What is the best time to dive Amami-Ōshima?

The best months to dive Amami-Ōshima in Japan are May, June, July, August, September, October. Water temperatures range from 20°C to 29°C during peak season.

How deep is Amami-Ōshima?

Amami-Ōshima reaches a maximum depth of 35 m, with visibility ranging from 15–35 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Amami-Ōshima?

Amami-Ōshima is known for encounters with humpback whale, green turtle, sea snake, nudibranch, pygmy seahorse, anemonefish. The site features reef, macro, cave, drift diving across 40 named sites, with a marine life score of 72/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Amami-Ōshima good for beginners?

Amami-Ōshima is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be mild and depths reach 35 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Amami-Ōshima?

A 2-tank dive at Amami-Ōshima averages around $100 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Amami-Ōshima Diving — Score: 70.7/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Beginner Friendly

Amami-Ōshima

JapanPacific Ocean

70.7

SCORE

28.3850°N

129.4914°E

Amami-Ōshima is a UNESCO-listed subtropical island between Kyushu and Okinawa, where dense mangrove forests meet crystal reefs in a rarely dived setting. Humpback whales calve in the surrounding waters from January to March, while the reefs host a unique blend of temperate and tropical species. It remains under the radar for international divers, offering an authentic Japanese island experience.

Subtropical Mangrove Meets Open Ocean

Visibility15–35 m

Temperature20–29°C

Max Depth35 m

Currentmild

2-Tank Dive$100

Best MonthsMay, June, July, August

CertificationOpen WaterBeginner Friendly

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

72.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

72.0

Coral & reef health

72.0

Visibility & conditions

72.0

Dive site variety

68.0

Water temperature

75.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

72.0

Topside experience

75.0

Getting there

65.0

Value & cost

72.0

Crowding

85.0

Social proof

58.0

Key species

humpback whale green turtle sea snake nudibranch pygmy seahorse anemonefish

Dive types

reefmacrocavedrift

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

mangrove kayakingAmami rabbit night toursbeach hoppingbrown sugar shochu tasting

Nearby cultural sites

Oshima Tsumugi textile museum
Tanaka Isson art museum

Non-diver score

7/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifebasic

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber350 km — Kagoshima University Hospital Hyperbaric Unit

Nearest Hospital10 km

Amami has a regional hospital; hyperbaric chamber requires air evacuation to Kagoshima — dive conservatively

Skill LevelBeginner Friendly

Current Strengthmild

Top operators

Dive Species Amami

PADI

4.7

110 reviews

Native Sea Amami

SSI

4.6

75 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Amami-Ōshima in Japan scores 70.7/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 15–35m visibility and 20–29°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$100 USD. Peak season: May, June, July.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Newly certified divers building confidence
+ Macro photographers hunting critters
+ Experienced drift divers comfortable in current

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Amami-Ōshima over similar Pacific Ocean destinations when crowding matters more than social proof

How Amami-Ōshima compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Amami-Ōshima	70.7	15–35m	$100	reef, macro
Kerama Islands	73.8	20–50m	$110	reef, wall
Julian Rocks	69.3	8–25m	$130	reef, pelagic
Molokini Crater	69.2	20–50m	$160	wall, reef
Ogasawara (Bonin Islands)	69.0	25–50m	$140	pelagic, wall

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

55+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Cavern Diver minimum. Full Cave certification for anything past the daylight zone.

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 35 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Cooler than most tropical sites — 20°C minimum. A 5 mm wetsuit is the floor for longer dives.
→Overhead environment. Standard recreational training does not cover you past the entrance. People die here doing what they'd do on an open reef.
→Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~350 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 9°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
peak
Current
mild
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Feb	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Mar	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Apr	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
May	30–35	29	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jun	30–35	29	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jul	30–35	29	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Aug	30–35	29	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Sep	30–35	29	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Oct	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Nov	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Dec	15–25	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects74

Wide angle64

Viz stability68

Hover friendliness100

Natural light7

Recommended kit

→Macro lens (60mm or 105mm), focus light, dual strobes positioned for fill
→Two independent light sources minimum; video lights beat strobes in caverns

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.
Buoyancy precision
intermediate
Macro subjects demand millimeter-level hover control.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,950–$2,850

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $720–$880
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $90–$100
Food / day: $25–$50
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Mid-range

$3,150–$4,850

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $100–$130
Food / day: $55–$100
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Splurge

$5,400–$8,650

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $130–$170
Food / day: $110–$220
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Amami-Ōshima Diving — Japan

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Nearby cultural sites

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

Dive Species Amami

Native Sea Amami

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How Amami-Ōshima compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

Buoyancy precision

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it