving gems. For them we have to drive all the way up to the Ginama fish harbor. From there it just takes 10 till up to 20 minutes for the farthest dive site. The most iconic dive site is definitely The Hedo Dome, a cave system with a spacious entry zone, which has 3 different ways to the air dome. Ascend inside the cave and an breathtaking view waits for you.
Boat diving for advanced divers
Gorilla Chop – the perfect beginner dive site
Gorilla Chop has its name from the unique looking rock at the beach, which resembles a gorilla head making a karate chop. Located in a protected bay in the north part of Okinawa, this dive site is perfect for beginners. As long we don’t face Southwind, you will find calm water conditions. The maximum depth of 13m is ideal for an easy relaxing reef dive, but also offers an artificial reef structure from built platforms, which shelters plenty of marine life. Click on the picture to your right for further information.
Shore diving for beginner divers
Fun Diving at Minna Jima – a true fish paradise
If you want to describe Minna’s dive sites in a few words, then best coral quality with lots of fishes. From the Motobu port is it just a 20 minutes boat ride to this magnificent diving place. From this port they are also going to the dive sites of the neighboring island Sesoko. Click on the picture of this beautiful coral reef to your right side for more information.
Boat diving, suitable for beginner divers
Fun Diving in the middle part of the island
Fun Diving at Maeda Blue Cave and Yamada
The Maeda Blue Cave is one of Okinawa’s most popular dive sites, equally enjoyed by people without diving license and also experienced divers. Here you find the gorgeously looking Blue Cave, basically it is not a cave. You can swim and snorkel into this structure, therefore it is not an overhead environment. That is why it’s safe for everyone. When you inside, facing the exit, the blue shining color gives its name. Outside the “cave” waits a beautiful coral reef with lots of fishes.
Suitable for beginners by boat or shore
Sunabe Seawall – an endless soft coral field
In contrary to most of Okinawa’s dives sites, which mainly consists of hard corals, here in Sunabe you will encounter beautiful colored soft coral fields. Basically this area offers the largest soft coral fields in whole Okinawa. These reef stretches along the whole 2 km long seawall. The next seawall north of it in Kadena, also continues this reef structure.
Shore diving, suitable for beginner divers
Fun Diving at the East coast of Okinawa
Tengan Pier – nudibranch and fan corals everywhere
Located on Okinawa’s east coast, Tengan Pier offers a stunning macro diving experience. Facing north, it’s perfect for diving when the Southwind blows strong. This several hundred meter pier, prior actively used by the US military, is home to a vibrant array of colorful nudibranchs. Also the convenient parking near the beach entrance ensures easy access to the water.
Shore diving, suitable for beginner divers
Kin Red – a true nudibranch paradise
Located on the east coast of Okinawa, Kin Red is renowned as one of the region’s premier dive sites. Situated in a protected bay facing south, therefore it offers ideal conditions for macro diving enthusiasts. Nudibranch lovers, in particular, will delight in the diverse marine life found here. With a maximum depth of 13m, it is also suitable for beginners. However, divers with poor buoyancy may struggle to fully appreciate the site, as stirring up the sandy bottom can affect macro photography.
Shore diving, suitable for beginner divers