Дайв-сайты: Kagoshima Prefecture

Amami Oshima offers coral reef diving comparable to Okinawa but with significantly fewer divers and a more rugged, less developed island atmosphere. The reefs around Amami have benefited from lower tourist pressure and retain exceptional coral health, with over 220 hard coral species documented by researchers. While Okinawa has more dive operators and infrastructure, Amami delivers a quieter, more intimate experience. The island received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 for its terrestrial forests, and the surrounding waters have received increased conservation attention as a result.

Humpback whales pass through the waters around Amami Oshima from January through March during their annual breeding migration from feeding grounds near Russia and Alaska. While dedicated whale watching boats operate during this period, divers occasionally encounter whales during boat dives, hearing their songs underwater before seeing them. The whale season coincides with cooler water temperatures around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, so a five-millimetre wetsuit or semi-dry suit is recommended. Visibility during winter months typically ranges from 20 to 30 metres.

Amami Oshima is served by Amami Airport with daily flights from Tokyo Haneda, Osaka Itami and Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima, with flight times ranging from one to two and a half hours. A ferry service also connects the island to Kagoshima city and other islands in the Amami chain, though the journey takes around eleven hours. On the island, rental cars are essential as public transport is limited and dive sites are spread across the coastline. Most dive operators are based in Amami city on the northern coast or Setouchi on the southern coast.

Yakushima is one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the North Pacific. Loggerhead turtles come ashore at Isso and nearby Inakahama Beach from May through August to lay their eggs, and green turtles feed in the surrounding waters year-round. The encounter rate while diving exceeds 90 percent during the main season, and turtles are accustomed to divers. It is one of the few places in the world where you can witness turtle nesting on the beach and swim with them underwater on the same day.

Yakushima is accessible by air from Kagoshima, Osaka, and Fukuoka with flights taking 30 to 70 minutes. High-speed hydrofoil ferries from Kagoshima take about two hours. The island also receives regular car ferries. Once on the island, a rental car is strongly recommended as dive sites and attractions are spread around the coastline. Most dive shops are based in the northern port town of Miyanoura.