Summary of this article
The appeal of diving in Miyako Island lies in its topographical features, including numerous caves, holes, arches, and drop-offs. Diving spots are spread across the island, primarily around Shimoji Island, but also extending to Irabu Island, Yaebise, Karimata, and the southern coast of Miyako Island. The diving plan for each day is tailored to the wind direction and swell conditions.
Among them, the Demon King's Palace, Antonio Gaudi, and Toriike Pond are representative topographical points that are treated as the "Miyako Island's Three Great Dive Spots." BIGHOLIDAY selected these three Miyako Island points a total of 147 times in 2025. Looking at the data for the four years from 2022 to 2025, these are core points that have been dived more than 100 times each year.
However, in topographical diving, "success isn't simply about going to famous spots." The choice of dive site—considering factors like sea conditions, wind direction, team skill, seasickness concerns, and decompression risks—greatly impacts your satisfaction. In Miyako Island, choosing a dive shop is essentially choosing your dive site.
Last updated: 2026-05-17
This article doesn't just list Miyako Island's topographical diving spots based on their "famous names," but also organizes information you should know before booking, including the season, sea conditions, necessary skills, and how to choose a dive shop. When it comes to topographical diving, on-the-day judgment is more important than the name of the spot. If you get this wrong, you might end up with a dive that doesn't match your expectations, even after coming all the way to Miyako Island.
Why Miyako Island's topographical diving is special
Miyako Island is a limestone island. Over long periods of time, water has eroded the rock, creating caves, arches, holes, and crevasses in the sea. As a result, many unique geological features are concentrated in a small area.
One of Miyako Island's strengths is that it's easy to combine different types of terrain when doing three dives in a day. For example, the first dive might be in a deeper area, the second in one of Miyako Island's three major dive sites, and the third in a shallower cave or arch.
Sandy areas and coral reefs aren't necessarily bad. However, if you're coming to Miyako Island for fun diving, focusing your trip around caves, holes, and arches will give you the best experience of what Miyako Island is all about.
Miyako Island's three major points of interest
Maou no Kyuden
The Demon King's Palace is a representative cave spot on Miyako Island. It has a structure that allows you to proceed through multiple rooms, and its charm lies in the contrast between the light that shines into the cave and the blue water.
The maximum depth is approximately 25m. Among Miyako Island's three major dive sites, it is relatively easy to target, but since you will be entering a cave, neutral buoyancy, proper use of lights, and maintaining a safe distance from your surroundings are important. BIGHOLIDAY's operating record for 2025 shows 60 dives conducted here.
Antonio Gaudi
Antonio Gaudí is a representative geological point on the Shimojishima side, characterized by its complex interplay of holes and arches. The topography itself is striking, and it's a spot where you can enjoy not only the light but also the outlines of the rocks and the blue hues.
The maximum depth is approximately 35m. Due to the depth, air management, NDL management, and neutral buoyancy are crucial. In 2025, BIGHOLIDAY conducted 66 dives here, making it one of the most frequently selected dive sites among Miyako Island's three major dive sites.
Toriike Pond
Toriike Pond is a geological point on the Shimojishima side that is designated as a national natural monument. It offers a unique experience of surfacing into the pond after passing through a cave from the open sea. As you pass through a layer where freshwater and saltwater mix, the view and the texture of the water change, which is another characteristic feature.
Attention must be paid to both the depth and the topography, making it one of the intermediate to advanced dive sites among Miyako Island's three major dive spots. BIGHOLIDAY has dived there 21 times in 2025.
When is the best time to target the three major fishing spots in Miyako Island?
The three main diving spots in Miyako Island are Maou no Kyuden (Demon King's Palace), Antonio Gaudi, and Toriike Pond. Since all three are located towards Shimojishima Island, the days on which we can offer tours will vary depending on the wind direction and sea conditions.
The table below shows the total number of times BIGHOLIDAY dived at the three major dive sites in Miyako Island, broken down by month, over the four-year period from 2022 to 2025, based on their business performance.
| Month | Number of dives in 4 years | Average number of dives per month | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 14 times | 3.50 times | There is a winter break, so the number of sessions is limited. |
| April | 33 times | 8.25 times | There is a winter break, so the number of sessions is limited. |
| April | 45 times | 11.25 times | It's easier to target Shimojishima, but it can also be seen on days with southerly winds. |
| April | 53 times | 13.25 times | It's easy to aim for even on a yearly basis. |
| April | 46 times | 11.50 times | Southerly winds are starting to increase, and there are many examples of this. |
| April | 32 times | 8.00 times | The number of days when we can't go out is increasing due to southerly winds. |
| April | 29 times | 7.25 times | There are many days when the southerly winds are strong and the area is closer to Irabu Island. |
| April | 46 times | 11.50 times | If the sea conditions are right, the light is strong. |
| April | 59 times | 14.75 times | The direction of Shimojishima is starting to return. |
| April | 73 times | 18.25 times | There are many recreational divers, making it easy to target Shimojishima Island. |
| April | 78 times | 19.50 times | Many top-tier achievements throughout the year |
| April | 52 times | 13.00 times | Winter weather makes it easier to target, but some stores are closed. |
Based on past experience, October, November, September, April, and December are generally considered good months to target Miyako Island's three main diving spots. However, these numbers do not guarantee success. The actual selection of a diving spot depends on the wind direction, waves, swell, the overall skill level of the team, and safety considerations on the day of the dive.
Other representative geographical features of Miyako Island besides the three major diving spots.
35 hole
Hole 35 is a spot on the Shimojishima side where you can enjoy the atmosphere of vertical shafts and caves. It's a spot that often appears in our monthly articles, and it tends to be a good candidate during the autumn, winter, and spring when the Shimojishima side is easier to target.
Nakanoshima Channel
Nakanoshima Channel is a dive site on the Shimojishima side where you can enjoy crevasses and small tunnels. It's relatively easy to dive in and is suitable for those who are doing Miyako Island's topographic diving for the first time, or for check dives.
Cross Hall
Cross Hole is a representative geological point on the Irabu Island side. In June and July, the seasonal winds from the south make it more difficult to travel to Shimoji Island, so geological points on the Irabu Island side, such as Cross Hole, L-shaped arch, and W-arch, become more important.
Queen's Room
The Queen's Room is a dive site located in the deeper waters towards Shimojishima. Its appeal lies in the light entering through the opening and the room-like atmosphere, but it is best suited for intermediate to advanced divers due to its tendency to get deep.
Topographical points based on BIGHOLIDAY's sales performance
When reading articles about diving underwater topography, relying solely on beautiful photos and the names of famous spots can make it difficult to make an actual booking decision. What's important is which dive sites the shop usually chooses.
At BIGHOLIDAY, we regularly select dive sites, including Miyako Island's three major dive sites, based on sea conditions and the skill level of our guests. In 2025, we conducted dives at three representative sites: Antonio Gaudi 66 times, Maou no Kyuden 60 times, and Toriike 21 times.
| Key Points | BIGHOLIDAY's sales performance in 2025 | Things to check before making a reservation |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Gaudi | 66 times | Is there sufficient margin for depth control and neutral buoyancy? |
| Maou no Kyuden | 60 times | Are the sea conditions suitable for heading towards Shimojishima, and can we take a 2-3 day trip? |
| Toriike Pond | 21 times | Does it meet the requirements for intermediate to advanced players? |
A high number doesn't necessarily mean you can definitely go to a particular spot. The decision depends on wind direction, waves, swell, and the team's skill level. However, looking at their sales record gives you a good idea of how often the shop guides customers to those specific spots.
Seasonal topographical diving
| (I.e. | Major features | Easy target points |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March – May) | The water temperature is rising while retaining the clarity of winter. | The Demon King's Palace, Antonio Gaudí, Nakanoshima Channel, 35 holes |
| Summer (June to August) | The light is strong. In June and July, southerly winds are prevalent, mainly affecting the Irabu Island area. | Cross-shaped arch, L-shaped arch, W-shaped arch, Demon King's Palace |
| Autumn (September – November) | October is a popular month for intermediate and advanced anglers. The Shimojishima area is a good target. | Antonio Gaudí, Palace of the Demon King, 35 Halls |
| Winter (December to February) | The water clarity has improved, making it easier to access Shimojishima Island. | Antonio Gaudí, The Demon King's Palace, Marine Lake, Nakanoshima Channel |
August is the month when sunlight is strongest and the sun is highest in the sky. If the sea conditions are right, the light shines straight in through the openings at the top, making it the month when the topographical features look their best.
On the other hand, from October to February, most shops tend to focus on the same area. While the decision to head towards Shimojishima becomes more common due to the increased northerly winds, the specific diving spots chosen within that area vary considerably from shop to shop.
Skills required for topographic diving
The most important thing when diving in Miyako Island's topography is not "going to famous spots," but rather entering those spots safely and being able to enjoy them with ease. Spots like Maou no Kyuden, Antonio Gaudí, and Toriike offer a great visual impact, but they also present more challenges to observe, such as changes in depth, darkness, ceilings, walls, currents, and the rocking of the boat.
Judging solely by the number of dives is simplistic. Some people have stable buoyancy control even with few dives, while others with many dives may have difficult days due to a break from diving or seasickness. At BIGHOLIDAY, we consider the sea conditions, the overall skill level of the team, ear equalization, air consumption, and whether or not someone is seasick, and choose a dive site that can be enjoyed safely on that particular day.
| Our Knowledge | Reasons why it's necessary for topographic diving | How to think when you're feeling anxious |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral buoyancy | To view the scenery inside the cave without touching the ceiling, walls, or floor, and without stirring up sand. | On the first day, we focused on shallower points to check our breathing, posture, and fin work. |
| Air management | Air consumption tends to be faster at depths of 25-35m. | Don't linger in deep water; focus on the highlights and leave yourself some breathing room. |
| 耳抜き | Large changes in water depth and long descent times can affect the entire team. | Do not force your way down; inform your guide as soon as possible. |
| Getting used to darkness | Because you sometimes pass through areas with little light in caves and halls. | Pay attention to the distance to the light and guide, and the direction of the exit. |
| Seasickness tolerance | Prioritizing the quality of the dive site means that we may move even in somewhat rough seas. | Prepare everything, including motion sickness medication, sleep, breakfast portion sizes, and even choosing shops. |
In caves and halls, they stop in the space between the ceiling and the floor.
At the cave diving spots in Miyako Island, the skill of navigating between the ceiling and floor while maintaining neutral buoyancy is required. If you don't account for the amount your body floats when you inhale, you'll hit your head or tank on the ceiling. Conversely, if you don't account for the amount you sink when you exhale, you'll hit your fins on the floor and stir up sand.
What's important is not just knowing the current water depth, but also anticipating where your body will move with your next breath. Inside a cave, the more you can stop where you want to stop, the more time you'll have to appreciate the scenery.
Use small fin movements and don't kick downwards.
Using large kicks in a cave will stir up sand and sediment, reducing visibility. Ideally, you should use a frog kick to push the water backward. Even if you're not yet used to the frog kick, at least avoid kicking downwards. Fins are not a tool to compensate for buoyancy; they are a tool to propel you forward.
In deep water, the depth is measured using the wall as a reference.
In deep-sea topography like that of Antonio Gaudí, the change in water depth can be very sudden. If you only look at the blue water side, it can be difficult to tell whether you are floating or sinking. By using the wall as a reference point and checking your height while diving, you can quickly notice changes in buoyancy.
If your neutral buoyancy is unstable at depth, you'll waste not only air but also your NDL (No Decompression Limit). Descending quickly to depth, gaining stability, and ascending with ample time to spare—this is where the difference in topographic diving lies.
The key factors when choosing a shop vary greatly.
In Miyako Island, the diving spots you experience vary greatly depending on the shop you choose. Especially if your goal is to explore underwater topography, simply choosing a dive shop based on price or meeting location might result in a dive that doesn't meet your expectations.
Shops that offer snorkeling and introductory diving tours tend to choose calmer waters. This can be a better option for those who are unsure about their skills or prone to seasickness.
On the other hand, shops that focus on fun dives can easily target the three major dive sites around Shimojishima in Miyako Island, as well as deeper dive sites with unique topography, depending on the sea conditions and the team's skill level. If you prioritize the quality of the dive sites, it's recommended to choose a shop after considering which areas each shop specializes in.
BIGHOLIDAY primarily offers fun dives for certified divers. Our guests have an average of 262 dives (based on 2025 data), and we maintain small group sizes of a maximum of six people per guide. When sea conditions permit, we aim to include at least one dive per day at one of Miyako Island's three major dive sites, or a comparable dive site with a similar topography.
Articles you should read before making a reservation
Miyakojima Diving Spots Complete Guide [2026 Area Guide]
Complete Guide to Cave Diving in Miyako Island | All Diving Spots Explained by Difficulty Level
Miyako Island Diving Guide for Advanced Divers | Diving Spots, Seasons, and Shop Selection for Intermediate and Advanced Divers
Complete Guide to Miyako Island's Top 3 Attractions: The Demon King's Palace, Antonio Gaudí, and Toriike Pond
[The Demon King's Palace] A thorough analysis of Miyako Island's No. 1 most popular diving spot.
[Antonio Gaudi] Complete Guide to Diving Topography and Points in Miyako Island
[Toriike Pond] Complete Guide to Miyako Island Diving Natural Monument Point
BIGHOLIDAY Fun Diving Rates
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
