Omijima Island

Koino Ura is a diving spot in Fukutsu City overlooking the Genkai Sea, which is easily accessible from both Kitakyushu and Fukuoka. This coast is famous for the sea turtles comes to lay eggs in July. This site is often used for beginner courses because it is easy to enter and exit.

Located about 70 kilometers north-northwest of Fukuoka City, Okinoshima Island was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2017. There is no public transportation to access the island, which takes about two hours by boat.

The only sunken battleship of the Japanese Navy that can be seen in Japan, sinking on Katsura Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the Seto Inland Sea. It is 224 meters long and 34 meters wide and sits at a depth of 40 meters to 10 meters.

This island takes about 45 minutes from the center of Fukuoka by car. The island is located in the northern part of Hakata Bay and is connected to the mainland by a sandbar. It is one of the most popular diving spots in Fukuoka and is often used for beginners’ courses.

Located in the Genkai Sea, this island is 17 km from north to south and 14 km from east to west in the middle of Kyushu and Tsushima. The dynamic roots, colorful coral, and plankton carried by the current attract much fish. There is also a point where there are many mysterious megaliths that look like they were carved out by humans.

Located in the western part of Ehime Prefecture, Akihama is a beautifully scenic sea with a rias-style coast and a fine white sandy beach of about 300m in length. You can enjoy a wide range of life forms, from macro to migratory and rooted large fish.

This is the first site in the National Park Marine Protected Area, the “Flower Garden site #1“. It is a special dive site that is difficult to anchor and can be dived by drift diving; it is easy to dive safely in the shallow range of 5m-12m, but the current is often too fast, so choose the sea conditions and go there when it is not a problem.

Swim the mid-water to the tip with the coral ridge on your right, and you may see a large school of Japanese horn sharks descending from above. Large stingrays and turtles live in the neighboring waters, so you may be lucky enough to see them. After waiting for the school at the tip, you will see a gentle slope with a carpet of soft corals, gradually getting shallower and shallower until you reach the 5-meter safety stop, where kibibinago (sand eel) and other fish hang out. After the safety stop, we cross the natural maze created by the ridge and return to the boat.

Like a fault line, there is a mix of hard and soft corals on the monolithic rock. The depth ranges from 5-9 m, and the colony extends over more than 1 km in a straight line, with side holes next to the monolith allowing swim-throughs in some areas. Hard and soft corals coexist, and this type of landscape is rare in Japan. Sometimes rays, which can grow to over 2 meters, can be found hiding in the side holes. The scenery in shallow areas where light shines through is extremely beautiful.

This dive site is among top 5 for its enchanting allure and beauty within the region. Here, you’ll marvel at the splendid coral colonies and vibrant schools of fish. After a safety stop, you can even venture into captivating underwater caves. While the current can occasionally become swifter, I often recommend diving during low tide. When entering the water from the boat, you’ll find a calm 5-meter depth, making it a fantastic spot suitable for beginners and providing a sense of security.