[A Taiwanese Woman's Secret Diving Spots in Okinawa] The Healing "Aka Island" — Just 1 Hour by Ferry from Naha

The most famous and beautiful islands off Okinawa's main island are the Kerama Islands (Kerama Islands National Park). The archipelago is made up of many small islands; the main ones are Tokashiki, Zamami, and Aka, among others. The Kerama Islands hold a very special place in the hearts of Japanese people, who have given them a poetic name: "Kerama Blue."

Day-trip dive boats from the main island rarely make it to the dive sites around Aka Island, so this time I specifically arranged to stay on the island for one night — just to give those sites a proper dive!

(An unwritten rule of Okinawa diving: some sites can only be accessed by staying on the island.) The swell conditions were favorable this time, so we got to hit all the classic spots. No more preamble — let's dive right in!

Aka Island is one of the Kerama Islands, located 15 miles southwest of Okinawa Island and part of Zamami Village, Okinawa Prefecture.

How to Get to Aka Island? Two Ferry Options from Naha to Zamami Island

1. Ferry Zamami

2. Queen Zamami (high-speed ferry)

Tomari Port → Zamami → Aka Island

Aka Island → Zamami → Tomari Port

*Most departures go out in the morning and return in the afternoon! Schedules vary by season, so please check the official website to confirm!

An English booking system is available; online credit card payment is required.

Once you've sorted out your ferry tickets, I recommend a guesthouse that includes breakfast and dinner! Since the island has no convenience stores — unlike the main island — I suggest first-time visitors choose accommodation with meals included. It reminds me of Orchid Island before convenience stores arrived, when only small local shops sold instant noodles, small snacks, and drinks.

I stayed at the Smile Guesthouse — clean and simple, with a gear-rinse area for divers, and breakfast and dinner included! It's very close to the port, so you won't get lost.

The Kerama Islands have always felt like an incredibly healing place to dive! This time I chose the largest dive operator on the island, which means access to far more sites. The veteran captain and owner is a local who has been running boats here for over 20 years — whatever you're hoping to see, he'll deliver. As long as conditions allow, the dive guides are always happy to lead you to the good stuff.

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For more videos, check out Olive's IG: diver_olive

My Dive Log

Dive Records — Mid-March 2020:

• Water temperature: 22°C

• Air temperature: 23–25°C

• Visibility: 20–30 m

• Wetsuit (I run cold; a 5mm wetsuit is generally enough! If you feel chilly, add a hood and vest.)

*After surfacing and boarding the boat, it's recommended to put on a dive jacket. Olive's gear: a custom 6.5mm upper-body skin-material wetsuit for wind protection, and 2mm skin-material wetsuit pants for the lower body.

Dive Records — Late December 2020:

• Water temperature: 24°C

• Air temperature: 21–22°C

• Visibility: 30–35 m

• Wetsuit (2mm two-piece skin-material wetsuit + 2mm vest.)

*After surfacing and boarding the boat, it's recommended to put on a dive jacket.

Dive Style:

• Boat dive (anchor-drop: descend at anchor, return to the same point.)

• Boat dive — drift diving (no anchor; the typical Taiwanese boat-dive style — if you're not confident with a giant-stride entry, please let the guide know in advance.)

I was lucky enough to visit several famous sites this trip. Let me share them with you:

Favorite Dive Site No. 1: Sakubaru Fish Reef (佐久原漁礁)

A little different from the steel reef at Green Island — the depth here is around 35 m. The large artificial reef structures regularly attract big pelagic fish, and schools of fusiliers are a common sight. This time I encountered batfish that were completely unbothered by us. I shot them with a wide-angle lens and strobe, and they had absolutely no intention of swimming away — utterly charming. If you're up for it, duck inside the reef structures; you might be surprised to find quite a few Lionfish lurking within!

*A reminder to everyone: watch your dive computer and don't go into deco!

Favorite Dive Site No. 2: Nishihama (ニシハマ)

Don't let the sandy bottom fool you — this site is anything but boring! There are schools of glassfish (transparent cardinalfish) to admire, along with a wonderful variety of anthias. The standout is the "Kerama Fairy Basslet," a species said to have first been documented right here in the Kerama Islands. And a small school of bluestripe snapper completes the picture in the most wonderfully soothing way.

Favorite Dive Site No. 3: YAKARA Drift to UNANZAKI

This site is blanketed in colorful table corals — an absolute feast for the eyes and soul! The variety of tropical fish is incredibly rich. Coral reef sites are my absolute favorite; they always feel so full of life. The dive guide told me that you're practically guaranteed to find a Titan triggerfish here — he's seen groups of six at a time! If you ever get the chance, be sure to look for them.

I know that so many of you have had to reluctantly cancel your overseas travel because of COVID-19. The reality in Okinawa is that tourists have all but vanished. Even the legendary 60,000 Golden Week visitors dropped dramatically thanks to vigorous outreach by the Okinawa Governor and local YouTubers. Perhaps this is a good thing — maybe it's the universe giving the ocean a well-deserved rest. Once the pandemic settles and travel opens up again, I'd love for everyone to come join a dive trip in Okinawa!

I love solo dive travel. I was once a complete beginner myself, and I wanted to become a stronger, more confident diver. After years of building experience, diving has become the entire purpose of my trips. Okinawa is a place I've always wanted to truly understand. I've talked with Japanese divers who had no idea Taiwan had good diving — so when I was still back in Taiwan, I took a few Japanese friends diving at Xiaoliuqiu and Green Island, and they were blown away! Now that I'm here in Okinawa, I hope to inspire more people to be transformed by the sea — to discover themselves through the ocean.

I'm a genuinely passionate diver. I now live in Okinawa and dive here regularly, and diving has completely changed my life. Every time I think about it, I get goosebumps and my eyes well up. Thank you, ocean! Thank you to every ocean-loving soul I've had the privilege of meeting!

If you'd like to know more about dive travel in Okinawa, feel free to send me a message!

A Taiwanese Woman's Secret Diving Spots in Okinawa — to be continued…

Related links:

• Article author Olive's IG: diver_olive

• Article author Olive's personal Facebook

• A Taiwanese Woman's Secret Diving Spots in Okinawa: You Can Even Dive Inside a Stalactite Cave!

• Diving Mecca: A Liveaboard Trip to Sipadan, the One and Only

• 【A Taiwanese Woman's Secret Diving Spots in Okinawa】First-Hand Report on "Triangle" — Top Dive Site of Japanese Dive Magazine "Marine Diving"

• Okinawa Diving Is More Than the Blue Cave! 5 Okinawa Diving Secrets You Need to Know

• Aka Island | Travel Japan — Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Website)