Sunday, July 31, 2016

# Travel ♪ Exploring the Okinawa Ocean with Marine Support TIDE ZANPA!!




Wanna Explore The Beautiful Okinawa Ocean?

Join with Marine Support TIDE ZANPA!

About Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Since the climate in Okinawa is subtropical, the average temperature is around 22 Celsius degrees.

Many of you may have visited Okinawa before, but have you even tried to get into the sea and seen the beautiful underwater world there?

In our previous sharing, we have introduced the famous scuba diving spot, the Blue Cave, to you. This time, we will tell you more about the fun of scuba diving in Okinawa ocean!!

The Blue Cave


The Blue Cave is the most popular and hottest spot to experience scuba diving in Okinawa. Just dive into the sea and go 5 meters below the surface, you can see the beautiful emerald-like color!  Actually the light you can see under the water is the reflection of light from the surface of water.

Marine Support TIDE ZANPA


Marine Support TIDE ZANPA

Address: 950 Senaha, Yomitanson, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa
(沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字瀬名波950)

Map Code: 1005 627 774

Access: About 60 minutes drive from Naha airport

Tel.: 098-958-2646

Hours: 08:00 - 22:00

Services and Fees

1) Snorkeling in Blue Cave
Reservation in advance: 5,200 yen
Walk-in: 6,000 yen

2) Scuba Diving in Blue Cave
Reservation in advance: 12,000 yen
Walk-in: 13,000 yen

3) ZANPA Sea Kayaking
Reservation in advance: 5,400 yen
Walk-in: 6,400 yen

4) Night Healing Snorkeling
Reservation in advance: 5,400 yen
Walk-in: 6,000 yen

You can make reservation by phone or email. (Up to 3 days before your experience)
English speaking staff is available.
Inquiries Tel.: +81-80-2730-7076
Email: contact@bluecavemarintour.com


Different Ways to Experience the Blue Cave


01. Scuba Diving

Even you can't swim, you can still experience the underwater world!

For the scuba diving course, a certified professional coach will accompany you all the way, so even if you can't swim or you are not good at swimming, you can still experience scuba diving safely.


Moreover, the professional coaches are all very nice indeed. They try to use fishing bait to attract the fish to get near us. That's so amazing!!

We highly recommend all the beginners to take this course first.

Scuba Diving in Blue Cave
Reservation in advance: 12,000 yen
Walk-in: 13,000 yen
You can make reservation by phone or email. (Up to 3 days before your experience)
English speaking staff is available.
Inquiries Tel.: +81-80-2730-7076
Email: contact@bluecavemarintour.com


02. Snorkeling in Blue Cave

From 6 am to 4 pm, you can find snorkeling course in each hour, but we still suggest you to make a reservation in advance!

Snorkeling is another good way to experience the Okinawa's ocean. Actually you just need a set of simple equipment, then you can enjoy playing with the fish and the underwater world up to 5 meters below the surface of water. Of course you don't need to know how to swim or scuba dive to try snorkeling.  You just need to put on your snorkel, life jacket and flippers, then you are ready to go!

Snorkeling in Blue Cave
Reservation in advance: 5,200 yen
Walk-in: 6,000 yen
You can make reservation by phone or email. (Up to 3 days before your experience)
English speaking staff is available.
Inquiries Tel.: +81-80-2730-7076
Email: contact@bluecavemarintour.com


When you get deeper into the sea, you will find more fish around you!!


The fish know we have food for them! Look how happy they are!


Other Water Activities



01. ZANPA Sea Kayaking

If you don't want to get into the sea, there are still other ways that you can enjoy the Okinawa ocean. For example, getting into a sea kayak and enjoying the beautiful sea and sea creatures from the surface of water! You can also paddle with your friends and have some great time together!

ZANPA Sea Kayaking
Reservation in advance: 5,400 yen
Walk-in: 6,400 yen
You can make reservation by phone or email. (Up to 3 days before your experience)
English speaking staff is available.
Inquiries Tel.: +81-80-2730-7076
Email: contact@bluecavemarintour.com



After picking your favorite sea kayak and learning how to use the paddle, then you are ready to go!


See how well we can handle this sea kayak! The water is so clear!


You can just see the bottom of the ocean from here!

Time to go on shore


For those who take the sea kayak course, they can also enjoy an exploration program in the limestone cave. Actually only the locals know about this special place. It is so nice that the staff specially arrange this program for their guests!


You can enjoy the tropical like world here, how relaxing it is! Oh, by the way, it is said that the sea turtles also choose this place to lay their eggs!


You can also find stalactite here!


Just use your imagination to take some nice pictures here!


02. Night Healing Snorkeling

Enjoy the red sky in sunset and the shining stars in the dark sky while floating in the sea.



Night Healing Snorkeling is actually a special night time program which starts at 7 pm every day, and it is only provided from March to October. We highly suggest you to try this experience in the first evening that you arrive in Okinawa.


In the sunset, the red sky is reflected on the surface of the Okinawa ocean. What an amazing view it is! By the way, the Night Healing Snorkeling is held in shallow part of the sea, so you can just relax and enjoy the beauty of the nature.

Night Healing Snorkeling
Reservation in advance: 5,400 yen
Walk-in: 6,000 yen
You can make reservation by phone or email. (Up to 3 days before your experience)
English speaking staff is available.
Inquiries Tel.: +81-80-2730-7076
Email: contact@bluecavemarintour.com


Putting on the special life jacket, you can just face above and float on the water and enjoy the red sky and the stars.


What is the shiny thing in the water?


Wow! It is a sea firefly! Have you ever seen one in your life?


Don't worry about the darkness in the sea because coaches will bring a light to light up for you!


In this night time program, you can see the spectacular change of nature!


Simple Application Process


01. Meeting Point - At Marine Support TIDE ZANPA

Usually for other companies, guests are required to gather near the Blue Cave and get ready over there. However, Marine Support TIDE ZANPA does not require their guests to do so. Guests can just get themselves ready at the shop, and shuttles to the Blue Cave are provided too!

If you will go to Marine Support TIDE ZANPA by your own car, then you can just simply input the map code or the telephone number in the GPS system, then you can get to their shop easily!

Marine Support TIDE ZANPA

Address: 950 Senaha, Yomitanson, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa
(沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字瀬名波950)

Map Code: 1005 627 774

Access: About 60 minutes drive from Naha airport

Tel.: 098-958-2646


02. Filling Out Forms and Waterproof Camera Rental

Before we get going, it is very important for us to get some instruction and information first. We also need to fill out a health statement; please note that for those who have respiratory disease or circulation disorders, you need to have a doctor's permission in order to go diving.

As we have mentioned earlier, you can find forms and documents in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Also, English-speaking staff is available here to help you!

*Waterproof Camera Rental
Free rental service is provided to those who join the Blue Cave scuba diving or the Blue Cave snorkeling programs (You can also upgrade to panorama camera by just adding 980 yen)

For those you join the other programs (sea kayaking and night healing snorkeling), you can also rent the waterproof camera at 2,000 yen.

*Free bath sets and towels
Bath sets and towers are provided to guests with no charge. However, you need to make a 500 yen deposit for the towel but it will be refunded after you return it.


03. Safety and Diving Instructions

After handing in the forms, next is to put on the diving suit! Next to the shop, you can find an area where you can try on the diving suit. After you are done, let's meet our professional coach! He is going to tell us 3 important things about scuba diving!

Three Important Things About Scuba Diving

1. Equalize underwater ear pressure

Once we dive into the sea, the pressure starts to change, and it will make our ears uncomfortable. In order to avoid this situation, we need to learn how to equalize our ear pressure underwater.

Actually it is very simple, just hold your nose and close your mouth, then try to exhale forcefully through your nose, that's the trick!


2. Clear water from the scuba dive mask

In case water gets into your scuba dive mask, you just need to press the upper part of the mask, then use your nose to breathe forcefully again, then you can get the water out easily.


3. Breathing Technique

In the water, you can only rely on your mouth to breathe, but don't worry, actually the technique is very simple and easy, just breathe slowly............


In addition to these three important things, our coach also explains to us what should we do if water gets in the diving regulator, and some simple gestures to communicate with each other under the sea.


04. Free Shuttle Service

Blue Cave is located near Cape Maeda in Onna Village. Marine Support TIDE ZANPA will take you there for free! You can also get there by taxi or bus.


05. Direct Access to the Pier

Do you know that there is a long stone stairs you need to climb before you get to the Blue Cave? Just imagine you have to wait in line and carry the heavy diving tanks with you to walk this long way before you get to the Blue Cave. It's crazy, right? What's even worse? If the weather is not good, this stone stairs will be closed!


However, as we mentioned earlier, Marine Support TIDE ZANPA got its own pier only for their guests! After arriving at the pier, you only need to get on the boat and get closeto the Blue Cave. Then, our coach and staff will help us to check all our equipment again. When everything is ready and set, you are ready to experience the underwater world!!



06. Follow the Professional Coach

Even you don't know how to swim, you can still experience scuba diving!

Of course it is easier to pick up the diving skills for those who know how to swim, but everyone can learn it quickly. Also, a professional coach accompanies you all the way!

The coach keeps showing you the gesture of "OK" to check if his students are totally fine. If you are fine, just show him the same gesture to tell him that you are "OK" too! If you are feeling uncomfortable somewhere, just point to that part, then your coach will decide to let you go up or keep on diving.


07. Showering and Getting Changed

After getting out from the sea, of course we need to wash away the salt on our hair and body. Please note that even the male and female shower rooms are separated, you still need to wear your swimming suit while taking your shower. Special shampoo is also provided.


08. Female Friendly Facilities and Services

Good news for the ladies! At Marine Support TIDE ZANPA, they have a clean and neat changing room, shower area, and a dressing room for girls!


Next time when you visit Okinawa, other than visiting the sightseeing spots like Shurijo Castle Park and Churaumi Aquarium, we highly recommend you to get into the sea and explore the beautiful Okinawa ocean by yourself.  With the excellent service provided by Marine Support TIDE ZANPA, you can ward off all your worries and enjoy the underwater world.

In our previous sharing, we have mentioned that the oxygen used in the diving tanks are produced by Marine Support TIDE ZANPA themselves, and all diving tanks are washed and cleaned after used to make sure the diving tanks are safe to be used again. Moreover, they provide all kinds of diving equipment for their guests, from diving suits to diving shoes which keep your feet warm, these all come in various style and sizes. Even for those who are short-sighted, special mask with different degrees are prepared for them to use. Also, clean and neat shower room and changing room can be found too!

This summer, please visit Okinawa and explore a brand new underwater world by yourself!!

Marine Support TIDE ZANPA

Address: 950 Senaha, Yomitanson, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa
(沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字瀬名波950)
Map Code: 1005 627 774
Access: About 60 minutes drive from Naha airport
Tel.: 098-958-2646
Hours: 08:00 - 22:00

Please check out our previous sharing here:
# Travel ♪ Water Sports in Okinawa! Scuba Diving in the Blue Cave with Marine Support TIDE ZANPA!!

# Travel ♪ Diving, Fine Food, Shopping, Sightseeing! Everything You Need To Know About Okinawa!!

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