At Okinawa Aquamarine, we welcome beginners, guests who aren’t confident swimmers, families, and older adults. We adjust our guidance to each guest’s experience and fitness level.

Safety comes first. Our staff listen to your concerns and help you enjoy the tour at a pace that feels comfortable.

Whether it’s your first time in the ocean, you’re bringing young children, or you haven’t snorkeled or dived in a while, we’ll walk you through everything step by step.

Here, you can learn about our team’s qualifications and experience, how we got into this work, and what matters to us when we’re out on the water. You’ll also get a sense of who we are.

“What are my guides like?”

If you’ve been wondering, we hope this page helps you get to know us—and leaves you thinking, “I’d like to go out on the water with this team.”

　　

Makoto Sone — Owner

How a Manga Got Me Into Diving

My interest in diving started in elementary school, when I read a manga called NINETEEN.
I saw the diving scenes and thought, “That looks like fun.”

Around age 20, I joined my university’s diving club and went on my first dive at Osezaki in Izu, Shizuoka. Being able to breathe underwater and explore that world amazed me. Before long, I was hooked.

I later qualified as a diving instructor in Australia.
Then I spent seven years working as an instructor at a dive shop on Kakeromajima, an island in Kagoshima.

An Experience That Changed How I Guide

Something happened while I was working on Kakeromajima that still shapes the way I guide today.

An older woman in the village, in her seventies or eighties, often told me she wanted to go into the ocean.
So we found a way for her to enjoy the water that suited her fitness level and didn’t ask too much of her.

For years afterward, she would happily tell me about that day.

That experience made me think:
“I don’t want to rule someone out because of their age alone. I want to take their wish to try seriously.”

I look for ways to help each person enjoy the sea and make memories within their abilities.
That approach still guides how I work with beginners and older guests.

Why I Started Aquamarine

After my years on Kakeromajima, I moved to Okinawa and worked at a dive shop in Naha.

Over time, I kept coming back to one thought:
“I want to spend more time with each guest.”

Everyone has different concerns, interests, fitness levels, and experience.
If someone is afraid to get in the water, we can start by practicing where they can stand or while they hold the boat’s ladder. If they tire easily, we can take breaks and go at a comfortable pace.
I wanted to make room for those differences and adapt our guidance to each person wherever possible.

That’s why I started Okinawa Aquamarine.

Helping People Leave Happy

What matters most to me is that our guests go home happy with their experience.

The best moments are seeing people’s faces when they come out of the water and hearing:
“That was so much fun!”
“Thank you!”

Through Okinawa Aquamarine, I want to keep doing something simple:
Help people find happiness in the sea.

Whether it’s your first time in the ocean, a family outing, or something you almost gave up on because of your age, I want you to leave thinking, “I’m glad I came.”

A Little About Me

I’d describe myself as “a little short-tempered and impatient”—with a laugh!

But guests often tell me:
“You’re a funny guy.”

I take safety on the water seriously, but I also like to keep things relaxed. There’s room for jokes and a good laugh during the tour.

If you ask what kind of guests I get along with best, my answer is:
“Anyone who can put up with my silliness!”

I hope you enjoy the time you spend with us as much as the time you spend in the water.

If you’re nervous because it’s your first time, you’re welcome here. We’ll help you feel comfortable from before you get in the water until it’s time to head home.