Diving in Okinawa late march/early april

[Ross_Gazza]

I'm going to a friends wedding near naha at the end of march, I'll stay for a week afterwards. I'll spend some days with my friends and then go diving, I think around okinawa main island ( I live in Hong Kong so if I want to go to ishigaki later could always do a direct flight another time)

What areas/dive centres do people recommend. Looking at the forum it seems Bubble addict has been recommended.

I have a 3mm wetsuit, I'm guessing a 5mm might be better this time of year?

 

[MacDuyver]

Late March on Okinawa it’ll be 5mm weather still (about 70-72F). 3mm if you’re warm blooded. As you get into April/may it warms up a bit.

Not sure about Ishigaki

 

[BigGixx]

5mm is what you want, if you don't have one there is a dive shop near the Naha Port, 日本最大級のダイビングショップ｜エムアイシー21(mic21). mic21 will have anything and everything scuba. When it comes to dive shops in the area:

SEASIR NAHA

SEASIR NAHA is a long standing diving shop in Okinawa. We go diving all year round at the Kerama National Marine Park. We also provide drift diving and expedition diving for advanced divers.

www.seasir.com

沖縄県那覇市でダイビングならcoco ocean沖縄 | 美しい海を思いっきり堪能

ファンダイビング、体験ダイビング、そしてスノーケリングなど、沖縄の美しい海を存分に楽しめる「coco ocean沖縄」。初心者から上級者まで幅広いコースを提供しており、少人数制で安心安全をモットーに低価格のサービスを提供しています。

cocoocean-okinawa.com

那覇でファンダイビング｜格安料金で初心者も半日からダイビングするなら「DiveStar」 | ホーム

那覇でファンダイビング。格安料金で初心者も半日からダイビングするなら「DiveStar」にお問い合わせください。那覇市でダイビングツアーやライセンス講習などを、地元の方や観光のお客様にご提供しております。レベルに合わせたメニューをご提案しておりますので、どなたでもお気軽にご参加ください。

divestar-okinawa.com

if you are looking for the middle of Okinawa, these are the places I recommend:

Diving Okinawa English | Dive centre OKINAWA 39ers | Diving Kerama islands | 日本

Okinawa 39ers is a bilingual diving operator in Okinawa. We offer the Kerama islands dive trip, USS Emmons, intro diving at Blue Cave, certification courses, etc.

www.okinawa39ers.com

Aloha Divers Okinawa: Scuba Diving Service Okinawa

Aloha Divers Okinawa are PADI Instructors. Providing the best service and diving you can do in Okinawa. We offer scuba diving, diving course, diving trip, discover scuba diver and snorkeling. We serve in 4 languages. English, Portuguese, Japanese and Spanish.

www.alohadiversokinawa.com

EXPLORING THE UNDERWATER WONDERS OF JAPAN

Okinawa based international diving service. Kerama islands boat diving, Beach diving, tech friendly, Certification courses, instructor courses, Yonaguni Dive trips. Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Portuguese, Spanish available

www.reefencounters.org

English Empire Divers Okinawa (Okinawa's No1 English Speaking company)

Were are the premier, English speaking dive company here on Okinawa! Available at short notice and able to take great care of both Experienced and beginner divers! Lets enjoy the beautiful blue waters of Okinawa together ;)

englishempiredivers.com

Onna Village Okinawa Scuba - Sunkissed Divers

Dive with Sunkissed Divers in Okinawa and experience the difference between commercial diving and a personalized scuba diving experience. Mob +81 080-4691-5036

sunkisseddivers.com

****By all mean, these are not in any particular order***

If you have any more questions do not hesitate to hit me up.

 

[MacDuyver]

I gotta drop a second plug for mic21 in Naha.

It’s an outstanding shop. They speak some English (if you can find the younger guy, his English is the best), but they run a top notch operation, are very helpful and knowledgeable, and stock excellent gear. Parking can be tricky downtown, but if you use one of the lots next to their building they’ll give you a parking voucher.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9kysTtZW8mFuvhVc6?g_st=ic

I also second Aloha and English Empire Divers. Excellent operations, and they’re really personable people as well.

 

[Ceciliagrocha]

5mm is what you want, if you don't have one there is a dive shop near the Naha Port, 日本最大級のダイビングショップ｜エムアイシー21(mic21). mic21 will have anything and everything scuba. When it comes to dive shops in the area:

SEASIR NAHA

SEASIR NAHA is a long standing diving shop in Okinawa. We go diving all year round at the Kerama National Marine Park. We also provide drift diving and expedition diving for advanced divers.

www.seasir.com

沖縄県那覇市でダイビングならcoco ocean沖縄 | 美しい海を思いっきり堪能

ファンダイビング、体験ダイビング、そしてスノーケリングなど、沖縄の美しい海を存分に楽しめる「coco ocean沖縄」。初心者から上級者まで幅広いコースを提供しており、少人数制で安心安全をモットーに低価格のサービスを提供しています。

cocoocean-okinawa.com

那覇でファンダイビング｜格安料金で初心者も半日からダイビングするなら「DiveStar」 | ホーム

那覇でファンダイビング。格安料金で初心者も半日からダイビングするなら「DiveStar」にお問い合わせください。那覇市でダイビングツアーやライセンス講習などを、地元の方や観光のお客様にご提供しております。レベルに合わせたメニューをご提案しておりますので、どなたでもお気軽にご参加ください。

divestar-okinawa.com

if you are looking for the middle of Okinawa, these are the places I recommend:

Diving Okinawa English | Dive centre OKINAWA 39ers | Diving Kerama islands | 日本

Okinawa 39ers is a bilingual diving operator in Okinawa. We offer the Kerama islands dive trip, USS Emmons, intro diving at Blue Cave, certification courses, etc.

www.okinawa39ers.com

Aloha Divers Okinawa: Scuba Diving Service Okinawa

Aloha Divers Okinawa are PADI Instructors. Providing the best service and diving you can do in Okinawa. We offer scuba diving, diving course, diving trip, discover scuba diver and snorkeling. We serve in 4 languages. English, Portuguese, Japanese and Spanish.

www.alohadiversokinawa.com

EXPLORING THE UNDERWATER WONDERS OF JAPAN

Okinawa based international diving service. Kerama islands boat diving, Beach diving, tech friendly, Certification courses, instructor courses, Yonaguni Dive trips. Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Portuguese, Spanish available

www.reefencounters.org

English Empire Divers Okinawa (Okinawa's No1 English Speaking company)

Were are the premier, English speaking dive company here on Okinawa! Available at short notice and able to take great care of both Experienced and beginner divers! Lets enjoy the beautiful blue waters of Okinawa together ;)

englishempiredivers.com

Onna Village Okinawa Scuba - Sunkissed Divers

Dive with Sunkissed Divers in Okinawa and experience the difference between commercial diving and a personalized scuba diving experience. Mob +81 080-4691-5036

sunkisseddivers.com

****By all mean, these are not in any particular order***

If you have any more questions do not hesitate to hit me up.

Hi, I am new to scuba diving and only have been to PADI certified shops and heading to Japan in late May for some diving. I noticed some of the shops listed above are not PADI certified. Is this a concern (I am thinking in terms of rental gear maintenance, air/nitrox quality, etc). Would appreciate also advice on what to look for/check? Thank you

 

[Edward3c]

Hi, I am new to scuba diving and only have been to PADI certified shops and heading to Japan in late May for some diving. I noticed some of the shops listed above are not PADI certified. Is this a concern (I am thinking in terms of rental gear maintenance, air/nitrox quality, etc). Would appreciate also advice on what to look for/check? Thank you

How a dive shop maintains their equipment has nothing to do with the agency they advertise. The agencies are only interested the “training” standards the shop follows, how a shop manages “fun” diving usually has nothing to do with the agency.

 

[Ceciliagrocha]

How a dive shop maintains their equipment has nothing to do with the agency they advertise. The agencies are only interested the “training” standards the shop follows, how a shop manages “fun” diving usually has nothing to do with the agency.

Thanks Edwards, so how to ensure we are going with reliable and good operators for fun dives in overseas trip (what to look for besides the reviews/comments here on Scuba board)?

 

[gwklein]

Thanks Edwards, so how to ensure we are going with reliable and good operators for fun dives in overseas trip (what to look for besides the reviews/comments here on Scuba board)?

You will get varying opinions about was is a "good" operator so first you need decide what you want from a dive operation. Foremost, you have to decide if you want to dive your own profile without enforced diving restrictions or do you want to be guided by a DM who has some responsiblity for your safety and enforces certain rules. In many places in the world, a DM is there simply to guide and has no responsibility for the safety of the divers they are leading. In the U.S., a DM more likely than not will not even enter the water with you unless the operator cateres to beginning divers.

There is also a significant divergence of opinion regarding the type of boat: a large boats or a 6-pax. The large boats are often called "cattle boats" derogatorily because of the large number of beginning divers. However, they offer more comfort with shaded areas, easy entry and exist, and bathrooms. The 6-pax are fast to getting to dive sites and have few divers to stir up the water.

Once you figure out what type of diving you want to do, then the hard part begins when you start doing research on the operators. My local dive shop, Scubaboard and Undercurrent are my first go-tos. I also check out the operator's website to see what type of boats, gear, and safety equipmment they have. And, I look at how long the operator has been in business and check out the "about" page for backgrounds on the staff and languages spoken. You can also do a ProChek of the shop/employees at PADI, SSI, CMAS, NAUI webpages etc to see if there have been any safety violations reported. Of course, you can also do a Google or Tripadvisor review search.

But nothing ensures that you will get a reliable and good operator.

 

[Edward3c]

Thanks Edwards, so how to ensure we are going with reliable and good operators for fun dives in overseas trip (what to look for besides the reviews/comments here on Scuba board)?

@gwklein pretty will covered it.

In most places, if you’re not doing a course you’re responsible for planning your dive not the operator.

The only way to ensure you get good equipment is to own and bring your own. Which I do, only tanks and lead are operator provided.