USS EMMONS

The USS Emmons: Okinawa's Premier WWII Wreck Dive

Resting in the deep blue waters off the coast of Kouri Island in northern Okinawa, the USS Emmons (DD-457/DMS-22) is one of the most significant and awe-inspiring World War II shipwreck dives in the world. This 106-meter-long Gleaves-class American destroyer offers advanced divers an unforgettable journey through time, serving as both a thrilling technical dive and a somber underwater war memorial.

The History: A Solemn Memorial On April 6, 1945, during the fierce Battle of Okinawa, the USS Emmons was heavily engaged in supporting Allied minesweeping operations alongside her sister ship, the USS Rodman. The ship became the target of an intense, relentless wave of Japanese kamikaze suicide planes.

Despite the crew's heroic efforts to defend the vessel, the Emmons was struck by five direct kamikaze hits in rapid succession, suffering catastrophic structural damage and heavy casualties. The following day, April 7, to prevent the crippled ship from drifting into enemy hands, a fellow U.S. vessel was ordered to scuttle her. She sank to the seabed, remaining forgotten by the public until her rediscovery in early 2001.

The Dive: What to Expect The USS Emmons rests completely upright on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of roughly 40 to 45 meters (131 to 150 feet). The top of the ship's deck sits around 34 meters, making this an aggressive recreational or light technical profile with short No-Decompression Limits (NDL).

Divers typically access the site via a short speedboat ride from Kouri Island. Because the site is prone to strong currents that can reach up to 2 knots, descents and ascents are strictly managed using fixed mooring buoy lines.

As you descend through the blue, the massive silhouette of the destroyer materializes. Key highlights of the dive include:

• The Bow and Weaponry: Huge bow guns and massive cannons still point defiantly toward the surface.

• The Twin Screws: At the stern, two massive 2-meter bronze propellers remain perfectly intact, making a popular backdrop for photography.

• Kamikaze Remnants: In the debris field near the heavily damaged center section, careful observers can view scattered parts, including the engine block of a Japanese kamikaze aircraft.

While schools of batfish, glassfish, and macro life like nudibranchs frequent the hull, the true attraction is the sheer historical weight and scale of the intact warship.

Diver Requirements & Conditions Due to the profound depth, potential for low visibility, and sudden, strong currents, the USS Emmons is strictly restricted to intermediate and advanced divers. It is not a place for beginner check-dives.

• Certifications: Advanced Open Water (AOW) is required. A Deep Diver Specialty and Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) certification are highly recommended to safely extend your bottom time.

• Experience: Most local operators require a minimum of 30 to 50 logged dives and excellent buoyancy control.

• Best Season: The tour runs year-round, but summer offers optimal conditions with gentle southerly winds. Winter north winds can trigger heavy swells, frequently causing trip cancellations

• Scuba diving

• ALL INCLUSIVE: equipment, tanks, boat, guide.

• (2tank): ¥28,000 per person - (tanks included)