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The Galapagos of the Orient! Diving Experience in the Nature of Iriomote Island
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Diving in Iriomote Island, a registered World Heritage site!
Iriomote Island is located further southwest than Okinawa Prefecture. Iriomote Island, where many popular sightseeing spots such as Nakama River and Pinaisara Falls are concentrated, is also popular for activities such as canoeing, trekking, and diving. This time, we will focus on "diving" which is very popular in Iriomote Island.
There are two main types of diving
Diving tour" is a very popular activity in Iriomote Island travel, where you can enjoy the fantastic underwater walk in the Yaeyama Islands as much as you want. What kinds of diving are there in Iriomote Island? There must be many people who wonder "What kind of diving is available in Iriomote Island? Here, we will introduce two kinds of typical diving tours in Iriomote Island.
Beginners can also do it! Experience Diving
First of all, we would like to introduce "experience diving," in which even those who do not have a license can participate easily. Experience diving is recommended for beginners because all the equipment used for diving is included and a guide is available. Before diving, you will be given an explanation of the equipment and a lecture on how to dive, followed by a walk underwater, so you can enjoy diving safely. During the experience diving, you can walk underwater at a depth of approximately 5 to 8 meters. The upper age limit for this experience is approximately 60 to 65 years old, but most tours are basically open to all healthy adults.
Fun diving for license holders only
The next tour is called "Fun Diving. Fun diving tours are open to licensed divers. Please note that those who do not have a diving license cannot participate. This tour is a diving activity that allows you to dive deeper than experience diving and to move freely.
On this tour, you can dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters. You may discover something new by diving into the deep sea and enjoying an underwater walk. By the way, this license acquisition cannot be done in a day trip. It takes at least one and a half to four days, so please keep this in mind if you are thinking of getting a license.
How old do you have to be to dive in Iriomotejima Island?
The age range for participation in diving tours in Okinawa Prefecture and the Yaeyama Islands differs depending on the tour company. For most experience diving and fun diving tours, most companies stipulate that the minimum age for children to participate is 10 years old. Also, among tour companies that operate experience diving, some companies offer experience diving in calm shallow water. In some cases, the minimum age for shallow water diving is 8 years old, so families wishing to dive with their children need to make sure that their children are old enough to participate. Many tour companies have a maximum age limit of 60 to 65 years old, but any adult in good health can participate in the tour. However, those in poor health, those with pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or those undergoing treatment for any illness may not be allowed to dive.
Climate of Iriomote Island
Iriomote Island, which belongs to the Yaeyama Islands, has a subtropical oceanic climate. The climate is characterized by warm winters and hot and humid summers. Another feature of this climate is that there is a lot of precipitation in a year. Rainy season and typhoon season are particularly heavy precipitation periods, so it is a good idea to carry rain gear when traveling in case of sudden rain. Squalls can also occur suddenly, so bringing rain gear is a must. The sun is also strong throughout the year, so it is important to prepare in advance by applying sunscreen beforehand.
Best season for diving in Iriomote Island
Iriomote Island has a mild climate with little difference in temperature throughout the year. Even in the winter season, the water temperature never drops below 20 degrees Celsius, so diving and other activities are possible, but it is also the season when the monsoon and other factors tend to have an impact. The best time to dive is in July or August, when the sea conditions are most stable. This is the perfect time to take a diving excursion because the sea is calm. Diving tours during this season offer clear views of coral reefs and juvenile fish, such as the Japanese coral reef fish and the Japanese white croaker. In addition, the brightly lit underwater on a sunny day is breathtaking, creating a fantastic undersea world.
Iriomote Island Diving Spots
There are many diving spots in Iriomote Island. The diving spots in Iriomote Island can be roughly divided into two areas: one is the "north side area" including Barasu Island, and the other is the "south side area" including Kanokawa River. And there is also an area called Ogan in the southwest of Iriomote Island. Both areas are dotted with spots that can be enjoyed by both beginners and professionals. In addition, since various kinds of coral reefs are spread out in each diving spot, one of the best parts of diving is to be able to view the coral reefs.
This time, we will introduce three popular diving spots: Barasu Island from the northern area, Kanokawa and Nakanose from the southern area, and Ogan located about one hour away from Iriomote Island by boat.
Barras Island
Barras Island is said to be a miracle island. The reason for this is that it is an island that changes its appearance depending on the tide level, and is unusual in that the entire island is made up entirely of coral fragments. The island is famous for the large number of sea turtles that swim here, and the probability of encountering one when diving is high. When you encounter a sea turtle, you can have your picture taken with it.
greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
Ogan is known as a diving spot that divers long to visit. Located about 30 km southwest of Iriomote Island, it is also known as "Nakanomikami Island. This sea is located within the current of the Kuroshio Current, so it is known as a place where only experienced divers can dive due to its fast current. The waters of Ogan boast outstanding clarity compared to other dive sites. Here, you can see Isomaguro and Blackfin Barracuda, and if you are lucky, you may even encounter a whale shark. It is also said to have the largest variety of living creatures. The area is also dotted with spots where diving can be more enjoyable, such as the East Hidden Root, where you can see beautiful schools of fish, the Palace of Light, where a fantastic curtain of light appears, and Tenmasaki, located on the south side of the area, where you can enjoy a mysterious landscape.
Shikano River, Nakanose
The Kanokawa and Nakanose Rivers are known as spots with a high encounter rate with manta rays. In particular, the area called "Nakanose" is famous for its high encounter rate with manta ray courtship scenes from spring to summer. In the offshore area, you can also encounter rock cod, scorpionfish, and butterflyfish.
May be encountered in Iriomote Island diving! Rare Creatures
Iriomote Island is also called the Galapagos of the East. The sea of Iriomote Island is inhabited by many sea creatures. It is also known as the place with the largest number of inhabited sea creatures in Japan. I will introduce two kinds of sea creatures that can be encountered only by diving in Iriomote Island.
manta ray
Manta rays are known as a kind of ray. The total length of manta rays is approximately 2 to 3 meters, but some manta rays over 4 meters in length live in Iriomote Island. In Iriomote Island, we can see rare manta rays called black manta rays in addition to the common manta rays seen in the waters around the island.
The best time to see them is from fall to spring. During this time of year, you can see many manta rays swimming in schools, which is a powerful sight.
sea turtle
Iriomote Island is known as the best place to see sea turtles. Sea turtles, which are designated as an endangered species, are precious sea creatures that cannot be easily seen in Japan. It is said that three kinds of sea turtles inhabit in Iriomote Island. The three kinds of turtles that can be seen in Iriomote Island are green turtles known as the world's largest size turtles, loggerhead turtles named after their reddish brown shells, and finally taimai turtles with yellow or blackish brown shells and mosaic patterns. Tours are also available, including snorkeling tours where you can enjoy watching sea turtles.
Snorkeling is also popular on Iriomote Island!
Snorkeling tours are also popular because the waters of Iriomote Island boast outstanding transparency. One of the reasons for its popularity is that you can see mysterious underwater world, beautiful coral reefs, and tropical fishes. Here, we will introduce snorkeling spots in Iriomote Island that are perfect for snorkeling.
Snorkeling at Barras Island, the "Miracle Island
Barasu Island is also introduced as a recommended spot for diving tours. In fact, it is also known as a recommended snorkeling spot. Since many sea turtles live on Barasu Island, you can enjoy snorkeling while viewing them at the same time. Swimming while viewing one of the largest coral reefs in Japan is also one of the recommended activities.
Star sand snorkeling for small children!
Hoshisuna-no-hama is known as the most popular place for snorkeling experience in Iriomote Island. It is also known for its two famous islets. This beach is a star-shaped beach and home to more than 100 species of sea creatures. It is also a highly popular destination for families because of the high temperature of the seawater and the calm waters. In addition to snorkeling, one of the best things to do at this beach is to look for star sand. The star sand can be packed in small bottles and taken home as souvenirs.
summary
How was your visit? There are many other recommended spots in addition to the diving and snorkeling spots introduced here. In addition to manta rays and sea turtles, Iriomote Island also offers many other sea creatures to see through tours. The age limit for participation differs depending on the tour company, so be sure to check in advance if children or elderly people are going to participate in the tour. Why don't you enjoy the best sea activity in Iriomote Island where there are many living creatures and full of nature?
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