Language 
No results found
Scuba diving in Japan: Best spots and prices
Discover the best dive centres for scuba diving in Japan at this destination, so you can choose the perfect one to dive during your visit to Asia.
Exploring Tokyo’s nightlife is only one of many fun plans for every kind of traveller. If you plan to live there for a while, you’ll enjoy beaches, iconic landscapes and rich Japanese culture. If you love extreme sports, this guide gives you all the key info about scuba diving in Japan. It’s ideal for sea lovers, whether you already dive or you’re just starting this sport.
We’ll share information about the most important centres in areas such as Okinawa or Izu, where you can find beginner courses and advanced certifications. We’ll also talk about estimated prices and practical tips to organise your trip in advance. The goal: You arrive feeling confident and motivated to dive into some of the best marine landscapes in Asia.
Diving Centres and Courses in Japan
Japan offers a wide range of diving centres, especially in regions such as Okinawa and the Kerama Islands. You also find many options in Izu and on the Kii Peninsula. Most operators work with English-speaking instructors and provide full equipment, so you don’t need to bring your own gear. They also offer packages with boat transport, underwater photos and services for different experience levels.
Here you can discover some of the most renowned diving centres by tourist area:
Diving centre in Okinawa: Reef Encounters
Reef Encounters sits in the city of Chatan and often welcomes visitors to Okinawa. The team works with small groups and this approach guarantees a more personalised experience. It offers dives at iconic spots such as the Blue Cave or Kerama Island, famous for sea turtles and crystal-clear waters.
You can take beginner courses here and also specialities such as underwater photography or deep diving. Certified divers can choose boat dives or full-day trips to nearby islands.
Izu Oceanic Park Diving Center
This centre sits close to Tokyo, so you can dive without long journeys. Izu offers strong underwater volcanic activity and very interesting marine life, even if you travel for just a few days. The centre offers PADI courses, equipment rental and guides for recreational diving. Conditions change during winter, but you can still dive, especially if you focus on macro photography.
South Sea Marine Club in Kagoshima
In southern Japan, Kagoshima and the surrounding islands offer a different marine landscape. South Sea Marine Club stands out for smooth logistics and routes where you can see huge schools of fish, small caves and coral areas with excellent visibility. Certified divers who want something less touristy than Okinawa often choose this option.
Diving Courses Available in Japan
If your goal is to learn scuba diving in Japan or progress with your certification, you’ll find several options:
• Baptisms or Discover Scuba Diving: For those who want to try it for the first time. The experience includes basic theory and a shallow dive with instructors. You won’t receive a certification, but you enjoy the sensation of breathing underwater.
• Open Water Diver: Initial international certification course that allows you to dive up to eighteen metres anywhere in the world, accompanied by a person with the same or higher certification. Most people complete the course in three or four days.
• Advanced Open Water: For those who already have experience and wish to dive to a depth of thirty metres. The course includes themed dives such as navigation, night diving or advanced buoyancy skills.
• Specialities and professional courses: Japan offers great programs for underwater photography, wreck diving, and rescue certification. In destinations such as Okinawa you also commonly find Dive Master courses for people who want to build a professional career.
Certified instructors teach all these options and adapt every programme to solo travellers and small groups. If you already hold a certification, you only need to show it on the activity day together with your dive log.
The best places for scuba diving in Japan
Japan has thousands of islands that hide real treasures under the surface. Many travellers imagine the country only with big cities and mountains, but its marine diversity looks incredible. Here you can see some areas that stand out for visibility, biodiversity and easy dive logistics all year round.
Okinawa and the Kerama Islands
Okinawa forms the heart of scuba diving in Japan. The islands lie south of the main archipelago and people know them for turquoise waters and white beaches. Very close, you find the Kerama Islands, a paradise with healthy reefs and huge numbers of tropical fish.
During dives you can see green turtles, manta rays, brightly coloured nudibranchs and protected coral formations. Water temperatures feel pleasant almost all year, so Okinawa suits beginners and experienced divers who want calm landscapes and underwater photography.
Visibility in Kerama can exceed twenty metres. Together with idyllic beaches, this clarity helps you enjoy a complete trip:
Izu and the Shizuoka Peninsula
The Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka sits only a few hours from Tokyo. This volcanic area creates a unique marine environment with rocky walls, small caves and a seabed packed with sponges and hard corals.
Marine life looks very diverse with schools of fish, crustaceans, octopus and tiny species perfect for macro photography. Travellers who visit in winter often enjoy incredible visibility on sunny days, which proves that you can dive here throughout the year.
Izu offers an excellent alternative for travellers with tight itineraries because you can reach the area by train or bus on a short journey from the capital.
Yonaguni Island
Yonaguni sits at Japan’s south-western tip, closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo. Advanced divers often travel here for one of the most exciting experiences in the country: Hammerhead shark encounters during winter months.
Besides these giant animals, the island is famous for the so-called ‘Yonaguni ruins’. This site contains rock formations and underwater structures that look like staircases and buildings. Nobody has confirmed an archaeological origin, but the mysterious shapes attract visitors from around the world.
Currents can run strong and dives reach considerable depths, so Yonaguni suits divers with experience who want a real challenge.
Kii Peninsula and Kushimoto
In the Kansai region, opposite Wakayama, you find Kushimoto, one of the most popular diving spots for locals and visitors. The marine environment mixes tropical fish with colder-water species because the warm Kuroshio Current runs very close to the coast.
The huge variety of corals and clownfish makes this destination perfect for people who enjoy photography and relaxed observation. Kushimoto offers reliable diving centres and easy access from Osaka, so it fits perfectly into a classic Japan itinerary.
Marine parks in Kagoshima
Further south on the main islands, the waters off Kagoshima offer another perspective. Protected areas here allow you to see large schools and many turtles, together with marine life that changes with each season.
People who already know Okinawa often choose this destination when they want a place with fewer tourists. The volcanic nature of the region also creates small caves and rocky structures where you can find very diverse fauna.
Staying connected while you dive in Japan
Planning a diving trip requires constant coordination: You need to book tours, confirm dives, contact dive centres and share your experience safely. Reliable internet throughout your journey becomes essential and, in Japan, you can stay connected easily with an eSIM from Holafly.
With this digital card you connect as soon as you land, without visiting physical shops or swapping your original SIM. This way, you can use maps, translators, and messaging while heading to diving spots.
If traveling across the continent, we recommend monthly plans, ideal for sharing internet with your devices without changing your eSIM at each destination.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
How much does scuba diving in Japan cost?
Prices for scuba diving in Japan vary with region, season and type of experience. Okinawa and the most remote islands often charge higher rates because of boat transport and strong international demand. Meanwhile, destinations such as Izu near Tokyo usually cost less and work better for travellers on a tighter budget.
In general, a guided dive for certified divers can cost between €65 and €88 ($76-102), depending on whether it leaves from shore or boat. Two-tank tours with transfers to nearby islands can reach about €118 ($137) and often include drinks or underwater photos.
First-timers who book a try dive without experience usually pay around €71 to €118 ($83-137), depending on the destination. This option offers a popular way to enjoy a first adventure with strong safety standards and constant professional support.
International courses such as Open Water Diver cost about €265 to €353 ($309-411), depending on materials and course length. If you want to move on to Advanced Open Water, prices start around €176–235 ($205–274) extra.
Centres charge this once you hold your initial certification. Full equipment hire often costs extra in many centres for certified divers. Each item may cost around €9 to €18 ($10-21) per day, although many operators offer complete packages. These packages usually work out cheaper than renting every single piece of gear separately.
Because the industry shows a high level of professionalism and strong safety culture in Japan, prices align with other quality Asian destinations. If you plan several dives, you can often get discounts or packages that include different sites within the same region.
Frequently asked questions about scuba diving in Japan
Yes, although conditions vary by area. Okinawa enjoys warmer weather, while Izu offers very good winter visibility.
You only need a certification for deeper or more advanced dives. For a first experience, you can book a Discover Scuba Diving try dive with instructors.
Bring comfortable clothes, swimsuit, towel and biodegradable sunscreen. Centres usually include the technical equipment or offer it for hire.
Yes, especially in Yonaguni during winter months, when divers often see these sharks in deeper waters.
Most centres in popular destinations employ English-speaking staff and they make communication easy throughout the whole process.
