Dive-site story
Cape Hedo Dome, also known as the Ginama Submerged Cave, sits off the rugged northern tip of Okinawa Island. Divers enter an underwater opening in the limestone headland and navigate an overhead cavern corridor that leads up into a sealed air chamber. Thousands of years ago this cave was dry, leaving behind massive stalactites and stalagmites that now sit partially submerged in a mix of fresh and saltwater.
Submerged limestone formations including ancient stalactites preserved since the last ice age
Surfacing inside a pitch-black, enclosed air dome illuminated only by dive torches
Noticeable halocline separating fresh seepage from dense seawater inside the cavern system
Dramatic open-ocean wall terrain and clear blue water outside the cave entrance
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Summer and early autumn provide the calmest sea states, whereas winter brings fierce northerly winds that frequently close the site.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Cave sweeperParapriacanthus ransonneti | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant trevallyCaranx ignobilis | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Banded sea kraitLaticauda colubrina | Common | ||||||||||||
| Green sea turtleChelonia mydas | Common |
Marine forecast
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