Kijaka Paradise, East China Sea, Miyakojima Island, Japan, Dive spots, Diving

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(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

(Navel Kadena 3) This dive site is right across the street from Jam Marine Club. You can park on the street right near the steps on the sea wall. The steps lead right into the water where they have built up a protective barrier for wave action. Great place to fin up in higher tide. If you go out to the left you can drop down about 30 - 40 feet the otherside of the jacks. Like Kadena Steps, this area can get kind of turbid and murkey if there is a lot of wave action. You will see all kinds of coral, both hard and soft. Also a diverse collection of fish. Lots of star fish the last time we dove this one. If you go right, depending on the height of the tide you may have to walk over coral until you get into deep enough water to swim. There are sometimes schools of barracuda swimming around here. The wrasses keep busy with their cleaning stations and you'll see snappers and parrot fish taking advantage of their hospitality.

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