{"id":2394,"date":"2021-04-23T18:49:08","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T11:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluejapan.org\/fr\/?page_id=2394"},"modified":"2021-06-15T11:49:10","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T04:49:10","slug":"diving-highlights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bluejapan.org\/fr\/highlights\/diving-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan&#8217;s Diving Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2394\" class=\"elementor elementor-2394\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c21b1e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c21b1e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e2612d4\" data-id=\"e2612d4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fdf9e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0fdf9e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9374587 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9374587\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Japan's diving highlights<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b102962 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b102962\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">diving Highlights<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f99b27 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f99b27\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d632eb0\" data-id=\"d632eb0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c76e7dd premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"c76e7dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[]}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-a9f221c premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Ice Diving\"> Ice Diving <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Ice Diving\" href=\"#ice\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Ice Diving<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-6eb7485 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Kelp Forests\"> Kelp Forests <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Kelp Forests\" href=\"#kelp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Kelp Forests<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-b064330 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Wrecks\"> Wrecks <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Wrecks\" href=\"#wreck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Wrecks<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46a605a premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"46a605a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[]}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-6eb7485 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Underwater Topography\"> Underwater Topography <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Underwater Topography\" href=\"#uw\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Underwater Topography<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-978f5d5 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Coral Reefs\"> Coral Reefs <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Coral Reefs\" href=\"#coral\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Coral Reefs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-a9f221c premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Blue Waters and Visibility\"> Blue Waters and Visibility <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Blue Waters and Visibility\" href=\"#bluewater\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Blue Waters and Visibility<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cba131c\" data-id=\"cba131c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5b4db3 premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"b5b4db3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[]}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-911282e premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Drift Dives\"> Drift Dives <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Drift Dives\" href=\"#drift\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Drift Dives<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-faf8120 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Technical Diving Support\"> Technical Diving Support <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Technical Diving Support\" href=\"#tec\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Technical Diving Support<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-978f5d5 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Underwater Rehabilitation\"> Underwater Rehabilitation <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Underwater Rehabilitation\" href=\"#rehabilitation\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Underwater Rehabilitation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f14522f premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"f14522f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[]}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-72cf521 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Underwater Aurora\"> Underwater Aurora <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Underwater Aurora\" href=\"#uwaurora\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Underwater Aurora<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-b064330 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Miscellaneous\"> Miscellaneous <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Miscellaneous\" href=\"#miscellaneous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Miscellaneous<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-373cd54 premium-bullet-list-content-grow-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-drawable-icon\"><i class=\"premium-svg-nodraw fas fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Liveaboard cruises?\"> Liveaboard cruises? <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Liveaboard cruises?\" href=\"#liveaboard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Liveaboard cruises?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5131a13e elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-bottom elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5131a13e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c25ab47\" data-id=\"c25ab47\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a62106 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8a62106\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c70465f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c70465f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee4d0e3\" data-id=\"ee4d0e3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2db9c02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2db9c02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f9fee3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f9fee3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70bab83\" data-id=\"70bab83\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f09d76 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6f09d76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32465f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"32465f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"ice\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ice Diving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fa1467 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2fa1467\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Around February, ice floats from the Sea of Okhotsk start heading down towards <strong>Hokkaid\u014d\u2019s<\/strong> <strong>Shiretoko Peninsula <\/strong>(Hokkaid\u014d Pref.), where it is possible for divers comfortable with drysuit diving to brave the cold and dive under these floating blocks of ice, usually between <strong>February to March<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3a4906f\" data-id=\"3a4906f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0175cf6\" data-id=\"0175cf6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-338f77c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"338f77c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60c3067 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"60c3067\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"kelp\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Kelp Forests<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b9b95e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b9b95e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is possible to dive <strong>kelp-forest<\/strong> environments in Japan, mainly in Hokkaid\u014d (<strong>Shiretoko\u2019s Rausu<\/strong>, or <strong>Hakodate\u2019s Usujiri<\/strong> <strong>sites<\/strong>, for instance), and also, around T\u014dhoku\u2019s <strong>Sado island<\/strong> (Niigata Pref.). in the spring months, usually from <strong>April to June.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f7bb08\" data-id=\"6f7bb08\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ae3c39 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ae3c39\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9f11c4b\" data-id=\"9f11c4b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3968b95 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3968b95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-214bf59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"214bf59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"wreck\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Wreck Diving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef69352 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ef69352\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-28b50bd\" data-id=\"28b50bd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e2f23d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1e2f23d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANT\u014c <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dab2fe3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dab2fe3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Chichi-jima area in the <strong>Ogasawara\/Bonin Islands<\/strong> offers <strong>numerous<\/strong> <strong>WWII wrecks<\/strong>, including the <strong>Daibi-Maru<\/strong> (sometimes recorded as <em>Daimi-Maru<\/em>), lying at 33 m depth in Chichi-jima harbour.<br \/><br \/>These wrecks are not all easily accessible, and some require special equipment and adequate training, or permits, so do your research.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-99c071b\" data-id=\"99c071b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4dd7800 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4dd7800\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aBU <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-083fc3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"083fc3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is possible to dive a <strong>120m cargo vessel<\/strong> lying broken in two pieces at around 30m in <strong>Atami <\/strong>(Shizuoka Pref), which acts as an artificial reef and attracts plenty of marine life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-972694d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"972694d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANSAI<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e89b8fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e89b8fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is possible to dive an purposedly sunk, largely intact <strong>30m long tugboat<\/strong>, lying at 18m in Shirahama\u2019s <strong>Edose<\/strong> area.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d068b07\" data-id=\"d068b07\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3ecd62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e3ecd62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aGOKU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3fc358 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3fc358\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Hashira-jima<\/strong>, an island in the southern Hiroshima Bay, on the Seto Inland Sea, offers the chance to dive on a <strong>sunken battleship of the Japanese Navy, the<\/strong> <strong>Mutsu,<\/strong> a 224 metres long and 34 metres wide wreck sitting at a depth of 40 to 10 metres. <br \/>The Mutsu sank in June 1943, after one of her aft magazines accidentally detonated while she was at anchor.<br \/><strong><br \/>Futaoi Island<\/strong>, also in Yamaguchi Prefecture, offers the chance to dive two purposely sunk wrecks, the <strong>Myoko Maru<\/strong> sitting at 24m, and the <strong>Rokuren Maru<\/strong> at 27m, which serve as healthy artificial reefs for the Kannon Strait\u2019s marine life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e0f2f55 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e0f2f55\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-19bba49\" data-id=\"19bba49\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-012c9c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"012c9c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KY\u016aSH\u016a<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05bc9e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05bc9e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There is the option to do some<strong> wreck diving<\/strong> at multiple sites in the Ky\u016bsh\u016b areas, including the <strong>Got\u014d islands <\/strong>(Nagasaki Pref.), which feature a 100m long shipwreck in the Shimogoto area, said to be one of the the largest in Japan.<\/p><p>Other sites, especially in the <strong>Satsunan islands<\/strong> offer great shipwrecks or sunken WW2 airplanes.<br \/><strong>Yakushima island <\/strong>(Kagoshima Pref.) has a famous sunken <strong>Mitsubishi A6M Zero<\/strong> fighter plane for divers to explore at 20m (<strong>Zero-sen<\/strong><strong> point, Isso<\/strong>).<\/p><p><strong>Karatsu<\/strong>, in Saga Prefecture, is famous for its sometimes violent weather and currents, which led to many shipwrecks in the past. <br \/>Local cargo was mainly porcelain and chinaware, remainder of which are sometimes found on local dive sites.<strong><br \/><\/strong><br \/><strong>Yoron island<\/strong> also has an purposely sunk wreck, lying at just over 30 m depth, often visited by schools of tuna and trevallies, along with a (slightly kitsch) Greek-style man-made structure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-21df0f4\" data-id=\"21df0f4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-dd86b5b\" data-id=\"dd86b5b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d34bfa8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d34bfa8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OKINAWA\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8392444 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8392444\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Okinawa region was the stage of <strong>fierce battles<\/strong> at the end of WWII, and there are many wrecks lying in its waters.<br \/>These wrecks are not all easily accessible, and some require special equipment and adequate training, and sometimes permits, so do your research in advance.<\/p><p>One of the most famous of these wrecks is the <strong>USS Emmons<\/strong>, <strong>resting close to coast of Okinawa\u2019s Ko-uri island<\/strong> (also famous for its heart-shaped rocks\u2026), roughly between 36 and 45 metres below the surface. <br \/>This 106 m long vessel was hit by five<em> kamikaze <\/em>(<em>tokk\u014dtai<\/em>) suicide attack planes, and was deliberately sunk by the United-Statian crew, after heavy damage and loss of life.<\/p><p>Because of its depth, the USS Emmons wreck is an <strong>advanced dive<\/strong>, which ideally requires special training and experience (more than 50 deep dives) to be dived to the max recreational depth of 40m, and extra equipment to be explored efficiently beyond. <br \/>The USS Emmons wreck is also commemoratively dived by Japanese and American divers on the yearly anniversary of its sinking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf9651d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf9651d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c89959a\" data-id=\"c89959a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21879b6 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"21879b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ff6447 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3ff6447\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"uw\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Remarkable Underwater Topography<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e91ee01 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e91ee01\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c890ca\" data-id=\"6c890ca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-913d113 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"913d113\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HOKKAID\u014c <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2699ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f2699ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Hokkaid\u014d also offers possibilities to dive <strong>kelp-forest<\/strong> environments (in Shiretoko\u2019s Rausu, or Hakodate\u2019s Usujiri sites, for instance) and interesting <strong>caverns\/caves<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-304ca9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"304ca9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3edfa3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3edfa3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANSAI<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a729293 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a729293\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Kansai region\u2019s topographical highlights include the <strong>Black Tunnel,<\/strong> an arch between two large rock formations, starting at 32 metres, also in <strong>Kushimoto<\/strong> (Advanced Open Water or equivalent certification \/ deep training required).<\/p><p>In Hy\u014dgo Prefecture, the <strong>Takeno<\/strong> dive site offers the chance to dive a <strong>25m wide and 15m high cave, with a 40m tunnel<\/strong>, that is only 5m wide at a point.<\/p><p><strong>In <\/strong><strong>Owase<\/strong> (Mie Pref.), a site called <strong>Gyosho<\/strong> consists of an <strong>artificial reef<\/strong> made concrete blocks placed on the sandy bottom. It&#8217;s become one of the most popular dive sites in the area, since the blocks attract a lot of life, and including seasonal migratory fish, local reef fish and macro critters.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-190af6b\" data-id=\"190af6b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65e1181 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65e1181\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aGOKU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a51547c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a51547c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>Oki islands<\/strong> are the remnants of an ancient volcano\u2019s caldera, and offer really interesting topography, including Japan\u2019s highest sea cliffs on land as well as underwater <strong>rocky pinnacles, arches <\/strong>and<strong> caves<\/strong>, and also leafy green seaweed bottoms, that offer shelter to smaller marine life, including seahorses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-007f74b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"007f74b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KY\u016aSH\u016a<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68c1579 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68c1579\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Ky\u016bsh\u016b region offers <strong>great volcanic topography<\/strong>, notable around Kagoshima\u2019s famous active volcano island, <strong>Sakurajima<\/strong>, which also offers dynamic underwater features, including a drop-off to 200m+, made by lava flows from recent eruptions.<br \/><strong>Okinoshima<\/strong> (Fukuoka Pref.) along with many other Ky\u016bsh\u016b dive sites offer exciting volcanic terrain underwater. <br \/>Kagoshima\u2019s <strong>Bonotsu<\/strong> area is said to offer the best visibility in Ky\u016bsh\u016b, with an average of 15m+, reaching 30m+ in the winter months.<br \/>Yoron Island, which has no rivers and is surrounded by very deep water, also generally offers great, 20 to 35m+ visibility and, along with dynamic volcanic terrain<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-451f710 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"451f710\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd8c165\" data-id=\"bd8c165\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2dd1c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f2dd1c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OKINAWA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1adba69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1adba69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The islands of the Okinawa region are primarily made of <strong>coral limestone<\/strong> or volcanic rock, and thus often present complex and interesting underwater topographical features.<br \/>Out of these,<strong> Miyako\u2019s group of 6 islands<\/strong> is very famous in Japan for its coral limestone-based underwater environment, where rain and seawater erosion gave birth to a multitude of <strong>caverns and caves<\/strong> (especially in Irabu and Shimoji islands), <strong>tunnels and swim-throughs, canyons, boulders and arches<\/strong>, which make for fun exploration dives.<\/p><p>Miyako\u2019s topographical highlights also the island\u2019s famous \u201c<strong><em>Blue Cave<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>, the <strong>\u201c<em>W-Arch<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>, the two-chambered <strong>\u201c<em>Ma\u014d No Ky\u016bden\u201d<\/em>,<\/strong> the \u201c<strong><em>Cross Hole<\/em><\/strong>\u201d, where light shines through cracks in the rocks. <br \/>Another famous site is \u201c<strong><em>Gakeshita<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>, where you can surface inside a large volcanic boulder, only to be surrounded by a misty vapour, formed by rising and falling water levels in this highly humid, closed-off environment. Equally famous is <strong>Tori-ike<\/strong> on Shimoji islands, two small ponds connected underwater, where you can experience the mysterious effects of <strong>chemoclines and thermoclines<\/strong> when swimming from one to the other.<\/p><p><strong>Okinawa Main Island<\/strong> also has a famous \u201c<strong><em>Blue Cave\u201d<\/em> at Cape Maeda<\/strong>, where incoming sunrays give the cave a distinct blue hue similar to Capri\u2019s Blue Grotto in Italy, and is also famous for the <strong>Manza <em>&#8220;Dreamhole<\/em><\/strong>&#8220;, which is a narrow vertical tunnel which you can follow towards the seabed, before turning 90 degrees and leading to the outside reef.<\/p><p><strong>Ishigaki\u2019s southern tip<\/strong> also hosts <strong>Japan\u2019s largest coral lagoon<\/strong>, the \u201c<strong><em>Sekisei Sh\u014dko\u201d<\/em><\/strong> with coral bommies, sandy bottoms and caves (picture <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sekiseisyouko.com\/szn\/entry\/lagoon1.html\">here<\/a>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4cfddeb\" data-id=\"4cfddeb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb89d8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bb89d8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"yonaguni\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE YONAGUNI MONUMENT \n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0932102 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0932102\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the Okinawa region,<strong> Yonaguni island\u2019s \u201cMonument\u201d or <em>Yonaguni Submarine Topography<\/em><\/strong><em>, <\/em>is made up of massive monolithic rock formations of very fine <strong>sandstones and mudstones, that look somewhat man-made<\/strong> and have been the subject of passionate pseudo-archaeological speculation since their discovery in 1986 by Mr. Aratake, founder of the local Sou-Wes dive centre.<br \/>Whatever the truth behind the formations might be, they surely make for a unique, atmospheric exploratory dive, which might trigger your imagination, especially after with a little nitrogen build-up!<\/p><p>The Monument is found in relatively shallow waters, the bottom of the main structure sitting at about 25 metres, while the top is roughly at 5 metres. <br \/>However the Monument is still an advanced dive site, as it is generally <strong>swept by strong currents<\/strong> all year around.<\/p><p><strong><br \/><\/strong>Beyond the monument (and schooling hammerheads!), <strong>Yonaguni island is also famous for its topography, with plenty of caverns<\/strong> (including the <strong><em>Cavern of Light<\/em>, \u201c<em>Hikari no Ky\u016bden\u201d<\/em><\/strong> site) and <strong>swim-throughs<\/strong> for divers to play around with, and excellent seasonal visibility<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-944de9f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"944de9f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad83c38\" data-id=\"ad83c38\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1175c0c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1175c0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42cd37c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"42cd37c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"coral\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Coral Reefs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-50336d6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"50336d6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae00114\" data-id=\"ae00114\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d25be3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0d25be3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANT\u014c  <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba02fe3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba02fe3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The islands of Kant\u014d\u2019s <strong>Nanp\u014d archipelago <\/strong>(Izu islands, Ogasawara\/Bonin islands) offer the chance to dive on <strong>healthy hard and soft coral reefs.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92f85af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92f85af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANSAI<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3432bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3432bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Kansai area offers the possibility to dive <strong>hard and soft coral reefs, with large sponges, anemones, and interesting topography<\/strong>.<br \/>Wakayama Prefecture\u2019s <strong>Kushimoto<\/strong> is famous for having <strong>one of the largest colonies of<\/strong> <strong>hard coral tables<\/strong> (<em>Acroporidae<\/em>) in Japan.<\/p><p>Many sites also offer <strong>beautiful soft coral colonies<\/strong>, such as <em>Alcyonaceas<\/em>, notably in <strong>Wakayama <\/strong>and<strong> Mie Prefectures<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Still in Wakayama Prefecture, Tanabe is well known for its deep-water<strong> colonies of bright yellow anemones<\/strong>, the <em>Halcurias levis Uchida.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-be6f375\" data-id=\"be6f375\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12029d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12029d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aGOKU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7d5e5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e7d5e5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is possible to see colonies of <strong><em>Alveopora japonica<\/em><\/strong> <strong>coral,<\/strong> a small zooxanthellate scleractinian coral species that occurs in shallow, non-reef habitats, in the area particularly in the <strong>Su\u014d-\u014cshima island chain<\/strong> on the Seto Inland Sea, (Yamaguchi Prefecture). <br \/>This coral is both <strong>endangered and rare<\/strong>, and only found in the north-western Pacific area including Taiwan, Korea\u2019s Jeju Island and parts of Japan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1acbb05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1acbb05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SHIKOKU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff2560f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff2560f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The islands of<strong> Uguru (Ugu)<\/strong>, located 23 kilometers off the town of Sukumo, or <strong>Kashiwa <\/strong>are famous for their coral colonies, which are protected by the local government.<br \/>Sites like Tokushima Prefecture\u2019s <strong>Mugi <\/strong>or<strong> Shishikuisho<\/strong> are famous for their colonies of <strong>hard and soft coral<\/strong>, including the Mugi\u2019s \u201c<em>One Thousand years coral<\/em>\u201d (<em>Porites lutea<\/em> ), an impressive colony which now reaches a height of over 9 metres.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b66dfb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b66dfb4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5038731\" data-id=\"5038731\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f59119a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f59119a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KY\u016aSH\u016a<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3052439 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3052439\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For adventurous <strong>coral enthusiasts<\/strong>, Ky\u016bsh\u016b\u2019s <strong>Tsushima<\/strong> island (Nagasaki Pref.), between the main islands of Japan and Korea in the Korea strait, is said to host the <strong>world\u2019s most northern, cold water shallow coral reef in the world<\/strong>, made up of coral species discover in summer 1992. <br \/><br \/>The water there is generally cold, and diving activities have only just picked up, just like on the neighbouring island of <strong>Iki <\/strong>(Nagasaki Pref.), which also harbours such coral, along with good macro life and large schools of fish.<\/p><p>Coral-wise, the subtropical waters of Miyazaki Prefecture\u2019s <strong>Nichinan<\/strong> is also famous for the beauty of its soft coral reefs, whereas the <strong>Nobeoka<\/strong> area is said to have <strong>one of Japan\u2019s largest stony coral reef<\/strong> (<em>Dendrophylliidae Gray)<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e99f859\" data-id=\"e99f859\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dc2d90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dc2d90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OKINAWA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70f94a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70f94a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Okinawa region is famous for its healthy <strong>hard coral reefs<\/strong> full of life \u2013 especially in the <strong>Kerama <\/strong>(Zamami\u2019s Chishi dive site for instance) or the Yaeyama islands. <strong>Miyako island<\/strong> is also famous for its <strong>staghorn and table coral<\/strong> (with over 100 reefs) and <strong>gorgonian seafans<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The islands of the <strong>central Okinawa<\/strong> area also have beautiful <strong>soft coral colonies and gorgonians<\/strong>, such as the Unanzaki area in the Kerama islands, or Sunabe Seawall on Okinawa Main Island, or the Ohama Sango site on the Chibishi Islands, just a 10 minute boat ride away from the main island, famous for its colonies of <em>Porites lutea <\/em>stony coral, where 10 metre wide bommies reach a height of up to 8 metres.<\/p><p><strong>Ishigaki\u2019s southern tip<\/strong> also hosts <strong>Japan\u2019s largest coral lagoon<\/strong>, the \u201c<strong><em>Sekisei Sh\u014dko\u201d<\/em><\/strong> with coral bommies, sandy bottoms and caves (picture <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sekiseisyouko.com\/szn\/entry\/lagoon1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/strong>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d48c4d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d48c4d2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ecc3d05\" data-id=\"ecc3d05\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc06ed7 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"fc06ed7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e54a02b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e54a02b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"bluewater\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Blue Waters and Excellent Visibility <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4aad908 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4aad908\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Diving areas famous in Japan for their <strong>blue waters and excellent seasonal visibility <\/strong>include:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-24e7248 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24e7248\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a1449af\" data-id=\"a1449af\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c09b74 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4c09b74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18c2dbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18c2dbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Hokkaid\u014d\u2019s <strong><em>Shakotan Blue<\/em><\/strong> [Shakotan Penincula, Hokkaid\u014d Prefecture]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9defca3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9defca3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8e794d elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d8e794d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f140a4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f140a4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Western Izu Peninsula\u2019s <strong><em>Ita Blue<\/em><\/strong> [Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f00a647\" data-id=\"f00a647\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3841bf elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a3841bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ca6959 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ca6959\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Nanp\u014d archipelago\u2019s <em><strong>Hachij\u014d Blue<\/strong><\/em> [Izu islands, T\u014dky\u014d Metropolis] or the <em><strong>Bonin Blue<\/strong><\/em> of the Ogasawara islands [Ogasawara islands, T\u014dky\u014d Metropolis]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3c4799 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e3c4799\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c4f29e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0c4f29e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f63c8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f63c8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The central Sea of Japan\u2019s <strong><em>Echizen Blue <\/em><\/strong>[Fukui Prefecture]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd5f398\" data-id=\"cd5f398\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00a7b2a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"00a7b2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-436d324 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"436d324\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Wakayama\u2019s <strong><em>Susami Blue<\/em><\/strong> [Susami Bay, Wakayama Prefecture]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-862d34f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"862d34f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7bdfba elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a7bdfba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c899288 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c899288\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Okinawa\u2019s <em><strong>Kerama Blue <\/strong><\/em>[Kerama islands, Okinawa Prefecture] <em>or <strong>Hateruma Blue<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 [Yaeyama islands, Okinawa Prefecture]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-610345d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"610345d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-cacab58\" data-id=\"cacab58\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fccd1e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0fccd1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75582a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75582a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In <strong>Shikoku, Uguru (Ugu) Island<\/strong>, located 23 kilometers off the town of Sukumo, or <strong>Kashiwa Island<\/strong> on the coast of south-western Shikoku offer<strong> amazing underwater visibility <\/strong>in season, which is said to be up to 50m on a good day, probably the best salt-water visibility in the country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-45678ce\" data-id=\"45678ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-baa97be elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"baa97be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07a7ff9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"07a7ff9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>Okinawa <\/strong>region is also generally famous for offering <strong>excellent seasonal visibility and<\/strong> <strong>clear blue waters<\/strong>, especially the Kerama Islands (Aka, Tokashiki and Zamami), famous for their <strong><em>Kerama Blue<\/em><\/strong> seas, or in the Yaeyama islands, especially Hateruma Island and its renowned year-round <strong><em>Hateruma Blue<\/em><\/strong><em>.<br \/><br \/><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc29be9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"dc29be9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-064aa03 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"064aa03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c0ace9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c0ace9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Endless Freshwater Visibility <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f1d164 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f1d164\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">LAKE DIVING<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11e64d1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11e64d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Hokkaid\u014d\u2019s <strong>Lake Shikotsu<\/strong> (Hokkaid\u014d Pref.) a caldera lake, is reputed to offer the clearest fresh water in Japan, with 25m+ as an average minimum, to near endless visibility.The lake does not freeze over in winter and can be dived all year round.<\/p><p>In Honsh\u016b\u2019s Ch\u016bbu region, it is possibile to do some altitude freshwater diving in <strong>Lake Motosu<\/strong>, the westernmost of the Fuji Five Lakes, located in southern Yamanashi Prefecture, at an altitude of 900 metres.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36c9eb1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36c9eb1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66213be\" data-id=\"66213be\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69e3933 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"69e3933\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b672092 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b672092\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"drift\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Drift Dives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-230a90d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"230a90d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aBU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1565c92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1565c92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Mikomoto Island\u2019s <\/strong>hammerhead dives are primarily drift dives in strong current.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-deeaef4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"deeaef4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KY\u016aSH\u016a<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cd3263 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cd3263\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Good drift diving options are found Kagoshima\u2019s <strong>Tanegashima<\/strong> Island, and in other areas in the <strong>Satsunan islands<\/strong> (especially around the Amami, <span class=\"aCOpRe\">\u014csumi <\/span> and Tokara islands)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c61aed2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c61aed2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OKINAWA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c2488d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c2488d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Okinawa region offers solid<strong> drift dives<\/strong> options, especially at current swept site like <strong>Yonaguni, Miyako <\/strong>and<strong> Kume<\/strong> islands, or in some sites of the <strong>Kerama<\/strong> islands, where you\u2019ll have chances of seeing bigger pelagics and predatory action.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-392efbb\" data-id=\"392efbb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b83529\" data-id=\"4b83529\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dca263 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6dca263\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b2bae8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b2bae8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"tec\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Technical Diving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e072b33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e072b33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CH\u016aBU<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ebaad1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ebaad1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This will most likely change in the future, but in most cases, unless one is already the member of some community,<strong> local support for technical diving<\/strong> is <strong>mosly non-existent<\/strong> in Japan.<br \/>There is, however, one major exception, near the <strong>deep water sites of Osezaki<\/strong> (Shizuoka Pref., Ch\u016bbu region, Honsh\u016b island). <br \/>In the Osezaki area, structures like Divezone are more supportive towards technical divers, and offers, on advance special booking, a larger range of onsite gas-filling options\u00a0 (nitrox, trimix, oxygen&#8230;), along with rental of doubles, and Sofnolime for rebreather divers, as well as aluminium tanks, handy for sidemount configurations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ed3855c\" data-id=\"ed3855c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e89b92 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e89b92\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0097967\" data-id=\"0097967\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f8283e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5f8283e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a039255 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a039255\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"rehabilitation\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Underwater Rehabilitation Efforts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ff48c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"28ff48c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">T\u014cHOKU'S PACIFIC COAST<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cba8db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cba8db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>T\u014dhoku<\/strong>\u2019s marine ecosystem has always been one of the primary resources of the area, which was severely hit by the <strong>earthquake and tsunami<\/strong> that struck Japan\u2019s Pacific coast on March 11, 2011.<\/p><p>Ever since disaster struck, dedicated <strong>volunteer divers <\/strong>have been in the water to recover and remove debris, and also to rehabilitate the local environment (recycling tsunamis debris into physical structures to provide shelter for marine life such as abalone and scallops and also restart edible kelp cultivation (<em>konbu<\/em>).<\/p><p>You can read more about the activities of the <strong>Sanriku Volunteer Divers<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.divereport.com\/news\/the-diving-in-japan-series-part-3-diving-for-debris-tohoku-s-underwater-recovery-efforts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-335c541 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"335c541\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ef4bc4b\" data-id=\"ef4bc4b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3a41e1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b3a41e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65e0f3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65e0f3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"uwaurora\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">An Underwater Aurora Borealis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-bde6b33 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bde6b33\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f33677\" data-id=\"5f33677\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b1f8ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4b1f8ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KY\u016aSH\u016a (Satsunan Islands)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a39952c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a39952c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Bioluminescent algae form an<\/strong> \u201c<strong>underwater aurora borealis<\/strong>\u201d, which is visible in season near <strong>I\u014djima<\/strong> in Ky\u016bsh\u016b\u2019s Satsunan islands (Kagoshima Pref.).<br \/>This unique underwater phenomenon, which delights photographers, is best viewed in autumn, when the visibility is good and a powerful Kuroshio warm current brings the right nutrients and conditions<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ededf7\" data-id=\"2ededf7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-968c919 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"968c919\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8149420\" data-id=\"8149420\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-218d009 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"218d009\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ecd0a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ecd0a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"miscellaneous\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Miscellaneous<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f52dd4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f52dd4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d980a92\" data-id=\"d980a92\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-392b085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"392b085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANT\u014c  <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf292f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cf292f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Underwater hot springs<br \/><\/strong>It is possible to dive at an <strong>underwater hot-spring at Shikine<\/strong> island (in the Izu Islands, 3-hour boat ride from T\u014dky\u014d), which is also sometimes visited by turtles.<br \/>Another underwater hot spring can be found at <strong>Hokkawa,<\/strong> in Shizuoka prefecture<\/p><p><strong>Underwater <span class=\"ILfuVd\"><span class=\"hgKElc\">Shint\u014d<\/span><\/span> shrine<\/strong><br \/>There is an <strong>underwater shrine<\/strong>, said to be the only one in the world, at the <strong>Hasama Underwater Garden<\/strong> (Tateyama, Chiba Pref.)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1c0dc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1c0dc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OKINAWA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c41e096 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c41e096\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Underwater mail box<\/strong><br \/>An <strong>underwater mail box<\/strong> was setup in April 2016 on Okinawa main island\u2019s <em>5 Sunabe No.1 <\/em>dive site, in the Chatan area.<br \/>As elsewhere, divers can buy water-resistant postcards, write messages on them with an oil-based paint marker and post them in a postbox situated underwater. <br \/>The letters are collected from the postbox every few days, taken to the local post office.<\/p><p><strong>Underwater hot springs<br \/>Taketomi\u00a0<\/strong>island, in the Yaeyama island group, has a dive site with an underwater hot spring.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-edabae0\" data-id=\"edabae0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8cff123\" data-id=\"8cff123\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aaec0f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aaec0f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">KANSAI<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60da4e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"60da4e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>Ama<\/em><\/strong><strong> freedivers<br \/>Mikimoto Pearl Island<\/strong> (not to be confused with Ch\u016bbu\u2019s <em>Mikomoto<\/em>), in Mie Prefecture, is one of the first places where pearl aquaculture was developed, and offers the chance to see Ama professional female freedivers at work, and visit a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.japantravel.com\/mie\/osatsu-ama-san-woman-diver-museum\/377\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dedicated museum<\/a><\/p><p><em>Ama<\/em> freedivers used to be found almost everywhere in Japan, but now the main place to see the Ama freedivers still at work is the <strong>Toba \/ Ise-shima<\/strong> area, also in Mie Prefecture.<br \/>It is even possible to organise a freediving session with the divers. <br \/>More on the <em>ama <\/em><strong>here.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Underwater mail box<br \/><\/strong>An <strong>underwater mail box<\/strong> was also setup in in Wakayama Prefecture\u2019s <strong>Susami Bay<\/strong>.<br \/>There as well, divers can buy water-resistant postcards from a local store, write messages on them with an oil-based paint marker and post them underwater in the red postbox. <br \/>A shop employee collects the postcards every few days, and takes them to the local post office to be mailed\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6c8f34d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6c8f34d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3745608\" data-id=\"3745608\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-542b728 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"542b728\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ce5058 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5ce5058\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"liveaboard\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Liveaboard cruises in Japan?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf0bf5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cf0bf5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">NANSEI ISLANDS (Ky\u016bsh\u016b\/Okinawa)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c327fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c327fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Liveaboard diving is certainly not common in Japan, however there seems to be some movement around the Nansei Islands, with cruises offered around closely connected island groups in Okinawa (Kerama and Okinawa Main island, Yaeyama Islands) and also around southern Ky\u016bsh\u016b\u2019s Satsunan Islands.<\/p><p>A few dive cruises have been organised around the Nansei on Japan&#8217;s one and only tall ship, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miraie.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miraie, <\/a>which is now in partnership with major diving agent <a href=\"https:\/\/bluejapan.org\/culture\/japanese-style\/fr\/diving-circuit\/#booking-agents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">STW \/ Divenavi.<\/a> A recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/divenavi\/posts\/4028393293895286?__cft__[0]=AZWcLT6-yolUgYdGHLrg5luXaVnFiPAXTN9JFw-krJTRlxXZSWKfSuJvRATpSJ_bzKZ233yseIV8knezHrudkqZuRjFin2QrAvfQjDPk_xbokzbm3lYmYDCokilwt99g7W3VAFRJY5GlJr6LsUGewpiOajLzqut0_pSkuvLRTGfbhg&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exploratory diving cruise<\/a> on the Miraie focused on the Yaeyama islands, for instance.<\/p><p>One operator <a href=\"https:\/\/stingraycruise.com\/discoverycruise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stingray Cruises,<\/a> are organising boat trips and short liveaboard cruises around northern Ky\u016bsh\u016b&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Genkai_Sea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Genkai Sea<\/a> and Saikai area (islands of Okinoshima, Iki islands, and Got\u014d islands), as well as south Ky\u016bsh\u016b&#8217;s Satsunan Islands.<\/p><p>Their Satsunan Island operations, <a href=\"https:\/\/tokara-dive.jp\/2019sche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tokara Discovery Cruises,<\/a> offer 3, 4, 5 and 7 night exploratory cruises around the Tokara islands \/ Satsunan archipelago area, but for logistical reasons, this is probably still off-the-map for non-Japanese speakers.<\/p><p>This are semi-private cruises organised around Okinawan islands, aimed at select photographers and videographers and more.<br \/>Similarly, these cruises might be difficult for non-Japanese speakers to join at the moment, for practical reasons.<\/p><p>This trend may be under the influence of the current (2021) Covid-19 related restrictions on international travel, or might actually represent an interesting development for the future of the Japanese diving industry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f9ae76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6f9ae76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HONSH\u016a <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-149d30e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"149d30e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Over the past few years, a few dive cruises have been organised around Honsh\u016b on Japan&#8217;s one and only tall ship, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miraie.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miraie<\/a><br \/>This 2 night cruise combined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.divenavi.com\/feature\/miraihe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Osezaki and Mikomoto, <\/a>while this particular dive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/miraiesailing\/posts\/1271685852991251\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cruise focused on Uji Island<\/a> on the Seto Inner Sea.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":8063,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":null,"ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":null,"ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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