“W Arch”, north of Irabu Island is popular for the shape of the cave

When it comes to the number and variety of cave dive sites, there is no place like Miyako Islands. Miyako Islands consist of 6 islands including the main island, Miyako Island. These islands are entirely made of coral limestone. The limestone is easily eroded by seawater, rainwater, waves and currents, leading to the creation of various landforms. Therefore, there are many interesting cave dive sites around these islands, especially in Irabu Island and Shimoji Island. Divers dive in the north part during the summer and the south part in winter in order to avoid the wind.

As explained in the "Overview of the Islands of Okinawa", there are many diving attractions in Miyako Island. There is a big coral reef group of more than 100 coral reefs, Yabiji. During the low tides of the seasonal spring tides, this big coral reef appears above the surface of the ocean. In the past, it was a great fishing ground for the fishermen of Ikema Island who gave names to most of the coral reefs. After the British ship HMS Providence was stranded at Yabiji in 1797, some dive sites were named “Providence”. Because it is located off the north side, diving centers do not go there during the northern windy season.

The East Coast of Miyako Island is also attractive to divers. In the easternmost part of Agari-hennazaki, there are caves and coral diving spots. There are also drift dive sites where you can see schools of dogtooth tuna, jackfish, or double-lined fusilier. A little bit farther to the north, there is a big coral reef named “Tsufutsuwa-bishi”. It takes only 15 minutes to get there from Takano port which is located in the northeast of the island, and you can enjoy fish watching and beautiful corals there.

There are many cavern dive sites in the southern area of Miyako Island. When a diving instructor found an interesting cave in the south area and came up to the surface, he saw the monument of Ushi (which means cow in Japanese) on the island from the sea. Therefore, he named this spot “Ushi-san Tokude Konnichiwa (which means hello to a cow from a distance)’’. Afterwards many other cave dive sites were found near there, and then, the Ushi-san dive site series started. Those dive sites are popular for diving in the winter season.

1 Tori-ike

Skill level: from intermediate
Maximum depth: 40 m
Currents: sometimes strong
Distance: 15 min. from Irabu Island / 35 min. from Hirara port
This is a symbolic cave dive site in Miyako Islands. The two small ponds in Shimoji Island are connected underwater. The name “Tori-ike” comes from this (Ike means pond). Because of its depth (the entrance to the cave is about 24 m deep), you need to swim up and down between underwater and the surface and therefore, this site is only for experienced divers. At the entrance of the cave, you will see the mysterious chemocline and thermocline phenomena.

2 Antoni Gaudi

Skill level: from intermediate
Maximum depth: 33 m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 15 min. from Irabu port / 35 min. from Hirara port
As the name of the famous architect suggests, this is a cave site with a unique topography. There are many holes with beautiful natural art formations. The entrance is about 10 m deep and you have to enter head first to swim down to a depth of 20 m. You may see noble file clams, leaf fish, and purplemasked angelfish.

3 Nakano Island Channel

Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 22 m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 15 min. from Irabu port / 35 min. from Hirara port
The two main attractions of the southwest of Shimoji Island are its interesting topography and fish watching. In the reef on a sandy bottom, many crevasses look like channels or tunnels. While swimming through the channels, you will see many juvenile fish and nudibranches.

4 W Arch

Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 18 m
Currents: sometimes strong
Distance: 15 min. from Irabu port / 35 min. from Hirara port
This is one of the most popular caves located in the north side of Irabu Island.There are two holes in the reef, one big and the other small. Depending on the viewing angle, the shape of the smaller one looks like a heart. Inside the tunnel, there are schools of gold-lined sea bream, bigscale soldierfish and various kinds of shellfish.

5 Hanadai Arch

Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 33 m
Currents: sometimes strong
Distance: 60 min. from Hirara port
On the northwest side of Yabiji, you will see a huge number of scalefin fairy basslet on the wide coral reef slope. At 10 m deep, there is an arch long enough to swim through, and you can enjoy the crystal blue scene from inside of the arch. If you are lucky, you might see dogtooth tuna or bigeye jackfish.

6 Kijaka Paradise

Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 30 m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 50 min. from Hirara port / 10 min. from Ikema port
On a big slope covered with various kinds of coral reef, there are many kinds of fish such as stocky anthias, scalefin fairy basslet, peach fairy basslet. Inside the coral gardens, you can find nudibranchs and clownfish. Sometimes, napoleon fish or dogtooth tuna pass above the reef.

7 White City

Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 14 m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 60 min. from Hirara port / 15 min. from Ikema port
There are some corals on the beautiful white sand, and around some of them you will see schools of glassfish. This site is good for wide lens photography. If you look closer at the corals, there are good subjects for macro photography such as commensal shrimp, leaf fish, and whitecap goby.

“Cross Hole”, north side of Ikema Island & Shimoji Island

“Snake Hole”, north side of Ikema Island

“Marine Lake”, southwest of Shimoji Island

One of the most famous cave diving spot, Maou-no-kyuden ( “Satan’s Palace” )

Dive site named “Ebiten”, east side of Miyako Island

There are beautiful coral diving spots near the Kuruma Island too

Diving boats are conveniently designed

Sunayama beach is popular with local people, and only 10 or 15 minutes from Hirara

Because of the subtropical climate, there are many special products such as mangos, bananas, dragon fruits, sugar cane, etc. You will also find sweets made with these products. Also, there are many different makers of Awamori spirits and various marine products. A policeman doll named “Mamoru-kun’’ is a character unique to Miyako Island. You will see many souvenirs with a “Mamoru-kun’’ package. Shops are located in Hirara, around hotels, along the big road and at the airport.

The Awamori bottle of the funny character, “Mamoru-kun”