SeaConditions

1. The sea conditions for water related activities on Okinawa will be highly variable for any set of weather changes. The enclosed information , provides the prescribed island-wide military warning system implemented when weather conditions result in hasardous sea and surf conditions.

Note: Each individual is responsible to determine current Sea Conditions, and to assess specific conditions at their proposed dive site. Each diver should weigh their skill level prior to entering the water.

Kadena Air Base Weather is responsible for determining sea conditions based on observed and forecast winds and sea states. Sea conditions are disseminate by updating the Kadena Weather Flight telephone recording (634-4081) and by advising the American Forces Network (AFN)

Okinawa is divided into 2 Sectors for Sea Conditions Caution and Warning:

SECTOR              LOCATION                                                           WINDS DIRECTIONS

WEST (W)        East China Sea shoreline, Hedo PT (Northern tip)                                      North, Northwest,
                                    West down to Cape Kiyan (Southern Tip)                                                West, and Southwest

EAST (E)           Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Hedo Point (Northern tip)                                   Northeast, East, South,
                                    East down to Cape Kiyan (Southern tip)                                                 and Southeast

The Sea Conditions Warning System has 3 Conditions:

CONDITION        DEFINITION                   CRITERIA                             RULE

CAUTION (C) Conditions which may           Issued after 18 knot winds, including gusts,         Exercise caution if entering the water.
                                     cause damage to property        have been observed on Okinawa for 6 hours or      Only personnel who can accurately assess
                                     or cause minor injury            otherwise adverse sea conditions have been            local conditions should enter the water.
                                                          observed and reported
WARNING (W) Conditions which may           Issued after 25 knots winds, including gusts,         Exercise extreme caution if entering the
                                    be life threatening                  have been observed for at least 3 hours or             water. Only personnel who can accurately
                                                                             otherwise dangerous sea conditions have been        assess local conditions, have extensive
                                                         observed and reported.                           experience/training in the water activity,
                                                                                                                                                 have a need to enter, and if the planned
                                                                                                           water activity warrants, should enter the water.

RED (R)            Conditions which are deemed    Issued after 34 knot winds, including gusts,        No entry into the water;
                                   to be life threathing and will     have been observed for on Okinawa and are          EXIT if in the water!
                                   cause damage to property or      expected to persist for at least 3 hours or
                                   cause life threatening injury.     during Tropical Cyclone Condition of
                                                                              readiness (TCCOR) 1 Caution, island wide.

SEA Condition advisories could be displayed as: SC-WC, SC-EC, SC-WW, SC-EW, or SC-R