First dive in Okinawa

[pacchill]

Well after making port in Okinawa 5 times, I finally got to dive. A buddy and I hooked up with a LDS Reef Encounters and did some AOW training. They even picked us up at the gate and dropped us back off. Very accommodating for us. How nice it was, 79 degrees on the bottom no current, lots of vis (compared to diving the Kanto plane) and plenty of fishes to see.
We did all six dives at Maeda Point. I guess they have recently carved some new stairs to get to the water they work like a charm. Easy in, easy out. This place is great for all kinds of dives deep, shallow what ever.
I gotta say, I loved it. But then again, after being underway with nothing but water all around and no way to dive, I will dive anything.
A big THANK YOU to Japan Diver and every one else who help us out down there. We had a blast and look forward to coming back as soon as we can.
Cheers
PacChill

 

[divedude1962]

I was stationed both at Yokosuka and Okinawa and loved diving both places. Hayama and Izu were places on Japan we dove (Yokosuka Bubble Club). As well as on base.
If you get back to Okinawa, some of the best spots were Maeda, Sunabe, Ito.
Loved it.

 

[soldave]

I live down here in Okinawa, working as an English teacher and dive instructor, and it has some great places to dive. It's really a hidden diving gem in Asia, and has something for everyone really. I'm heading down to Yonaguni in later December to dive the underwater ruins and I can't wait for that. Will try to report back when I return.

If anyone needs any info on diving or anything else in Oki, let me know and I'd be more than happy to help

 

[jagfish]

I'd love to relocate down there...but I'd hate to have to go head to head with Doug at Reef E...

 

[soldave]

I know of Doug and he's a decent enough guy, but our markets are pretty different. I work and dive with the foreign teachers here in Okinawa - he gets work with some of the military guys down here visitors from the mainland. He's also got advertising on a website or 2, which brings him quite a bit of business.

Fair play to him though - I do instructing part time and am not competing with anyone. If I can help to get more people diving in Okinawa then I'm happy

 

[IwakuniDiver]

Looks like I'm going to be headed down to Okinawa for a couple days on the 11th. And you can bet MY dive gear is coming with me.

Anyone know who I should talk to about diving the Emmons while I'm there?

Scott

 

[japan-diver]

Tough time of year for the Emmons but I can put you in touch with the boats that do it on a regular basis. What days are you looking at diving it?

 

[IwakuniDiver]

I probably won't know until next week. Send me a PM so I don't accidentally hijack this thread.

 

[soldave]

If I'm diving the Emmons, I'll always go wioth North of Nago boat charters. Run by a guy called Chuck, he usually does a 2-dive trip, with one dive on the Emmons and then another somewhere along the north coast, or even at Hedo dome if the conditions are good. If you want this guys's details, let me know and I'll send them to you.

 

[terrasmak]

We should probably get chuck on the board , i wonder if he's on TDS.