Complete Guide to Cave Diving in Miyako Island | All Diving Spots Explained by Difficulty Level

Last updated: 2026-05-18

What is cave diving in Miyako Island?

Cave diving in Miyako Island is a style of fun diving that involves exploring completely submerged caves, holes, and tunnels. Because there are sections with ceilings, sections that become dark, and sections where the depth changes, it's not just about enjoying the beautiful scenery; neutral buoyancy, air management, light operation, and calm fin work are also essential.

Miyako Island's strength lies in the number and density of cave diving spots. Caves, arches, and holes are concentrated around Irabu Island and Shimoji Island, and if the sea conditions are right, you can combine different types of caves in a single day. Even the same cave will have different scenery each time you dive, as the way light enters changes depending on the angle of the sun, visibility, and time of day.

Why Miyako Island is a great place for cave diving

Miyako Island is made of Ryukyu limestone. Over a long period of time, the rock has been eroded, forming a complex network of caves, halls, and arches. Furthermore, Miyako Island is characterized by its abundant springs and many unique geological formations that appear to have been carved from within the natural landscape.

As a result, the underwater topography of Miyako Island is incredibly diverse, including "tunnels that go horizontally," "holes that drop vertically," "room-like spaces," and "caves that surface into ponds." If you're coming specifically to explore caves, it's recommended to take two to three or more days of diving rather than just one, as this will broaden your options depending on the sea conditions.

Representative cave points by difficulty level

Marine Lake

Marine Lake is a cave point known for its beautiful way light enters the water. On sunny days, the columns of light and laser-beam-like scenery are captivating, and on some days it's relatively easy to enter even for those unfamiliar with cave diving. While it can be enjoyed in relatively shallow water, it's important to maintain neutral buoyancy inside the cave.

Maou no Kyuden

The Demon King's Palace is a representative cave diving spot in Miyako Island. You pass through spaces called the entrance hall, the throne room, and the bedroom, and when the light shines in, it takes on a palace-like appearance. It is a point that symbolizes Miyako Island's topographical diving, but because of the distance traveled inside the cave, it is suitable for those who have stable air management and buoyancy.

Ichinose Hall

Ichinose Hall is a cavernous dive site where the light streaming in from above is particularly striking. When the sun's angle is right, it looks as if a column of light is falling into the cave. Because it's easy to reach great depths here, it's best to enjoy the dive at a leisurely pace, keeping an eye on your remaining air pressure and NDL (No Depression Limit), rather than trying to stay for too long.

Antonio Gaudi

Antonio Gaudi is one of Miyako Island's three major dive spots, featuring multiple overlapping holes and arches. It's more of a complex topography than a simple cave, and the scenic spots tend to get deeper, requiring neutral buoyancy, air management, ear equalization, and calm fin work.

Toriike Pond

Toriike Pond is a nationally designated natural monument dive site where divers emerge from the open ocean through a cave into a pond on land. The layer where saltwater and freshwater mix, the surreal feeling of surfacing into the pond, and the route back to the open ocean all connect to form a single dive experience. This is an advanced dive site that should only be attempted on days when sea conditions and the team's skills are just right.

Skills required for cave diving

In caves, being able to "stop" is more important than being able to "swim." Being able to stay still—neither floating nor sinking—in places where you want to see the light, take pictures, or before and after navigating narrow passages greatly improves both your view and your safety.

Safety management and point selection

Cave diving isn't something we do just because the sea conditions are good. We assess visibility, swell, currents, the overall skill level of the team, and the remaining air pressure to determine which dive sites are suitable for the day. Especially for sites like Toriike and Antonio Gaudi, the decision of whether or not to go is very clear.

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 up to 6 people per guide. The reason we require participants to have at least 30 dives is to ensure we can safely select cave points and other underwater features based on sea conditions and the difficulty of the dive sites.

FAQ

Q. Can I participate even if I've never done cave diving before?

Participants must have 30 or more dives under their belt and be able to maintain neutral buoyancy and stable air management. For first-timers, we will guide you gradually, starting with shallower, sunlit areas, while monitoring sea conditions and your skill level.

Q. Do I need a light?

You will need a light at the cave point. BIGHOLIDAY has rental lights available, but if you are comfortable using your own light, we recommend bringing it. Having a backup light will give you extra peace of mind.

Q. Can I use Nitrox?

Currently, BIGHOLIDAY does not carry Nitrox. On days when we are exploring deep waters or caves, we select dive sites based on the assumption of using regular air tanks, managing depth, duration of stay, and NDL (Non-Limited Load).

Q. How many days would you recommend setting aside for this trip?

If you're aiming for caves or Miyako Island's three major dive spots, it's recommended to allocate at least two to three days for diving. The areas you can dive in change depending on the wind direction and swell, so the more flexibility you have in your schedule, the higher your chances of finding your target spots.

Articles you should read before making a reservation

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