Comments (26) (Taka Diving Service) Nathan Kaempfer Thanks for the hot dive tip it was a great source. So the full report, flew into Miyako at sunset, stayed at a hostel near their "Kokusai Street" (3000Y/night), rented a car (3000Y/day), picked up tanks (1000Y/tank if referred by Taka Dive Shop otherwise 2000Y/tank) actually very difficult to find tanks we had to go straight to the wholesale gas company (most people do the all inclusive boat dives 12000Y/day which includes lunch and three tanks), we drove south towards Kurima Island as locals said best place to beach dive. It is a 1K swim from the west facing beach to get to deep waters. We opted to stay in the shallow near the finger style reefs near the beach as they are full of life (Eels, lobster, sea turtle, tons of life). Then we drove to Boragawa Beach almost all the way to the light house on the southern cape. Definitely recommend this dive, it was extremely low tide so we walked the reef out and jumped in (careful many crown of thorns here) but the reef is from 5-10ft below surface to 65 ft at low tide. There are networks of "tunnels" and cracks in the reef that made this an incredible dive allowing you to stay at 50 - 65 ft and cruise near the sandy bottom. Felt a lot like cave diving in many places. Then when you are finished get rid of the tanks and swim east along the shore line (you can kayak or walk if the tide is low enough) and there is a famous cave right at the same beach that has limestone formations and a fresh water stream/waterfalls inside. The rock is like velcro so you can cilmb in and up no problem. You have to swim into the cave and at high tide you might not be able to spot the opening very easily. There are many locals taking tours there so you can follow them. Then we drove the rest of the island and I left that night. I recommend getting involved in the local drinking tradition. Don't ask me why there is a German Cultural Center out their either. Good times, good livin! (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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Comments (26)
