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JAPAN: Relatively unknown great destination for diving
JAPAN
Japan may not obviously spring to mind as one of the best places to scuba dive in the world, but in fact it is home to over 2,000 excellent dive sites, and there are plenty of dive centres scattered around the country. What Japan offers divers is complete marine diversity, from the world class diving in the sub-tropical waters around Okinawa to the incredible ice diving in the North at Hokkaido. The country is a unique place to go for a diving holiday, and there are some beautiful places to visit on the land, as well as under the water. The Japanese culture, heritage, architecture and food are all excellent reasons to visit this remarkable country.
Japan Highlights
The Izu Peninsula is situated only one hour away from Tokyo, and has become a very popular diving destination in Japan. The area is famous for its hot spring resorts, which are the perfect way to end a day of exploring the dive sites around the coast. The region is home to the very first dive site in Japan, Izu Oceanic Park, as well as the best dive site on the main island, Osezaki. Further down the coast is Futo, the best dive site to visit to see eagle rays; the pretty island of Mikomoto, which is known for having an abundance of large fish; and Kunomi, which has spectacular views of Mount Fuji.
The Ogasawara Islands are situated 600 miles off the coast of Tokyo, and consist of a group of 30 largely uninhabited islands. The water here is considerably warmer than around Tokyo, and the visibility is excellent. The islands are extremely remote, and offer divers the chance to see tuna, sharks, whales, lobster, octopi and even bull rays. There are some excellent World War II shipwrecks to dive, which have turned into aquariums for the marine life here.
Okinawa is situated in the South of Japan, about a three hour flight away from Tokyo. This is where to come for the best scuba diving in Japan, and is a popular destination for diving holidays. Okinawa is well geared up to tourists, and English is widely spoken in the resort. The tropical water here is extremely clear, and is packed full of colourful reefs for divers to explore. There are many species of marine life, including weird and wonderful nudibranchs, hammerhead sharks and manta rays. The USS Emmons is a World War 2 wreck that can be dived recreationally, and is a dive site that should not be missed. The area has caves, underwater ruins and air domes for divers to enjoy.
Japan is one of the best places in the world to come for ice diving, and Hokkaido is the best destination for this kind of diving. The magnificent ice drifts provide some amazing opportunities for the advanced diver. This is an extreme type of diving, but offers a totally unique experience. There is no doubt that if you do want to partake in this extreme sport, Japan is the top place in the world to ice dive.
Japan may not obviously spring to mind as one of the best places to scuba dive in the world, but in fact it is home to over 2,000 excellent dive sites, and there are plenty of dive centres scattered around the country. What Japan offers divers is complete marine diversity, from the world class diving in the sub-tropical waters around Okinawa to the incredible ice diving in the North at Hokkaido. The country is a unique place to go for a diving holiday, and there are some beautiful places to visit on the land, as well as under the water. The Japanese culture, heritage, architecture and food are all excellent reasons to visit this remarkable country.
Japan Highlights
The Izu Peninsula is situated only one hour away from Tokyo, and has become a very popular diving destination in Japan. The area is famous for its hot spring resorts, which are the perfect way to end a day of exploring the dive sites around the coast. The region is home to the very first dive site in Japan, Izu Oceanic Park, as well as the best dive site on the main island, Osezaki. Further down the coast is Futo, the best dive site to visit to see eagle rays; the pretty island of Mikomoto, which is known for having an abundance of large fish; and Kunomi, which has spectacular views of Mount Fuji.
The Ogasawara Islands are situated 600 miles off the coast of Tokyo, and consist of a group of 30 largely uninhabited islands. The water here is considerably warmer than around Tokyo, and the visibility is excellent. The islands are extremely remote, and offer divers the chance to see tuna, sharks, whales, lobster, octopi and even bull rays. There are some excellent World War II shipwrecks to dive, which have turned into aquariums for the marine life here.
Okinawa is situated in the South of Japan, about a three hour flight away from Tokyo. This is where to come for the best scuba diving in Japan, and is a popular destination for diving holidays. Okinawa is well geared up to tourists, and English is widely spoken in the resort. The tropical water here is extremely clear, and is packed full of colourful reefs for divers to explore. There are many species of marine life, including weird and wonderful nudibranchs, hammerhead sharks and manta rays. The USS Emmons is a World War 2 wreck that can be dived recreationally, and is a dive site that should not be missed. The area has caves, underwater ruins and air domes for divers to enjoy.
Japan is one of the best places in the world to come for ice diving, and Hokkaido is the best destination for this kind of diving. The magnificent ice drifts provide some amazing opportunities for the advanced diver. This is an extreme type of diving, but offers a totally unique experience. There is no doubt that if you do want to partake in this extreme sport, Japan is the top place in the world to ice dive.
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