Tokakin Sone on Iriomote Island is one of the top big-fish dive sites, named after the frequent sightings of isomaguro (dogtooth tuna). With a 15m-deep mountainous root, it’s ideal for drift diving. Barracuda and bigeye jacks are also common. Beginners can join, but must be cautious of strong currents.

Deer River and Nakanose in southern Iriomote Island are calm-current sites with depths up to 30m, famous for high manta ray sightings from winter to spring. Lush coral gardens, including huge thistle corals, host tropical fish, while summer brings schools of snappers, mud rays, and barracudas.

Yonara Channel passes between Iriomote Island and Kohama Island, which is 6km long and about 500 to 900m wide. The current is constant and at times very strong. This is always a drift dive at depths of 9 to 30 meters.

Nakamoto Cave on Kuroshima Island, Okinawa, offers depths of 10–23m with gentle currents, ideal for beginners. Its stunning light and topography house diverse life, including red-crowned crane fish, blue-spotted dolphinfish, and blue-green gobies, appealing to both scenery and marine life lovers.

This is a small island in the east of Iriomote Island, about 16km in circumference. There is a luxury resort hotel on the island. Between this island and Iriomote Island is the Yonara Waterway. There are about 400 kinds of colorful coral such as table coral and eda coral around the island, and the tropical fishes are very beautiful. There are several points in the Yonara Waterway where you can encounter manta rays.

Mitsuishi in Yaeyama, Okinawa, near Ishigaki Island, features three large rocks surrounded by vibrant corals, with Debasumeri and scorpionfish adding color. The reef and sandy bottom host rich macro life like nudibranchs and frogfish, while occasional manta rays make this a serene yet exciting dive site.

Panari Big Corner, south of Aragusuku Island in Okinawa, is a manta ray hotspot discovered in 2016. With shallow cleaning stations around 5m deep, it’s beginner-friendly—though currents can be strong. Lucky divers may spot rare black manta rays, making it a must-visit for manta lovers.

Kuroshima V Drop is a typical dive site located in Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture. It is characterized by a dynamic drop-off with a V-shaped reef cut into it. 5m~30m deep, it is known for schools of manta rays, sea turtles and migratory fish, especially in winter.

Osaki Hanagoi Reef in Ishigaki offers depths from 5–35m with diverse terrain. Shallows feature vibrant yellow corals and schools of red snappers, with spawning scenes in early spring. A signature Ishigaki site, it’s enjoyed by both beginners and advanced divers year-round.

Osaki Minocasago Palace in western Ishigaki features roots rising from sand at 5–30m, home to schools of scorpionfish and leaf scorpionfish. Shallows host snapper schools, while garden eels and gobies inhabit the sandy bottom, making it a rich and diverse dive site.