Okinawa: The Final Day

It was my final day in Okinawa, and I wanted to send off this amazing vacation with a bang. To that end, I had signed up for something brand new. Today, I would go scuba diving for the first time in the beautiful waters around Okinawa. 

Well, it’s not entirely true that it’s my first time scuba diving. I actually went once in high school while taking a special program for a semester, but that took place in a pool, not exactly the same as diving in the ocean. 

I’d heard great things about both island hopping and snorkeling around Okinawa. Someone had recommended a company to go through, but being the procrastinator I am, I waited too long, and the snorkeling tour was already full. However, there was a full day of scuba diving still available for only 30$ more. I was here for new experiences, why not go for it? 

So, I got up earlier than any other day this whole trip, hopped on the bus, and headed over to the meeting point. When I got there, I quickly realized that showing up right at the meeting time was more of a suggestion than anything. I quickly did my paperwork and got changed into a wetsuit, then was stuck waiting for almost 30 minutes as people trickled in. 

To my delight, someone I had met at a bar was going to be on the same tour as me! The odds of that felt exceedingly small, but since they were also traveling alone, it was nice to have someone I could hang out with, even if we didn’t know each other. 

Eventually, we piled into a van, and drove over to the harbor. We all got on the boat, and divided into small groups based on our preferred language. There were options for English, Japanese, and Chinese. It was a pretty cursory introduction to diving, but we would be diving alongside a guide, so it was mostly about hand signals and how to regulate your ear pressure.

The day would consist of going to 3 different diving spots, and at each spot there would be different groups that would pair with a guide and go diving. If you weren’t diving, you could go snorkeling. Some people were disappointed you could only dive just once, but for me, this felt like the best of both worlds. 

I was far more comfortable snorkeling, and I wasn’t sure how I would do when it came to diving. I was going to be diving at the second spot, which felt pretty ideal to me. I could warm up with a round of snorkeling, and hopefully get reacquainted with breathing through a tube in your mouth before having a brand new experience. 

As we headed out to our first spot, I was once again struck by just how beautiful Okinawa was. The water was beautiful shades of blue and green, and each bit of land we passed seemed interesting and picturesque. Something about being on a boat always makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a movie, and any movie shot in Okinawa would be sure to be beautiful. 

Eventually, we reached the first spot, grabbed some fins, and climbed into the water. The wet suit also provided some flotation, so I could comfortably sit on the surface of the water, and peer down below at the coral and the fish. After a few minutes of adjusting my breathing, I was comfortable, and happily admiring the view. 

I had the chance to snorkel in Hawaii before, and this was definitely comparable. The coral were a myriad of different colors, looking gorgeous as the light trickled down from the water's surface. The fish were maybe a little smaller than say Hawaii, but no less interesting. There were schools of smaller fish you could watch pass by, or the occasional larger, more colorful fish to follow. 

I was once again grateful to be in Japan, hoping to impress this memory as deep into my mind as I could. I want to remember that feeling of pure joy as I took in scenery I never expected to see in Japan, and want to hold dear when things get tough. 

All too quickly, we had to return to the boat, and head off to the next spot. As we made our way over, the guides came and confirmed I would be in the next group. One came and introduced themselves, and made a bit of small talk. Most people dove in pairs, but since I was by myself, it would just be me and the guide. 

I started to get nervous, but I tried to convince myself it was just excitement. Those two feel exceedingly similar, and one is far more pleasant than the other, so I tried to tell myself it was simply excitement. 

Once we arrived and the snorkelers got in the water, it was my turn. They strapped a weighted belt around my waist, put a tank on my back, and hooked it up to a breathing apparatus. Ready or not, it was about time for me to get in the water. 

As soon as I got in, put my face in the water, and tried to exhale, I started to panic. Something about having the bubbles rush into my face every time I exhaled really set off my fight or flight response. I was supposed to hold onto a rope, and use it to gradually descend, but I’m sure my guide quickly realized that wasn’t going to work. 

She tried to get me to relax, calm down, and slow my breathing. Obviously, when you panic your breathing gets shallow and fast, which can be quite dangerous when you’re underwater. Thankfully, she decided we should start with a bit of snorkeling, and then slowly descend. 

This did the trick, and after maybe a minute or two of snorkeling, I could adjust to the new sensation of the breathing apparatus and the bubbles every time I exhaled. We slowly began to descend, and I did my best to regulate my ear pressure as we slowly made our way down. After my initial discomfort, I got comfortable surprisingly quickly. 

Before I knew it, I was kneeling on the ocean floor, posing for pictures for my guide. Each guide had an underwater camera, and would post the photos online. I was grateful that someone else was documenting my experience, so I didn’t have to worry about taking all the best instagram worthy photos. 

Sometimes it feels like we’re torn between living out experiences and documenting them. I don’t want to live out my travels through a camera lens rather than my own two eyes, but at the same time, I want proof that I had those experiences. 

I mean, most of this blog is dedicated to that exact sentiment. My words and ruminations on the experiences I had are both proof that I had them, and will hopefully serve as a way to relieve them someday. To remember how it felt to have these very experiences I’m documenting. 

All too soon, it was time to head back up to the surface. This time, I was able to use the rope to gradually ascend, trying to remember to regulate my ear pressure as I went. Before long, I was back on the boat, being stripped of my gear so that the next group could go. I do wonder if my dive was slightly shorter, since I was by myself, but I was satisfied with my experience regardless. 

Lunch was being rolled out, and while we had the option to snorkel for a little longer, I was glad to have an excuse to rest. I grabbed a bento, and started to chow down on my lunch, eating beside the only person I knew on the boat, my acquaintance from the bar. 

My lunch time view

I did my best to rally for the final snorkeling spot, but I could tell I was getting tired. As beautiful as the sights were, each spot was certainly similar, and the novelty was starting to wear off a bit, but I tried to get my fill nonetheless. When it came time to start giving back your gear, I was eager to get rid of my wetsuit and snorkeling gear. 

Sadly, I might have jumped the gun, since there were sightings of a sea turtle, and some groups veered off to go see it. My gear was in a pile along with everyone else’s, so I would have to pass on the sea turtle. Instead, I decided to jump off the second level of the boat into the water alongside some others, which was plenty of fun. 

When it was time to start heading back, I grabbed a spot on the second floor of the boat, and tried to take in as much scenery as I could. Though, fatigue had certainly set in, and the other tour goers gradually started to nod off. 

When we got back, we returned to the meeting point, and then all went our separate ways. It felt a little unceremonious after such a great experience, but for our guides this was probably just another day on the job. I bid my farewells to my acquaintance, and exhausted, returned to my hotel. 

This article has already gotten a little long, so I’ll save the more mushy end of trip reflections for next time. Instead, I want to give space for this really excellent experience. I can’t really think of a more fitting thing to have done with my final day in Okinawa. I got to experience the beauty and natural landscape of Okinawa in a brand new way, and that’s something I can hold onto for the rest of my life. 

I was able to push past my discomfort, have a new kind of experience, and see something truly spectacular. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting metaphor for both this trip, and coming to Japan in the first place. It’s hard to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. It’s scary, and can quickly send you into a panic. But if you trust yourself and just breathe, you can really enjoy the beauty of something new.