There are snorkeling activities available in many places in Okinawa, the most famous of which is probably the Blue Cave (English: Blue Cave, Japanese: Ao no Dongku). This time we took a half-day tour to see the beautiful Okinawa snorkeling.
Introduction to Okinawa Blue Cave
Okinawa Blue Cave is located at Cape Maeda in Onna Village and is the most popular snorkeling spot on Okinawa Island. This sea cave was formed by sea erosion. The water surface in the cave is illuminated by sunlight and reflected on the white sand on the seabed, producing a mysterious blue light, just like a light show of nature.
There are many kinds of tropical fish living near the Blue Cave, and the rich man saw many ear-banded butterfly fish, six-line damselfly fish, etc. The homework I did before setting off was that the recommended time for snorkeling is before noon, when the sunlight is the strongest and the blue light in the cave will be more obvious.
Snorkeling Introduction and Fees
This time I booked the Blue Hole snorkeling experience of Marine Club UMI from klook. I had to gather at the store by myself. The adult price was about NT$850. Children over 6 years old were charged the adult price; children under 6 years old were not allowed to participate.
Inclusive Of:
- Shuttle bus to and from the store and Blue Cave, with heating on board
- Diving equipment: mask, breathing tube, cold-proof diving suit, snorkeling shoes, fins, life jacket
- Free parking, warm water showers, changing rooms, free lockers, dressing area
- Entering the water from the shore: No need to take a boat, the instructor will lead you to slowly walk into the water from the shore. You don't have to worry about seasickness. Practice in an area where your feet can touch the ground. It is suitable for friends who are snorkeling for the first time.
The snorkeling equipment washing area outside the store.
On the other side is an outdoor shower area with hot water. There is also a toilet.
Snorkeling FAQ
Can the coach speak Chinese?
The coach this time was a Japanese guy who couldn't speak Chinese. He used simple English to explain the whole thing, so communication was not a problem. But there should be some stores that provide Chinese coaching services. Just pay attention when booking.
Do I need to be able to swim to go snorkeling?
The answer is no. Friends who can't swim can also participate in snorkeling with peace of mind. The coach will bring a lifebuoy, and you can go around as long as you keep holding on to it. It's no problem if you can't swim, and you will have a life jacket on your body, so you basically won't sink.
At what age can you go snorkeling?
According to regulations, only children aged 6 and above can participate in snorkeling. However, each store may have different regulations, so please read the regulations carefully before booking a trip.
What is the best time to snorkel in the Blue Cave?
The coach said it was low tide, probably around noon. So you can choose to go out around noon.
Which month is suitable for snorkeling in Okinawa?
The rich man participated in the Blue Hole snorkeling in April. April is the off-season for tourism in Okinawa, and the water temperature was about 20 degrees. The rich man felt that the water temperature was quite cold, but he had to take care of the rich man's wife and watch over the little rich man, so he forgot about the temperature. The little rich man was snorkeling with a snotty nose. The coach said that you can snorkel in Okinawa all year round, and as long as someone signs up, they will start a tour. It's really hard work. The rich man thinks that we should wait until June when the water temperature is higher (27 degrees) and it will be more suitable, but summer is the peak season for tourism and snorkeling in Okinawa, so there should be a lot of tourists going into the water at that time.
This time we participated in a snorkeling activity that started at 2:30 pm. When we arrived at Qingdong, there were only about 5 or 6 groups of people. The rich man felt that the number of people was quite small.
Snorkeling precautions
- The rocks on the shore are very slippery, so you have to be very careful. I saw a foreigner fall and his calves were covered in blood. You need to be very careful.
- Valuables: Although the store provides lockers, the keys to the locked lockers still need to be placed somewhere. The rich man hid the keys in his pile of clothes. For those who are really worried, it is recommended to bring a small waterproof bag and carry important items on your back.
- Try not to wear sunscreen, marine life doesn’t like it and will stay away from you (laughs).
- Stores usually have Go Pro You can rent it, and the rental fee this time is 3,000 yen. After snorkeling, the clerk will transfer the files to your mobile phone on the spot.
Preparation before snorkeling
The coach helped everyone find a snorkeling suit that suits them. Oh~ It’s really not easy to put on a complete set of snorkeling suits, because the snorkeling suits are really tight and a bit uncomfortable after putting them on. Children need to wear a 3-piece warm snorkeling suit including:
- One-piece snorkeling suit
- Cold vest
- Cold-proof headgear
After the little rich man put it on, it was so tight that he said he couldn’t breathe (laughs). Adults only have one-piece snorkeling suits. After putting on the most difficult snorkeling suit, life jackets, goggles, snorkeling shoes and fins are distributed. The equipment is ready and we are ready to go!
Let's get in the water
It takes about 5 minutes to drive from Marine Club UMI to the Blue Cave. The instructor has good driving skills and we arrived before we even had time to sit down. It’s safer to leave important items in the store, as the car isn’t locked (laughs).
This time the coach brought the rich man's family and another group of friends from South Korea. There were a total of 6 adults and 2 children in the group, which was just enough for a van. The coach has to be the driver as well, it's really hard work.
After getting off the car, the coach first briefly taught the basic snorkeling methods, precautions and operation of Go Pro, and then helped everyone clean the goggles to ensure visibility.
You need to walk down the stairs before entering the water. It is a bit slippery so be careful. Elderly people please hold the handrail.
As last timeBohol Island Hopping and SnorkelingIt’s different. You don’t need to take a small boat first. This time the snorkeling plan is to go into the water from the shore, which is a great blessing for friends who are afraid of seasickness. The yellow bag in the picture below is actually a life buoy with some of the coach’s belongings inside. There is a rope next to the life buoy. After everyone goes into the water, they pull the rope, and then the coach drags everyone towards the Blue Cave! That’s right! After entering the water, the snorkeling suit seemed to become looser (laughs), and my body felt more comfortable.
Walk slowly from the shore to the deep water area. You can see the seabed in the shallow water area. The water is very clear and there are some fish accompanying you along the way.
After paddling for about 5 minutes, we entered the deep water area. The number of fish increased significantly, and the coach asked us to stay here for 10 minutes.
There are a lot of them and they are so beautiful.
After about another 5 minutes of paddling, we arrived at the Blue Cave and took a photo of the entrance.
After entering the blue cave, you will see the dreamy Okinawa blue! The interior of the Blue Cave is quite small and can accommodate a small number of people. Fortunately, April is not the peak tourist season in Okinawa, so there is no need to queue. Everyone held onto the rock wall to admire this mysterious cave. The coach also prepared a net beauty light so that everyone could take good pictures. The coach took turns taking pictures for everyone and then left. He stayed for about 10 minutes.
On the way back, the coach dived to the bottom of the sea and caught a puffer fish for everyone to admire. It was so cute and round. The rich man felt that it felt very special and prickly to touch, and it felt unreal, like a plastic brush.
The snorkeling time this time was about 50 minutes, and the rich man felt that the time was just right because the water was a bit cold (laughs). After returning to the car, the coach quickly turned on the heater. Phew~ It was really a bit cold to snorkel in Okinawa in early April.
Okinawa Snorkeling Information
Official website:https://umi.okinawa.jp/
Meeting place: 2668-1 Yamada, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture, 904-0416
Tel: 098-989-7730
English 
繁體中文