Japan stretches from drift ice to coral reef. In February divers in drysuits slip under the sea ice off Shiretoko in Hokkaido, while nearly 3,000 km to the southwest, hammerhead sharks school off Yonaguni, an island closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo.
Most visiting divers head for Okinawa. The Kerama Islands, an hour by boat from Naha, have turtles at almost every site and some of the clearest water in Asia; Ishigaki has one of the most reliable manta ray channels anywhere; and Miyakojima is known for caverns and arches. Far out in the Pacific, the Ogasawara Islands add wild dolphins and sharks, 24 hours by ferry from Tokyo.
Closer to the cities, the Izu Peninsula and the Izu Islands are where Tokyo divers train on weekends: cooler water, kelp, soft corals and some of the best macro photography in the country.
At a Glance#
- Best all-round diving: the Kerama Islands (Zamami, Aka and Tokashiki), a day trip from Naha, with turtles, coral gardens and 30 m visibility.
- Manta rays: the Manta Scramble channel off Ishigaki and channels near Iriomote in the Yaeyama Islands.
- Hammerheads: Yonaguni from December to March, plus the stepped rock terraces known as the Yonaguni Monument.
- Caverns and arches: the islands of Miyakojima, especially off Irabu and Shimoji.
- Remote Pacific: dolphins, sharks and humpbacks in the Ogasawara Islands around Chichijima.
- Near Tokyo: Osezaki and the Izu Peninsula, and Hachijojima in the Izu Islands for turtles in warm Kuroshio water.
- Costs: about 17,000 to 22,000 yen (115 to 145 USD) for a two-dive Kerama trip from Naha; about 75,000 to 105,000 yen for an Open Water course.
Okinawa Island and the Keramas#
The Kerama Islands became a national park in 2014 and are the backbone of Okinawan diving. Sites around Zamami, Aka and Geruma mix sandy slopes, coral bommies and gentle drop-offs, green and hawksbill turtles are everywhere, and visibility often passes 30 m. Most divers come on day boats from Naha or Chatan, about an hour each way, with two or three dives and lunch on board. From January to March you hear humpback whales singing underwater, and boats stop to watch them at the surface.
On Okinawa Island itself, the Blue Cave at Cape Maeda in Onna is the island’s most popular snorkel and beginner dive, busy but beautiful in the morning light. Further north, the reefs around Sesoko and Minna islands near the Churaumi Aquarium are quieter. Kume Island, a short flight west, has quieter reefs, stronger currents and schooling fish.
Miyakojima#
Miyakojima has almost no rivers, so there is little run-off and the water stays very clear. The draw is topography: caverns, arches and swim-throughs off Irabu and Shimoji, where light beams down through holes in the reef roof. Antonio Gaudi, off Shimoji, is named for its twisting rock. The Shimoji-side sites are usually dived from early autumn to spring, when northerly winds leave the west coast sheltered, and pair well with a few beach days.
Yaeyama and Yonaguni#
Ishigaki is the base for the Yaeyama Islands. Its Manta Scramble channel near Kabira is a cleaning station where manta rays gather, most reliably from spring to autumn, and is shallow enough for snorkellers too. Boats also reach the big coral fields between Ishigaki and Iriomote, one of the largest coral reef areas in Japan.
Yonaguni, at Japan’s western tip, is for experienced divers. Scalloped hammerheads school off the island from about December to March, in strong currents and cool, rough seas. The rest of the year divers come for the Yonaguni Monument, a set of huge stepped sandstone terraces off the south coast whose origin, natural or carved, is still argued over.
Ogasawara Islands#
The Ogasawara Islands are a World Heritage site 1,000 km south of Tokyo, reached only on the Ogasawara Maru ferry, about 24 hours each way, so a visit takes almost a week. Diving from Chichijima has gray reef and whitetip sharks, eagle rays, big schools of fish and Second World War wrecks, and the boats run swim-with-dolphins trips. Humpback whales winter here from about February to April.
Izu, Wakayama and the mainland#
The Izu Peninsula, two to three hours from Tokyo inside Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, is where most Japanese divers learn. Osezaki, on the west coast near Numazu, is a sheltered cape in deep Suruga Bay with a view of Mount Fuji from the entry point and odd deep-water creatures in the shallows. On the east coast, Izu Ocean Park near Ito is a shore-diving centre with easy entries. Water drops to about 14 to 15°C in late winter, so a semi-dry or drysuit is standard. Hachijojima and Izu Ōshima, by ferry or plane from Tokyo, are warmer thanks to the Kuroshio current.
Further west, Kushimoto in Wakayama has table corals at the northern edge of their range, and Kashiwajima in Kochi on Shikoku is known for an unusually wide variety of fish. In Hokkaido, drift-ice dives run from about February to March at Shiretoko with specialist operators and drysuit certification.
When to go#
Okinawa can be dived all year. Water is about 21 to 22°C in February and about 29°C in August, so a 5 mm suit suits winter and a 3 mm summer. The calmest, warmest season is April to November, but typhoons can cancel boats for days at a time from about July to October. Winter brings humpbacks to the Keramas and hammerheads to Yonaguni, with rougher seas. Izu is best from about July to November, when the water is warmest. Our best time to visit Japan guide has the weather by month.
Costs, shops and rules#
| What | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Two boat dives, Kerama Islands from Naha | about 17,000 to 22,000 yen |
| Third dive on the same trip | about 5,000 to 5,500 yen |
| PADI Open Water course, Okinawa | about 75,000 to 105,000 yen |
| Equipment rental | often extra, check when booking |
Diving in Japan costs two to three times more than in Southeast Asia, and liveaboards are rare: almost everything is day boats or shore dives. Japanese shops are strict about procedure. Expect to show your certification card and logbook, dive with a guide in small groups, and be asked to take a refresher if you have not dived for a year or more. Many Okinawa shops offer English; in Izu and the outer islands fewer do, so book by email in advance. Read our islands and beaches guide for ferries and where to stay.
Book Kerama trips that leave from Naha and stop at the outer islands, or stay a night on Zamami or Aka to dive the sites before the day boats arrive.
After diving
Roads off the Izu Peninsula and around Hakone climb over mountain passes, and Okinawa’s flights home add altitude too. Leave at least 18 to 24 hours after your last dive before crossing high passes or flying, and check your insurance covers scuba.
For other dive countries in the region, see Diving and snorkelling in East Asia and the best diving destinations in the world.
Best places to dive in Japan#
More Things to Do#
Japan diving FAQs#
Where is the best diving in Japan?
The Kerama Islands near Naha for all-round diving, Ishigaki for manta rays and Yonaguni for winter hammerheads. Miyakojima is best for caverns and the Ogasawara Islands for remote Pacific diving.
When is the best time to dive in Okinawa?
April to November has the warmest water and calmest seas, but typhoons can stop boats from about July to October. Winter is cooler and rougher but brings humpback whales to the Keramas and hammerheads to Yonaguni.
How much does diving cost in Japan?
A two-dive boat trip to the Kerama Islands costs about 17,000 to 22,000 yen (115 to 145 USD), and an Open Water course in Okinawa about 75,000 to 105,000 yen. Rental equipment is often extra.
Can you dive near Tokyo?
Yes. The Izu Peninsula, two to three hours away, has shore diving at Osezaki and Izu Ocean Park, and the Izu Islands such as Hachijojima are reachable by plane or ferry. Water is cool for much of the year, so expect a thick wetsuit or drysuit.
Do you need a dive guide in Japan?
In practice, yes. Most shops only take certified divers out with a guide, check your logbook, and ask for a refresher dive if your last dive was more than a year ago.