Explore Kyushu

Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island, offers an exciting and diverse diving experience that captivates both novice and seasoned divers. Surrounded by the sea, Kyushu boasts a range of dive environments, from vibrant coral reefs and dramatic underwater walls to intriguing shipwrecks. The warm Tsushima Current blesses the region with rich marine biodiversity, making it a paradise for those eager to explore colorful soft corals and schools of tropical fish.

One of the standout features of diving in Kyushu is the Goto Islands, where divers can encounter large migratory fish and explore a renowned 100-meter-long shipwreck. The islands promise an underwater adventure filled with vibrant marine life and magnificent coral gardens. Additionally, the northern region near Hakata offers easy access to islands like Shikanoshima and Iki, where both shore and boat dives are available. Whether you're snorkeling in the calm, warm waters or diving beneath the waves, Kyushu's diverse dive sites promise an unforgettable experience.

For those seeking more remote adventures, Okinoshima Island, a World Heritage Site, provides excellent visibility and abundant marine life. This secluded spot, located about 60 kilometers from the mainland and accessible only by dive boat, offers a unique dive experience amid breathtaking natural beauty. With its diverse marine environments and unique dive opportunities, Kyushu stands out as a truly special diving destination.

Places to Explore

Southern Kyushu

4 Divesites

The Satsunan Islands are scattered from Kagoshima south to Okinawa and is home to some of the best diving in Japan.

Okinawa

Okinawa diving and snorkeling offer visitors a stunning glimpse into an underwater paradise full of lively coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Stingray International

Diver Stress & Rescue

19 Nov 2025

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Best Dive Okinawa

Advanced Open Water Diver

20 Nov 2025 + 1 more

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

URUMA SCUBA

Assistant Instructor

04 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

URUMA SCUBA

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

04 Dec 2025

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Shitogo

Reachable in 30 minutes by plane from Kagoshima, Yakushima is an island with a circumference of about 130 km and an area of 500 km². In the center of the island is a prehistoric forest, and the Jomon cedars are all too famous.

173
Logs
55
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Kohamajima Island

This is a small island in the east of Iriomote Island, about 16km in circumference. There is a luxury resort hotel on the island. Between this island and Iriomote Island is the Yonara Waterway. There are about 400 kinds of colorful coral such as table coral and eda coral around the island, and the tropical fishes are very beautiful. There are several points in the Yonara Waterway where you can encounter manta rays.

36
Logs
26
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ USS Emmons

One of the largest shipwrecks in Okinawa. It takes about 20 minutes by boat from Kouri Island, which is located in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island and is the longest bridge in Okinawa. The 106-meter-long battleship is lying on the bottom of the water with the original model intact.

314
Logs
135
Divers
40.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Manta Ray Scramble

This dive site, located on the northwest side of Ishigaki Island, has one of the highest rates of encounters with manta rays in the world. It can be reached by boat in 10 to 15 minutes. The water depth is around 10-20m and the tide is relatively calm but can become stronger at times. A small hill in the middle of the sea is a cleaning station where the manta rays come to visit. Manta rays swim around at a depth of 5 to 10 meters, so you can see them by snorkeling.

1,274
Logs
651
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tonbara

This is one of the most popular spots in Kume Island. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Kumejima by flight from the main island of Okinawa. About 20 to 30 minutes from the harbor, we dive around a large, rugged rock that rises 2 kilometers off the southeast coast of the island. It is a spot where the tide is good and the chance of encountering big fish is high. It is famous as a point where hammerhead sharks migrate in winter. Diving style is drift diving. You can also see humpback whales up close from winter to spring.

86
Logs
31
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ SEALs Tec Buoy

This is a drop-off point near the tip of Cape Maeda. The shallow water shelf is about 5m deep and drops down to 30m at once. You can enter this point from both the beach and boat.

118
Logs
40
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Hateruma Island

Hateruma Island is south of Iriomote Island. You can go there by ferry from Ishigaki Island, but you can also get there from Iriomote Island to dive. There are no buses or signals on the island. All the dives are boat dives. The appeal of Hateruma is its high clarity, sometimes exceeding 50 meters, and you can enjoy the beautiful blue sea that flows through the pure white sand. There are many sandy points on the northwest shore and drop-off points and large migratory fishes on the east shore.

15
Logs
8
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
37.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ogan

There is an uninhabited island about 15km southwest from the southern end of Iriomote Island, which is called Ogan. About 1 hour by boat from Iriomote Island. The famous “Eastern Root“ is a dynamic terrain with huge hidden roots rising from the seafloor at a depth of 40 meters. This is an advanced spot due to the fast current.

24
Logs
14
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Antonio Gaudi

Antonio Gaudi is located on the west side of Shimoji Island next to Irabu Island, about 5 km west of Miyako Island. The name was given to the innumerable intricate and mysterious arches that look as if they were designed by Gaudi. Everyone is fascinated by the beauty that nature has created here.

173
Logs
91
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ South to South

South to South, located south of Ukihara Minami Island, is just outside the Uruma Barrier Reef. At this dive site, you can see some of the largest Ryukyu cabbage corals found in the area. Because it is just outside the barrier reef, the maximum depth is 30 meters.

26
Logs
18
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ukibaru North

It is located a few hundred meters north of the floating island. This area has a sandy bottom with many fine fan corals. The maximum depth is 16 meters and the average depth is 10-15 meters.

155
Logs
68
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Hidenchigama

Hidenchigama consists of undersea limestone caves. There is an entrance 1km off the Torijima fishing port on the west side of the island, at a drop-off depth of 35m. The entrance is just big enough for a person to enter at the last minute. Internal penetration would be a full technical area dive. You can see a beautiful view of the chandelier-like and curtain-like bell milestone.

41
Logs
8
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Sesoko Island Labyrinth

Sesoko Island, located in the East China Sea north of the main island of Okinawa, is a small island about 8 km in circumference. It is connected to the main island of Okinawa by the Sesoko Bridge. There are a number of caves, tunnels, and arches in the water.

369
Logs
238
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★☆☆ Koino Ura

Koino Ura is a diving spot in Fukutsu City overlooking the Genkai Sea, which is easily accessible from both Kitakyushu and Fukuoka. This coast is famous for the sea turtles comes to lay eggs in July. This site is often used for beginner courses because it is easy to enter and exit.

73
Logs
13
Divers
9.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tori Ike

From Miyakojima to Shimojijima can be crossed by car by a bridge that was recently opened. A point where you enter from a boat at sea, enter a descending cave, and float through a hole to a large pond on land.

117
Logs
58
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Kyushu

Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, offers diverse diving experiences with remarkable sites. Notable wreck dives include the "Tsushima Maru," a World War II shipwreck teeming with marine life. Popular shore dives can be found at Amami Oshima, where clear waters reveal vibrant coral gardens and an array of tropical fish. For unique underwater experiences, divers can explore the mesmerizing night dives at the Yoron Island, showcasing bioluminescent creatures. Kyushu provides a balance between shore and liveaboard diving options, catering to both casual and adventurous divers seeking exploration of its underwater wonders.

The best Months to dive in Kyushu

Kyushu offers favorable diving conditions throughout the year, with some seasonal variations. Water temperatures range from 16°C–29°C/61°F–84°F, making diving possible year-round. Winter sees cooler waters, while summer welcomes warmer temperatures ideal for divers seeking comfort.

Visibility typically varies, with clearer waters in autumn and winter when fewer plankton are present. Wind and currents are generally mild, though the region may experience typhoons from late summer to early autumn, which can temporarily affect diving conditions. Planning trips outside the typhoon season ensures more stable weather and optimal diving experiences.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Pro Scuba Team SEALs

沖縄県国頭郡恩納村恩納6331-3, 9040411 Kunigami-gun Onnason, Okinawa - JPN

ネイティブシー奄美

鹿児島県大島郡龍郷町芦徳423, 8940412 Oshima-gun, Kagoshima - JPN

Frogfish Lovers Dive Center

沖縄県国頭郡恩納村冨着267-1ムーンオーシャンテラス201号, 9040413 Kunigami District, Okinawa - JPN

Yolo

932-2 Maeda, Onna Village, Kunigami District, 9040417 Kunigami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

Cosmic Earth

16-1 Kanekucho Naze, 8940031 Amami, Kagoshima - JPN

マリンドリーム＜夢塾＞

沖縄県国頭郡恩納村恩納2404, 9040411 Onnason Kunikami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

URUMA SCUBA

うるま市与那城平安座2421-1 ホテル平安1階, 9042426 URUMA, Okinawa - JPN

Ar Yo Divin

沖縄県沖縄市照屋4-4-3 -302, 9040011 Okinawa, Okinawa - JPN

シーウォーターダイビングサービス

沖縄県石垣市川平954番地2, 907-0453 Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa - JPN

WAKE UP CALL

沖縄県石垣市大川200-1F中, 9070022 Ishigaki-city, Okinawa - JPN

DIVING SERVICE HEKIKAI

沖縄県宮古島市平良荷川取497-3, 9060008 Miyakojima, Okinawa - JPN

ブルーアース２１大分

大分県大分市生石5-8-10, 8700003 Oita-shi, Oita - JPN

CFD カンナ タラソ

沖縄県国頭郡宜野座村漢那1817, 9041304 Kunigami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

ヴィアマーレ

沖縄県中頭郡読谷村楚辺1909-2, 9040304 Yomitan-son, Okinawa - JPN

Alpha Dive Okinawa

北谷町宮城2-95 賀数ビル101, 9040113 Nakagami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

オリオン石垣島エコツアー

沖縄県石垣市桴海337-261, 9070451 Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa - JPN

海旅

沖縄県中頭郡読谷村高志保429-1, 9040323 Nakagami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

OCEANZ

1295-4 Taira, 8940505 Amami, Kagoshima - JPN

トリプル トゥー

中頭郡読谷村宇座222, 9040328 Nakagami-gun, Okinawa - JPN

SeaMonk.jp

904-0324 Ginowan, Okinawa - JPN