About Revisions Toilet Bowl Onna, Okinawa, Japan Max Depth: 111-120ft/34-37m Average Viz: 51-60ft/16-18m Entry Type: Shore Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Plenty To See Spring: 76-80°F/24-27°C Summer: 81-85°F/27-29°C Fall: 76-80°F/24-27°C Winter: 61-65°F/16-18°C 6/25/2012 9:19 AM

One look at the surge gushing in and out of this site’s horseshoe-shaped rim and its comical name becomes self explanatory.

The Bowl is located just south of Manza Beach off Highway 58. Take Highway 58 north. Once in the area of Manza start looking for a big fire station on the left and make a left off the highway just past the Manza Fire Station. Travel up a hill, then turn left after a log cabin. Take right on the first road. Head towards the column of trees, turn left and follow the tree line. You’ll see a narrow road on your right. (Only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles if it’s been raining.) Farther up, turn left at a straight paved road. You’ll see some houses and the ever present sugar cane fields to your left. At the end of the road, bear right and park in this area. A trail will lead you to the water line of the Bowl, which can be a little difficult with gear after a heavy rain. Watch out for the razor sharp limestone along this path as well.

On nice windless days, the Bowl can be calm. At times, though, the surge can be quite dangerous because of how quickly it flushes into the area. Before you get in the water, put on your mask, snorkel, and fins. Jump in using a giant stride method.At high tide it is approximately 12-feet deep at the edge. Once you’re in, quickly swim away from the edge of the bowl, or the surge could throw you back on the rim. You’re in for a treat once you’re underwater. The Bowl itself is quite small, and it Is highly recommended that you begin your dive from the right as the fishermen are generally on the left. Visibility is excellent, so much so that it’s hard to gauge your depth. Maintaining proper buoyancy and keeping aware of your depth is vital. On nice windless days, the Bowl can be calm. At times, though, the surge can be quite dangerous because of how quickly it flushes into the area. Before you get in the water, don your mask, snorkel, and fins. Jump in using the giant stride method. Once you’re in, quickly swim away from the edge of the bowl, or the surge could throw you back on the rim. Getting in may be difficult, but you’re in for a treat once you’re underwater. Visibility is excellent, so much so that it’s hard to visually gauge your depth. Maintaining proper buoyancy and keeping aware of your depth is vital. Exit with caution, and be sure to save enough air. Exiting is even more complicated than entering the Bowl. Rapidly changing currents and tides may make getting back on the rim difficult and hazardous. It is just easier pick another point like the peninsula at the side of the Bowl, and walk back. Ideal conditions exist along the outer most reef at about 30 feet. Here, coral and fish are most abundant and diverse. Nearer the reef tops are crinoids that range in hues of different colors. You may also notice the plentiful tan, fern like hydroids in the area. Hydroids can deliver a sharp, painful sting, so be on the lookout. The good news is that where you find hydroids, the sea turtle, the hydroid’s natural predator, may not be far behind. The Bowl is also noted for its underwater mountains, valleys, ravines, and caverns decorated with coral and inhabited by lots of fish. Years of coral growth and water movement have carved countless fissures, crevices, and caves. Because the surge delivers plentiful waterborne nutrients to the shallower caves it promotes the growth of specialized cave fauna. The deeper caves, meanwhile, harbor communities of schooling and solitary fish, crustaceans, and small sea fans.The many cracks and crevices attract large grouper and spiny lobster.Reef sharks have also been spotted at the bottom of the reef walls, chasing amber jack.Also on this side of the reef, water movement and coral growth have formed countless fissures, crevices, and caves. You can also explore valleys, ravines, caverns, and coral festooned undersea mountains. Toilet Bowl is noted as an underwater Mecca of mountains, valleys, ravines, and caverns decorated with coral and fish. The ever-present surge delivers plentiful waterborne nutrients to the shallower caves promoting the growth of specialized cave fauna.