Japan Tip of the Day (Stripes Okinawa)
Cape Maeda is a popular diving/snorkeling spot. Its Ao no Dokutsu (blue cave or grotto) sits on the bucket list for many tourists coming to Okinawa.
While a visit to the cape will likely reward you with stunning views and a fun diving/snorkeling experience, it is not the safest location around the island.
Cape Maeda lacks a sandy shore which exposes swimmers to dangerous water conditions, including rip currents, deep waters some area scuba shops calculate at 30-40 meters deep, and poisonous creatures.
According to the Asahi Shimbun, the cape is one of the seven locations in Japan where 10 or more people have died in water-related accidents in the last 10 years. In addition to swimming with caution, visitors are urged to watch out for sharks, venomous jellyfish and sea urchin.
To help visitors determine whether it’s safe to swim or not, there is a flag posted near the staircase leading to the cape entry. The flag is color-coded with each one indicating the level of safety:
Blue – Possible to swim with a wet suit or a lifejacket on. Visitors are advised to take their swimming skill level into consideration.
Yellow – Swim with caution, plus with a wet suit or a lifejacket on. Visitors are advised to take their swimming skill level into consideration.
Red – No swimming allowed during this time.
Orange – “No swimming due to a warning” and “stay away from the sea.”
The flag condition can also be monitored on Cape Maeda’s official website.
Pay attention to the color of the flag and enjoy the water safely!
Cape Maeda (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
