Reef Encounters Okinawa
26°20′ N 127°45′ EDiveEnglish spoken
Reef Encounters Okinawa has looked after international divers from its shop on the Miyagi coast in Chatan since 1995, with Sunabe shore dives from ¥13,200 and three-tank Kerama boat days for ¥24,200 including tax.
Reef Encounters opened in Chatan in 1995 to look after foreign divers, and its guides still cover English, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese and Spanish. The shop sits on the Miyagi coast, and its cheapest dives are shore entries at Sunabe and Miyagi. Prices include tax, tanks, weights and the drive to the boat, and a full rental kit adds ¥6,600.
Courses run mainly under NAUI, the agency the shop prefers, and PADI instructors on staff teach that card on request. On the whale-diving trip you get in the water near the humpbacks, something the Zamami association forbids on its own boats. The shop runs it in small groups on a quiet boat from late January to early March.
What they offer
| Offering | From | Duration | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-tank shore dive at Sunabe or the Miyagi coastTax included. A single tank costs ¥9,900; two tanks at the Maeda Blue Cave or Onna cost ¥14,500. The price page gives no year. | ¥13,200 / person | Half day | Year-round |
| Two-tank boat dive (Onna, Maeda Blue Cave, Ginowan, Kin)Tax included, with tanks, weights, guide and transport from the shop to the port. | ¥18,700 / person | Half day | Year-round |
| Three-tank Kerama boat diveTax included. The shop says trips do not run every day. | ¥24,200 / person | Full day | Year-round, on scheduled days |
| Kerama boat snorkellingBeach snorkelling at Sunabe costs ¥8,800 and at the Maeda Blue Cave ¥9,900. | ¥16,500 / person | Full day | On scheduled days |
| Intro beach dive for non-certified diversGear, instruction and transport included. Two dives cost ¥19,800; intro boat dives in the Keramas cost ¥25,300 when offered. | ¥12,100 / person | 1 dive | Year-round |
| Whale diving (snorkel and freedive near humpbacks)The product page does not say where the boat leaves from. The Zamami Whale Watching Association bans swimming with whales in its own watching grounds. | ¥22,000 / person | – | Late January to early March |
| Full rental kitRegulator, BCD, wetsuit, mask, fins, booties and computer. | ¥6,600 / day | – | Year-round |
FAQ
Quick answers about Reef Encounters Okinawaよくある質問
Does Reef Encounters in Chatan offer Kerama dive trips?
Yes. Reef Encounters Okinawa sells a three-tank Kerama boat dive for ¥24,200 including tax, and Kerama boat snorkelling for ¥16,500. The shop says these trips do not run every day.
Can you swim with whales in Okinawa with Reef Encounters?
Yes. Reef Encounters Okinawa sells a ¥22,000 whale-diving trip from late January to early March, where guests snorkel and freedive near humpbacks. The Zamami Whale Watching Association bans swimming with whales in its own watching grounds, so this trip is separate from the Zamami boats.
Is Reef Encounters a PADI or NAUI shop?
Reef Encounters Okinawa teaches mainly NAUI courses, up to Instructor Trainer. The shop says it also has PADI instructors who teach PADI courses on request, sometimes with extra fees for materials and registration.
How much does Reef Encounters Okinawa charge?
Reef Encounters Okinawa lists Full rental kit from ¥6,600 per day.
Does Reef Encounters Okinawa speak English?
Yes. Reef Encounters Okinawa works in English and Japanese and Mandarin and Cantonese and Portuguese and Spanish.
Is Reef Encounters Okinawa open in winter?
Reef Encounters Okinawa: Reef Encounters lists no winter closures, and its whale-diving trips run from late January to early March. The shop says trips do not run every day, so ask what is scheduled for your dates before you plan around a Kerama boat.
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