Kommentare (17) (Japan) Okinawa, Japan was the site for the second largest beach landing in history only second to Normandy, France. The difference is that Okinawa, was almost entirely US Forces verses Normandy, France had combined allied forces. More US Navy ships were sunk in the battle of Okinawa, than any other Navel skirmish. This is due to the nearly 7000 Japanese Kamikaze suicide pilots that dive bombed the US fleet. As divers we are still finding the remains of this battle just off shore. We find everything from coke bottles from 1945 to 1000lb Japanese sea mines. Last week I found 2 X bombs/torpedoes/extra gas tanks, that were 8' long x 24" wide with fins that were found off of the west coast of IE Island/Okinawa Prefecture/Japan. The battle of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) started 1 Apr 1945. The Marines landed north of the Hija River (green bridge on HWY 58 and/or the red bridge) and the US Army landed south of the Hija River. I have taken the original invasion map and I have overlaid it over modern google earth. The link to see this product is on scuba board.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/zen-divers/269353-okinawa-wwii-landing-sites.html (Meada Misaki/Meada Point) Be sure and bring some extra yen for the parking lot. We can usually get out for less than 500 Yen. During the summer months they seem to be open until 7pm. There are bathrooms and pay for use showers. Also an ice cream shop and a noodle shop as well as no shortage of vending machines for drinks. Not exactly sure what time they open the parking lot. But, you could probably park outside of the parking area along the sugarcane fields. The dive area is down the steps and is fairly diverse. Lots of Nudibranchs, anemone fish, scorpion fish, leaf fish, parrot fish, lion fish, Moorish Idols as well as many others. Water clarity here is usually pretty good if the seas have been flat. This area is usually dive able during the summer months when other areas might be too choppy to enter. Winter months can bring wind shifts and choppy seas. The site is very easy to navigate and is popular with Americans as well as Okinawans. There are several local Okinawan dive shops who run shuttles full of divers. It can be crowded, but once you are in the water it's not usually too bad. A lot of the fish here expect to be fed and will come right up to divers. If you have food for them, Vienna sausages, or small shrimps, or commercial fish food they will entertain you until the food is gone.
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Kommentare (17)
