[Expert Dive Travel] Diving in Okinawa — How to Do It Right? Let a Local Tell You! Everything You Need in 1 Article!

If you had to pick one overseas dive trip that's the most comfortable, quickest, and most convenient for Taiwanese travelers, what would it be?

Without a second thought — less than 0.05 seconds of deliberation — my answer is absolutely "Okinawa."

Okinawa is so close to Taiwan that you'll be landing before you even fall asleep on the plane. Add cheap flights, top-tier food, and world-class sightseeing, and it's no wonder so many people love going there — whether for a family trip, a company retreat, diving, shopping, or just browsing. People have even coined phrases like "Taiwan's new backyard" and "Why go to Kenting when you can go to Okinawa?" And now there's even the bold trend of the "Okinawa day trip." That tells you just how insanely popular Okinawa is right now!

Having worked at both a Japanese dive shop and a Chinese-speaking dive shop in Okinawa, I could talk about life there for three days straight without running out of material. So this article cuts to the chase and tells you "what makes Okinawa so great", broken down into the following sections:

Okinawa Overview

First of all, Okinawa is a remarkably unique island. Although it's Japanese territory, the culture and vibe feel nothing like mainland Japan. You won't find shrines on every corner — instead, you'll notice an abundance of tombs (because locals consider living near their ancestors completely natural). There are very few suited-up office workers; instead, the distinctive floral shirt is their formal wear. Okinawa blends the cultures of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and China into something entirely its own. At any moment you can experience the flavor of a different country — and that's one of the things that makes Okinawa so special.

The island is long and narrow; driving from the southernmost to the northernmost tip takes roughly 3 hours — about the same distance as Taipei to Miaoli. For visitors, that's fantastic news: you don't need to worry about wasting loads of time on transportation. That's one of my favorite things about Okinawa!

Diving in Southeast Asia usually means a raw, untouched environment — no urban amenities, no department stores, and definitely no outlet malls. Okinawa is a different story. After a dive, I can go for yakiniku, browse a department store, shop for souvenirs and cosmetics, or hunt for deals at an outlet — all in one trip! Isn't that amazing? The best thing about Okinawa is how seamlessly the urban and the natural coexist. I can switch modes at will — flip-flops and board shorts on the beach one moment, jeans and Doc Martens strutting the streets the next. I can also visit Japan's largest scuba diving equipment retailer, "mic21" (bonus tip: mic21 2020 Lunar New Year Limited Coupon).

Eating in Okinawa

Food is a big deal — and whatever you're craving, you'll find it here. Izakayas, BBQ hotpot, steak, Chinese, Western — it's all covered, and it's genuinely hard to have a bad meal. Not only is the food delicious and varied, it's also incredibly affordable and generous in portion size. Okinawans feed you big. There's nothing dainty or precious about it!

And for divers who love their beer, Okinawa has its very own local brew: "Orion." It's super cheap and super tasty — when you're here, just drink this one and forget everything else. The Orion brewery offers free factory tours where you can watch the beer-making process and enjoy two free glasses at the end! (Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. No alcohol for minors.)

OK, I'll stop here for now — I'll get back to the land-side stuff later, otherwise we'll go way off track. Time to talk diving. Don't go hitting the back button just yet~

Diving in Okinawa

Southern Dive Sites: Kerama Islands

Okinawa's diving can be roughly divided into the north, central, and south regions, plus the outer islands. In the south, the standout destination is the crystal-clear "Kerama Islands" — stunningly clear water paired with pristine white sand, and conveniently located right off the port of Naha. There's something for divers of all levels, and you never know when a manta ray or a Whitetip Reef Shark might show up — these are some of Okinawa's signature big animals. The overall marine ecosystem is excellent, and the coral is healthy! With so many small islands, each one offers its own unique dive sites and character.

And during winter, Kerama runs whale-watching boats — the chance of spotting a humpback whale is reportedly as high as 97%! Some operators even offer a refund or a free repeat trip if you don't see one. That's how confident they are in their sighting rates. Search "Okinawa whale watching" if you're interested!

Central Dive Sites: Sunabe, Blue Cave, Manzamo

The central region is where the dive sites are most concentrated and where many dive shops are clustered. Let's start with Sunabe. Sunabe suits divers of all levels — you enter the water down steps from the breakwater. Its highlights include coral coverage exceeding 95%, denser than the Great Barrier Reef, and a charming traditional underwater mailbox. It's simple, a little cute, and looks surprisingly at home on the seafloor. sea turtles and Whitetip Reef Sharks (they're everywhere in Okinawa) also make appearances here.

Moving a little further north, we reach the Blue Cave (Onna Village). It's wildly popular with tourists but often dismissed by seasoned divers. However, the Blue Cave is really just one cavern — it doesn't represent all the dive sites at Maeda Point. Everyone says the Blue Cave is worth visiting once, but the surrounding sites are genuinely impressive. The Blue Cave area has left, right, and outer sections: the left side is rich in macro life — nudibranch, shrimp, crabs, Frogfish, crocodile fish, octopus, and cuttlefish can all be found here! Drop below 30 meters and you'll find fat nudibranchs and sweeping fields of garden eels!

The right side of the Blue Cave offers chances to spot big animals — on my very first dive there I saw two Eagle Rays, and many dive shops regularly encounter manta rays passing through!

As for the outer section of the Blue Cave: aside from a large school of batfish hanging around where the boats moor (probably because people constantly throw up there and the fish have decided to just move in permanently), there isn't much else unusual — the terrain is volcanic ridge topography.

Beyond these Blue Cave sites, there are many more nearby dive spots. Honestly, even when I've had my fill of the Blue Cave itself, I still love the surrounding sites. Many of Okinawa's underwater photographers frequent this area to shoot macro and blackwater subjects!

Now let me talk about my all-time favorite site — Manzamo! I call Manzamo the "Big Animal Gacha Machine": every dive delivers a different big creature. The currents are strong, the depths are serious, and it's best suited for experienced divers. Let me share my first experience there. I asked my Japanese colleague what we might encounter, and he said: sharks, manta rays, and wild Whale Sharks — my three favorite things in the ocean. I entered the water buzzing with excitement. At 20 meters, my colleague signaled us to hold that depth. I didn't question it. Two minutes, three minutes passed — nothing. Just as we were about to move on, an enormous, thick black-finned shark threaded its way right through the four of us. I swear I felt its fin graze my face. As it glided past, there was an audible whoosh. We were all biting down on our second stage regulators, eyes wide, screaming into our masks — though it came out as just muffled "MMMMMM"s, with the occasional muffled FxxK. It was a shark chasing fusiliers, and it vanished in the blink of an eye. The site we were diving is the legendary "Horseshoe" — named after a cave whose opening, when viewed from inside, is shaped like a horseshoe.

Another site worth mentioning is "Dream Hole" — equally spectacular. As the name suggests, it features a beautiful cavern, and in Okinawa, wherever there's a cave, there are sharks (no joke). There are also chimney-like passages to squeeze through, which is a lot of fun. The macro life is rich too — spotting pygmy seahorses here is a perfectly routine occurrence! Coral coverage is also impressively complete.

Northern Dive Sites: Hedo Cape, Nago Bay, Kouri Island Wreck, Sakimoto

Due to the nature of my work at the time, I never actually got around to diving the northern sites myself. If you're genuinely curious, I'd recommend checking out "feeldive" on Instagram — underwater photography master Yusuke Miyahara from Okinawa. His photography focuses mainly on northern dive sites, and he also runs diving operations in northern Okinawa. His distinctly Japanese aesthetic style has won me over completely. I'll reference a few of his photos below~

Hedo Cape: Known mainly for the imposing Nishime-iwa rock formations and a Blue Cave–like cavern system.

Nago Bay: Nago has several dive sites, most of which are macro-focused. For night diving, blackwater photography opportunities are exceptionally rich — rare gobies, Frogfish, juvenile fish of all species, and more are not hard to find here!

Kouri Island Wreck: The seabed here holds numerous wrecks, most of them American military vessels that are remarkably well-preserved — propellers and all still intact. You can even swim through the hulls!

Sakimoto: Who says only Cebu has sardine runs?! Okinawa has a spectacularly impressive one too!!!

Okinawa's Outer Islands: Ishigaki

Okinawa has many outer islands, but if you had to pick the most iconic one, it would undeniably be Ishigaki. Ishigaki is also my personal favorite dive destination right now — not only because the diving is exceptional, but because the scenery is breathtaking, the atmosphere is wonderful, and everything about it just feels right. Ishigaki's star attraction is the magnificent Manta Ray — peak season runs from August to October, though in truth they can be encountered year-round. The island is often nicknamed "the poor man's Maldives," but personally I think that label doesn't do it justice at all. Ishigaki feels nothing like being poor, and it's a completely different experience from the Maldives — arguably even better and more comfortable. The jewel in the crown is the stunning Kabira Bay, where the water is as calm as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the beautiful mountains and white clouds of the Yaeyama range. The bay teems with diverse and thriving marine life, and the year-round superstar of the dive scene here is the manta ray. Ishigaki's mantas are huge and beautiful, and they actively approach divers. With crystal-clear water and bright sunlight flooding in, diving here is pure bliss.

Beyond the big animals, Ishigaki is also famous across Japan as a macro paradise. A wealth of adorable small creatures inhabit the reefs, and with healthy, vibrantly colored coral, it has become the go-to dive destination for Japanese underwater photographers. Whatever photographic style you pursue, you'll find it easy to capture stunning images here!

What I love most about Ishigaki is the island's genuine rustic charm — clean streets, traditional architecture, hibiscus flowers along the roadsides, glimpses of clear ocean wherever you turn, and row after row of characterful little shops. Strolling through town, you feel like a local. It's something that truly has to be experienced in person — words can't quite capture it. If you're looking for a stunningly beautiful, one-of-a-kind dive destination, Ishigaki should be at the top of your list. After your dives, treat yourself to an Ishigaki wagyu yakiniku dinner! Sit outside at night under a sky full of stars with a cold beer in hand — that's the definition of pure happiness.

Okinawa's Outer Islands: Yonaguni

This is Japan's westernmost island — and do you know what's closest to Yonaguni? That's right — Taiwan. Taiwan and Yonaguni are just over 100 kilometers apart, and Yonaguni is even sister cities with Hualien. What Yonaguni is most famous for is its magnificent underwater world. The Kuroshio Current brings an abundance of migratory species — Whale Sharks, tuna, and the annual sailfish season are all well-known marine highlights of the island. But the most extraordinary of all is what begins to appear below 30 meters as winter sets in and the water cools: schools — and I mean schools — of Hammerhead Sharks. Yes, counted in schools. The "Hammerhead Shark storm" draws countless divers from around the world every year. Carried in on the Kuroshio, the Hammerhead Sharks arrive in groups of hundreds, leaving every diver who witnesses it awestruck. But don't think this dive is easy — you'll be fighting cold temperatures and powerful currents while searching for them in the deep blue, with no bottom in sight. It's genuinely demanding and not for the faint-hearted.

Next, world-renowned in diving and archaeological circles alike: the Yonaguni Underwater Monument, dubbed the "Atlantis of Asia." Every edge and corner of this structure is strikingly angular — even perfectly right-angled — like a pyramid beneath the sea. No — more mysterious than a pyramid. Having architecture of this sophistication above ground would already be remarkable; having it at 30 meters underwater is another thing entirely. This site is also one of the filming locations for the freediving film One Breath Around The World — and if you want to do underwater freerunning, this is probably the only place on earth where you can. Who could have engineered such an extraordinary underwater structure? I genuinely cannot wrap my head around it. Or perhaps it was once above the surface, sunk beneath the waves by some ancient catastrophe?

There is simply so much to see and do in Okinawa that I haven't even had time to cover the land-side attractions! If this article has sparked your curiosity, feel free to search for more information online — or just ask me directly! I hope you all get the chance to experience Okinawa in person and discover the magic of this enchanting island for yourself. I'm sure you'll fall in love with it!

Further reading:

• Let's Go! Join Me on a Dive Trip to the Philippines — Puerto Galera (PG Island)

• 花襯衫AlohaShirt Facebook Page

• mic21 2020 Lunar New Year Limited Coupon