Spearfishing in Okinawa: Can a Beginner Do It? Ages, Rules, Gear and Prices Explained
"I want to try spearfishing in Okinawa." Diving with a hand spear and taking a fish by your own effort is a completely different kind of satisfaction from snorkeling. Can a beginner do it? What age can you start? What rules apply, and what does it cost? A guide who runs the tour explains.
What spearfishing is, and how it differs from snorkeling
Spearfishing means freediving with a hand spear (yasu) and taking a fish by your own effort. Unlike snorkeling, where you watch, there is a hunt: spotting, approaching, striking — and the satisfaction when it works is a different thing entirely. It is harder than it looks; how you move as you close in, and how you hold yourself underwater, decide everything. That is exactly why the guide's coaching makes such a difference. Note that we use a hand spear, not a speargun.
Can a beginner do it? We teach the diving first
You can join even if you have never freedived. We do not start by hunting: breath-hold, equalising and the jackknife descent are practised on land and in the shallows first. For the spear itself we cover stance, aiming and safe handling from the basics. Expect 60–90 minutes in the water and three to four hours overall. Because it is one group per day, fully private, we can shift how long we spend teaching to match your group — and solo guests are welcome.
Ages and rules: enjoy it within the rules of the sea
Because a hand spear is involved, this tour is for ages 12 to 60 (junior high school and up). Younger children can come along only to watch and snorkel with a guardian; if you want the whole family in the water, our snorkeling tours take children from age 3. Okinawa's sea also has rules about fishing rights and creatures that may not be taken (coral, giant clams and so on). A guide is always with you and keeps the day within those rules, and will explain what happens to any fish you take. We would like this to stay a sport the reef can sustain.
Prices, what to bring, and how to book
Prices are ¥17,000 for one, ¥11,000 each for two, ¥10,000 each for three or more (maximum four per group), including the hand spear, mask, fins, life jacket, hotel pickup and photo data. Bring a swimsuit and a towel — that is all. Pickup covers the Chatan, Yomitan and Onna areas, and you can ride back still wet. Your guide films you underwater with an action camera and the photo data is free. We run in the rain, but cancel if wind or swell exceed our safety limits, with a new date or a full refund. Same-day and next-day bookings are welcome — LINE and the contact form are open 24/7.