Diving in Japan is one of the best in Asia-Pacific with famous diving spots mainly in the Okinawa Prefecture, including Okinawa main island, Ishigaki and Miyako Islands, and famous dives such as the Yonaguni Monument and the Kerama Islands National Park. Japan is a great destination for scuba divers who love shark diving and manta rays. A little less known, you can also try diving in the Shizuoka Prefecture, especially around the Izu Peninsula, reachable within 2 hours from Tokyo.
The marine life in Japan is mostly about manta rays, hammerhead sharks, turtles, dragon moray eels, soft corals nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go for experienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a 5 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often from May to November. The best Japanese dive sites can be reached by boat or from the shore.
Below you will find all my best scuba diving stories from diving in Japan. I share my top tips on how to organise your trip, my favourite dives, what is the best itinerary or how to do it without breaking the bank. From a travel budget point of view, Japan is a higher-budget destination, so save up accordingly.
