🇯🇵 Japan

Japan offers a mix of temperate and subtropical scuba diving, with conditions varying a lot by region and season. Offshore areas around Okinawa (and the wider Ryukyu Islands) are generally warmer and are known for clear water in sheltered bays and for strong current-influenced sites on exposed reefs and slopes. In mainland areas such as Shizuoka, divers often find cooler water, more variable visibility, and a greater emphasis on drift dives depending on the site and season. Around the Japanese archipelago you can dive in both coastal sea sites and deeper offshore environments influenced by major currents in the North Pacific. Freshwater diving exists, for example at Lake Hinuma, but it’s more niche compared with the large volume of saltwater diving in coastal and island areas. Typical gear planning includes careful buoyancy and current awareness (especially in Okinawa), and temperature management with appropriate thermal protection.