Miyako Island Spotted Eagle Ray

The spotted eagle ray has arrived!! It's been a while!!!

Well, it's been a while since I last updated my blog!!! My bad habits are starting to show, but I'll give it a go now. What should I write? What can I write? Let's start with current events. Should I start with the Yoshimoto illegal business scandal? No. I'm not good at that sort of thing, so I can't bring myself to touch on it.

Let's stick to a safe topic. That's right, that's it. Let's go with the cashless topic.

Even though I live on the remote island of Miyakojima, I am well aware that the cashless trend is sweeping the world.

I'm Totti, the cashless store manager. I always pay by card, but it's not because I want to collect points. It's just because I'm impatient and want to get away from the cash register as quickly as possible.

BIGHOLIDAY accepts card payments, but doesn't yet support QR code payments. I've been thinking about it for a while, but what is it? PayPay? LINE Pay? Rakuten Pay? Japan Post Pay? What, there's even FamilyMart Pay???

There are many things I would like to introduce, but introducing all of them would be too much work and unrealistic, and I'm also wondering which payment system would be popular? Which payment system do most people use???

Why not just create a Holiday Pay?

So I don't feel like I can take a step forward. Someone help me.

The best season is October and November

It's difficult to say what the best season is, but if you want to dive at a diving spot that is typical of Miyakojima, October and November are definitely recommended. Here are the reasons why:

  • A plethora of popular spots
  • High transparency
  • The water temperature is still high
  • There are many sunny autumn days
  • The sun is stronger than in winter

Among these, the kind of diving spots you can go to is quite important, and during this time of year I dive almost every day around Shimoji Island. In addition to these famous spots, there are many other overwhelmingly big spots, such as the Devil's Palace, Antonio Gaudi, and Toori Pond.

So when asked, "What is the best season to visit Miyakojima?" I always answer October and November. But there is actually an even better time than October and November, and that time is now. It's the best.

Why the best of the best season is now

There are many calm days in summer

Today, after diving at the Demon King's Palace, it was lunchtime at End 17. I was so happy that the sea was completely calm and I could go anywhere. The sea was a deep blue and as amazing as ever.

There are many reasons why it's the best of the best, but in a nutshell, it has the highest overall score by far.

  • The most calm days of the year
  • The sun is at its strongest and highest in the year

These are all the best reasons to visit. In other words, you can see the most beautiful landscape of the year.

The moment the rainy season front moves away is your chance! This is the time of year with the most calm days.

Miyakojima Weather Map

This is a weather map from July 9th. The rainy season front is a thick black line with many half circles and triangles attached. The rainy season front is crossing near Amami Oshima, and at this point, the rainy season has ended in Miyakojima.

However, due to the distance between the rainy season front and Miyakojima, the area is still heavily influenced by the rainy season front, and to be more specific, fierce winds are blowing towards the rainy season front!!

Therefore, the southerly winds around Miyakojima are quite strong, and diving is only possible in the direction of Irabujima. The popular diving spot near Shimojijima is impossible to get close to due to the high waves, which can be life-threatening.

In conclusion, the rainy season usually ends around June 20th. The weather is great right after that, but the wind is strong so you can't go to Shimojishima. Therefore, it's not the best time. Don't rush just because the rainy season is over.

Yesterday's weather map

This is the weather map for today, July 24th. The rainy season front has moved north and has already disappeared. The end of the rainy season will soon be declared nationwide. This timing is key!

Miyakojima is covered by a circle with the character "taka" written on it. "Taka" means high pressure, and high pressure pushes gentle winds outward in a clockwise direction. Clouds are pushed out along with the wind, so being covered by high pressure means "weak winds and few clouds."

In other words, it's a perfect day for diving with calm and clear seas! You can easily dive around Shimoji Island.

Every year, when the rainy season front moves farther away, Okinawa is covered by this high pressure system for many days, making this the best of the best season.

However, there are days when typhoons come or the weather forecast changes, so it's not guaranteed every day, but the chances of winning are high.

The light is strongest and the sun is highest in the year

Miyakojima turtle

The summer solstice, when the sun is at its highest point of the year, occurs on June 21st, so light continues to shine in at the best angle.

This difference is particularly noticeable at topographical points; the higher the sun is, the easier it is for light to enter through holes and cracks, causing a commotion at topographical points all over Miyako Island.

Also, the light is strongest in summer, so it pours down with an impact that cannot be seen at other times of the year. In the end, summer is the strongest, and no matter how sunny it is at other times of the year, it cannot compete with summer. The terrain is summer.

The most beautiful view of the year

  • The most calm days of the year
  • The sun is at its strongest and highest in the year

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, the most important condition is "visibility," but even today at the Demon King's Palace the visibility was 30m, so all we could do was hope for a good tide.

On the other hand, it is unlikely that the transparency will become extremely poor, so there is no need to worry.

If you are lucky enough to be on a Miyakojima diving trip during this time of year and the sea is perfectly calm and the sun is blazing, what if the morning schedule announcement said, "Today we're heading towards Shimojishima Island?"

Miyakojima Diving Demon King's Palace

You'll surely find something that exceeds your imagination.

Well, tomorrow is going to be great too. See you tomorrow.