ヴィアマーレ

Viamare is a specialised dive resort located in Yomitan, Okinawa, serving as a technical and adaptive diving hub for the region. It has established itself as a pioneer in the area, particularly for divers seeking advanced technology or those requiring specific accessibility through Classified Diving.

The centre operates with a high level of professionalism, led by an SSI instructor with 40 years of experience. This deep local knowledge ensures that whether you are a beginner or a technical diver, the approach is tailored to your specific objectives and environment.

The team is led by an expert instructor and professional photographer, ensuring that the technical and aesthetic aspects of your dives are handled with care. Instruction is conducted in Japanese, and the centre follows a small-group philosophy to maintain high safety standards and personalised attention.

With a maximum ratio of 5 divers per guide, the centre prioritises controlled, high-quality experiences. They are also specialists in adaptive diving, offering Classified Diving programmes for persons with reduced mobility, ensuring the underwater world is accessible to more divers.

Beyond standard recreational diving, the centre is a dedicated training ground for freediving and technical specialties. Their expertise extends to marine ecology, offering specific courses to help you identify and understand the local ecosystem.

Viamare offers a comprehensive curriculum through SSI, ranging from the Open Water Diver and Advanced Adventurer certifications to specialised training. For those looking to deepen their understanding of the ocean, they provide various ecology specialties, including Fish ID, Coral ID, Shark Ecology, Turtle Ecology, and Manta & Ray Ecology.

Technical divers will find advanced options such as Decompression Diving SP and Deep Diving. The centre is also a premier location for Mares HORIZON SCR and XR DIVER training, making it a vital stop for rebreather enthusiasts in Okinawa. For those interested in breath-hold techniques, they offer a full suite of freediving courses, from Try Freediving to Freediving Level 1.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. For technical and advanced divers, Nitrox is available on-site to support extended bottom times.

Safety is a core component of the shore facilities, with dedicated oxygen kits and first aid equipment always kept ready for use. The centre also caters to the digital side of modern diving, providing professional video and photo transfers directly to your smartphone.

The reefs around Yomitan are teeming with life, including various species of corals and sea anemones. You will regularly encounter sea turtles (Cheloniidae), Manta rays (Mobula alfredi), and various types of rays (Batoidea). Larger pelagics and predators such as sharks (Selachimorpha), whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), and blacktip reef sharks are also part of the local ecosystem.

Tropical fish are abundant throughout the sites, with sightings of clownfish (Amphiprion), angelfish (Pomacanthidae), parrotfish (Calotomus), and triggerfish (Balistidae). You can also look for damselfish, jack (Carangidae), and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) patrolling the blue.

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to observe, from colorful nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani) to the elusive pygmy seahorse. Other interesting finds include boxfish (Ostraciidae), pufferfish (Arothron hispidus), and various species of tropical reef fish hiding within the reef structure.

Whale sharks are also present in the area, though their appearance is seasonal and depends on availability.

The local environment offers a wide range of conditions, with water temperatures varying significantly throughout the year. Divers should prepare for a broad spectrum of thermal requirements depending on their visit timing.