Amos Nachoum
RYUKYU ISLANDS WHERE TO DIVE
Diving here offers a chance to see many different types of marine life not usually seen in large numbers elsewhere. Depending on the season, you can catch huge schools of hammerhead sharks and masses of marlin and sailfish. Throughout the year, you can easily spot big eye trevally, barracuda, dogtooth tuna and much more. Of special interest are the famous underwater "ruins" around Yonaguni island whose existence is still shrouded in mystery.
For a PADI dive shop in the Ryukyu Islands area, go to padi.com and search dive shops in Japan/Okinawa area.
The following dive sites offer an amazing array of diving conditions:
Cape Hedo (Okinawa) This dive site is at the northernmost end of Okinawa, and on a clear day you can see clear across the sea to Japan's southernmost island. The dive site is called Hedo Dome, and the interesting thing about it is the fact that you are diving in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean at the same time. The area is known for both steep above water cliffs and deep drop-offs below.
Labyrinth (Kamiyama Island) One of the most popular dive sites, its named for the ease with which divers can become a little disoriented by the huge expanses of sandy rivers, rock formations, finger reefs and swim-throughs. No deeper than 70 feet, the entire area offers great visibility and interesting marine life.
Nagannu Island This small uninhabited island has a wide, shallow lagoon that drops off considerably to 190 feet. Inside the lagoon, however, it's a treat for water lovers, as the diving is incredible and offers many opportunities to see sea turtles and large schooling fish near the drop-off.
Manta Scramble (Yaeyama Islands) Every spring and fall, manta rays swarm around clusters of coral heads to feed on blooming plankton just off the west coast of Ishigaki.
Yonaguni Ruins (Yaeyama Islands) These ruins might not be the vestiges of an ancient civilization, but it doesn't take much to imagine a lost city.
Dana Drop (Yaeyama Islands) A wall 180 feet deep drops off Yonaguni's northern side making for a spectacular drift dive when combined with almost infinite visibility. Go in December, January or February to catch schools of hammerheads that surround the island.
Nita Cave (Kerama Islands) Visit this spectacular cavern, in about 45 feet of water, at noon when the sun shines through it, creating a dazzling light show.
Sakubaru (Kerama Islands) This network of coral canyons and walls lousy with angelfish and butterflyfish is also home to destroyed artillery cannons and shells.
Yabiji Area (Miyako Island) Here is the place to see many varieties of large corals growing side-by-side. This area supports many fish species and more than 100 coral species.
Kurima Area (Miyako Island) This area offers a coral reef that has recovered very well from a bleaching event in 1998. Here the corals have rebounded completely and are extremely healthy. Because the area has strong currents, it attracts the large pelagics like sea turtles and whitetip sharks.
