Hello, this is the owner.
We have an announcement to make today! BIGHOLIDAY has been reborn as a "fun diving specialty store" since 2016. For four years since 2012, we have been operating with three pillars: fun diving, trial diving, and license courses, but after much consideration, we have decided to change our format to make all our guests and ourselves happy.
"Why a specialty store?" "What are the benefits of a specialty store?" I'll write today's article by explaining the reasons why I recommend it, along with the reasons why I think it's a good choice. If you have time, please read on! It's a bit long!
The dive shop is divided into two parts.
Although they are all called diving shops, there are many different types, and their characteristics vary greatly depending on the region. They can be roughly divided into two types. BIGHOLIDAY falls into the latter category of "local shops."
| form | Main menu items |
| Urban Shop | License training, fun diving tours, equipment sales |
| Local shops | Fun diving, trial diving, snorkeling |
Most of the diving shops in Miyakojima offer all of the services listed in the table above that local shops offer, and BIGHOLIDAY is one of them. Of course, this does not apply to all shops, and the focus of what they offer varies from shop to shop. Even local shops offer some license training courses!
In other words, "local" means that there is an ocean near the store, and divers come to dive there. Miyakojima has many attractions, such as its signature "topography," "high visibility" which is a parameter of diver satisfaction, and the "coral reef" which is the face of the Yaebiji area, so many people come to visit.
Now onto the main topic! Many local shops in Okinawa offer fun diving, trial diving, and snorkeling, with all guests on board the boat. However, the way you enjoy each option is different, so broadly speaking, I think that's why specialty shops are so popular.
Whatever the menu, there is surely a way to enjoy it that suits your experience and stance. BIGHOLIDAY is a shop that specializes in fun diving, so I will focus on "fun diving."
Reason why we recommend fun diving specialty shops - Part 1
A constant rhythm
When it comes to trial diving and snorkeling, the number of dives and swimming times vary from participant to participant. If the menu is scattered, it can be hard to get into a rhythm and figure out what to do next.
On the other hand, the fun diving time schedule is three dives, and everyone on the boat moves at the same rhythm."Dive, rest, dive, eat lunch, dive, and go home'で す.
When you dive, everyone dives, and when you rest, everyone rests. The advantage of a set rhythm is that it's easy to understand the movements even if you're a first-time user of the shop. Once you get the rhythm, you don't have to constantly be on the lookout for what's going on around you, and the tension eases, making it easier to relax in a good way.
No more wondering "Which staff member should I ask?"
The staff on the boat are usually in charge of different activities such as fun diving, trial diving, courses, and snorkeling. Even if you are only doing fun diving, the diving team may be different, so you can ask anyone anything as all the staff on the boat are fun diving guides. Feel free to talk to anyone about anything at any time!
Reason why we recommend fun diving specialty shops - Part 2
A wide variety of points can be selected
First, let's talk about seasickness. There is definitely something called "getting used to it" when it comes to seasickness, and I've been keenly aware of this difference after observing the situation for over 10 years. In other words, trial divers and snorkelers are extremely susceptible to seasickness because they are not used to it.
This becomes a major factor to consider when choosing a diving spot. If someone is suffering from seasickness, you might think, "Let's move to a calmer area." You can't go to a rockier area when there are people vomiting. The more experienced a recreational diver is, the more resistant they are to seasickness, while beginners are more susceptible. Still, the probability of getting seasick is significantly lower than for non-divers, so I'm sure many people think this way.
I want to endure a little seasickness and dive at the best spot possible!
Another good thing is that recreational divers know that diving helps them overcome seasickness. If everyone on the boat is a recreational diver, there's a good chance you'll reach a good spot. This means you have a lot of freedom.
Miyakojima is not suitable for trial diving. Wild diving spotThere are many! Regarding point requests, since it is only for fun divers, you don't have to consider trial diving or snorkeling points. Your request will inevitably be easier to get through..
Reason why we recommend fun diving specialty shops - Part 3
It's easy to share your emotions honestly
In most cases, all members of the team dive at the same point and come back seeing the same scenery. Maou no Kyuden(The most popular cave in Miyakojima. Depth: -25m) Everyone can dive.
On the other hand, you can't go there even for trial diving, let alone snorkeling. The minimum depth allowed for trial diving is -12m. You can't even go into the caves. This is because of safety guidelines. So even if a recreational diver sees the Demon King's Palace, they can't just sit back and enjoy it on the boat, thinking, "It's bad that I didn't get to see it." It depends on the person, but that may be the case.
Of course, you're going diving with a license that you obtained by spending time and money on training, so you probably don't need to think that way, but you might still find yourself worrying about it.
All guests on the boat will enjoy the same exciting experience
This is the privilege of a specialist shop and what BIGHOLIDAY aims for. What if you are truly amazed and moved? You'll want to talk about it. Especially if there are many people around you who have dived with you!
Reason why we recommend fun diving specialty shops - Part 4
It's easy to expand your circle of guests
The overwhelming majority of people who participate in fun diving are solo. Since it is a trip to go diving, many of the participants are experienced travelers, and above all, fun divers share the strongest common topic of "the sea and diving," so I think it's really great every day that we can all talk about the sea together, regardless of status or age.
As mentioned earlier, we're going on a "moving experience together on the boat," so it's only natural that we'll become closer. It happens naturally without any effort. Because it's fun!
Reason why we recommend fun diving specialty shops - Part 5
The main purpose of fun divers is "diving"
Personally, I think this is the most important point. For example, in this situation
| 时 | Next dive point | situation | Normal surface interval |
| GW | Very popular [Antoni Gaudi] | There are lots of boats waiting! | Approx. 50 hours |
There is a certain time schedule. Some guests are very concerned about the return time. I think it's natural, as they probably have plans after returning from the sea. But what do you think?
What if you could wait an additional 30 minutes after your 50-minute break and dive into Gaudi, which has a beautiful, majestic, and sacred atmosphere, rather than the slightly murky waters crowded with divers? Many divers come to the island primarily to dive. In other words, they come to be amazed by the diving.
People spend time and money to come to the remote island of Miyakojima, so to use the example from earlier, I think most people would say that they would not mind spending 30 minutes to see the beautiful Gaudi. This analogy comes up in a variety of situations, as it is a leisure activity that involves nature.
- The weather is good and the sea conditions are excellent! Let's go on a trip to a rare spot that is hard to reach.
- You can enter today! Let's move on and have a leisurely lunch at the stunning Blue Lagoon
- Dolphins appeared! It's a rare chance, so let's wait for the other boats to return and go in together.
It would be a shame to miss out on these special experiences due to schedule constraints, so our first priority each day is to think about how we can make the most exciting possible for everyone, given the weather and sea conditions of the day.
Time constraints would be fatal if you want to carry this out to the fullest.
However, we are sure that our guests who are enthusiastic divers and for whom diving is the most important aspect of their trip will be happy with this choice. We will also do our best to help them simply enjoy the ocean!
The main reason why BIGHOLIDAY chose this format
For fun divers, there are diving specialty shops, for those without a license, there are trial shops, and for snorkelers, there are snorkeling specialty shops.
We have felt for some time that "this might be the ideal form of a local shop." That is why BIGHOLIDAY has adopted this style. Those who provide services also need to study every day, and we believe that "evenly" means "shallowly but broadly," and the diving industry is no exception, and that a specialized shop will lead to deep, good service that meets the needs of customers.
And the most important thing is to find a way and format that is most enjoyable for both us and our guests. After all, BIGHOLIDAY is all about this phrase.Let's all get excited together!
Totty — BIGHOLIDAY Owner's Guide
I've lived in Miyako Island for 21 years (since 2005). I specialize in fun diving. I select Miyako Island's three major dive sites more than 150 times a year, and I've done about 20,000 dives in Miyako Island. YouTube "Totty / scuba diving" shares Miyakojima diving information with more than twelve thousand subscribers.
Since 2023, we have been among the top-ranked Marine Diving Award winners for three consecutive years.
2023 Japan Coast Guard Director-General's Award (for meritorious service in maritime rescue)
Discoverer of Miyako Island's first manta ray station in 2025
