Shipwreck. For Diving at USS Emmons in Okinawa Japan, come to GOLD
USS Emmons sunk off Kouri Island, Okinawa Main Island. The 106-meter-long hull lying at a depth of 40 meters is an awe-inspiring sight!
For Diving at USS Emmons in Okinawa Japan, come to GOLD
Leave your Emmons diving needs to Gold! We offer Emmons diving trips all year round. Recommended for those who want to experience historical romance, those who love sunken ships, and those who want to dive at major spots at least once!
We can accommodate even one person, with transportation from Naha and free rental. We welcome customers from overseas. We have customers from all over the world, including English-speaking countries, Koreans, Chinese, Taiwanese, and other Asian countries, as well as Europeans. Our staff are not native English speakers, but we can communicate to some extent in English.
For inquiries, please use the inquiry form , reservation form , email, or Instagram DM. This website can also be viewed in foreign languages, so please check out the menu on the top page . You can switch languages by clicking on the flag and language of the screen. Translations may not display properly on mobile devices. In that case, please view the page on a PC.
Feel free to contact us anytime.
What is the USS Emmons?
The USS Emmons (DD-457/DMS-22) was a U.S. Navy warship. During the Battle of Okinawa (April 7, 1945), at the end of the Pacific War, it was rammed by five Japanese kamikaze planes and heavily damaged. It was then scuttled by gunfire from its sister ship, the USS Ellyson (DD-454/DMS-19), and sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Kouri Island (Nakijin Village, Okinawa Prefecture). It is said that the U.S. military intentionally sank it out of concern for intelligence leaks. It remained undiscovered for approximately 55 years after it sank in 1945, until it was discovered by a local fisherman in 2000.
Location of the USS Emmons
The Emmons sank about 10 minutes north-northeast off the coast of Kouri Island in northern Okinawa Prefecture.
Underwater photo of the USS Emmons
Emmons is getting older and older every day. We recommend diving while it still retains its original appearance. For best results, use a fisheye lens if you have a camera or a wide-angle lens if you have a GoPro.
Emmons' main gun bow
Near the bow of Emmons
Bow side of the hull
Memorial Plate
Stern propeller
Wreckage of the winch
Hull near the stern
Wreckage near the bow
How to Dive Emmons
Taking into account the current direction, the captain will instruct you to decide whether to enter from the bow or stern. After entering from the boat, you will descend using a rope. As the current is often strong, you will use a rope both for descending and ascending. The maximum depth is around 40m, so the dive time is short, between 15 and 25 minutes. Dive without displaying the DECO on your computer. As the water is deep and there is not much time to relax, your guide will explain in advance where to take photos. There will be no drift diving.
Prices for overseas customers
All rental equipment is free. Events are held for one person or more, and free pick-up and drop-off within Naha city is provided. Lunch and food and drink fees are not included.
If you bring your own regulator, please note that Japanese tanks are yoke-type, so if you use a DIN-type regulator, be sure to bring an adapter. In Japan, both steel tanks and aluminum tanks are used.
Discount Services
- If you bring all your own equipment, you will receive a discount of 3,000 yen per day on all diving courses.
- Write a review on Google and TripAdvisor, and we'll give you a 2,000 yen discount.
USS Emmons diving price
| Sites | 2 dives | 3 dives |
|---|---|---|
| USS Emmons | 35,000 yen | （38,000 yen） |
Generally, there are only two dives scheduled in the morning. *If you absolutely want to do three dives, we can discuss it, but if the boat does not depart, you will only be able to do two dives as usual.
Rental fee (per day)
BCD, Regulator, Mask, Fins
Free
Wetsuits
Free
Dive computer
Free
Signal float
Free
Dive lights
Free
GULL Barracuda fin (LONG)
3,000 yen
- If you wish to rent fins, please bring your own socks. Regular socks are fine, not for diving.
Items not included in the Prices
Lunch and your own drinks
Payment Methods
Payment will be made after the dive. Payment can be made by cash or credit card. We accept major credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, and Diners.
Schedule and season
These tours are always available upon request. If you are interested, please contact us to discuss dates and other details. Tours are available for one person or more. The Emmons point is vulnerable to north winds, so in winter when the north wind blows every day, the water can be rough and the boat can rock. Also, tours are canceled when there is a strong north wind. In summer, southerly winds create calm sea conditions, making it easier to dive at Emmons.
Reservation process
For diving inquiries and reservations, please use the inquiry form, reservation form, email, Instagram DM, etc. First, please let us know your desired date and time, and we will check whether the event is possible based on the boat's availability.
Inquiries and reservations
Please feel free to contact us and make a reservation. → Contact page
Checking the ship
Check availability on the ship you wish to board.
Your reservation will be confirmed by contact from our store.
Once the boat arrangements are complete, we will contact you and confirm your reservation.
Daily Schedule
We will pick you up at your hotel on the morning of your dive. Please wait in front of the hotel 5 minutes before the agreed time. Pick-up is possible within Naha city, but there are areas where pick-up is possible. Therefore, if you wish to be picked up, please be sure to stay at a hotel in Naha city. *If there are no other reservations, we can discuss the hotel for pick-up.
→Click here for the pick-up area
A sample schedule for the day is shown below. You can stop by a convenience store along the way in the morning. During peak seasons, there is also a pattern of one dive in the morning and one in the afternoon.
| 6:00~6:15 | Hotel pick-up |
| 8:30 | Departure |
| 8:50 | Start diving |
| 12:30 | Lunch on the way home |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | Hotel drop-off |
We plan to have lunch on the way back after diving. If you want to go home as early as possible, just let us know and we'll have lunch as soon as possible.
Skills, items to bring, and precautions
- Deep diving (depth of 30m or more) license (e.g. PADI Advanced or above with Deep Specialty)
- No experience required
- Descending, ascending, and neutral buoyancy while clearing your ears smoothly
- Have deep diving experience
- I can swim to some extent, and I don't panic even when I'm drifting.
- You can take off your fins and get on the boat by yourself.
- Signal float can be raised on the water surface
- I can set up my own equipment and know my weights.
- I can do things for myself to a certain extent
- Follow the guide's instructions
- Please bring your own equipment that is in good condition. We are not responsible for any accidents caused by equipment problems.
- Signal floats, lights, and dive computers are essential. If you don't have them, please buy them before you come. They are also available for rental at our shop.
- Please use fins that you are familiar with, or full-foot fins that provide good propulsion, such as barracuda fins or pike fins.
- If the sea conditions are bad, the boat may be canceled.
- If the current is strong, we may have to exit early regardless of the dive time.