37 Year Old Scuba Diver Dies After Breathing Difficulty During 35 Metre Wreck Dive in Okinawa
A 37 year old woman has died after developing breathing difficulties while scuba diving at approximately 35 metres near a wreck off Kouri Island in Okinawa, Japan. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The incident occurred on 23 September 2026 off Kouri Island, near Nakijin Village in Okinawa Prefecture.
According to the Nago Coast Guard, the woman, who lived in Aichi Prefecture, had travelled to Okinawa alone and joined a commercial diving tour.
She began diving at around 8:00 am with an instructor and other participants.
At approximately 10:30 am, she entered the water for her second dive of the day.
Around ten minutes into the dive, while the group was at approximately 35 metres, the instructor noticed that something was wrong with her.
Local broadcaster Ryukyu Broadcasting reported that the woman had developed an abnormality in her breathing while diving near a sunken United States military vessel.
The instructor assisted the diver and brought her to the surface.
Once she was aboard the dive boat, she was found to be in cardiopulmonary arrest.
At around 11:00 am, the captain of the vessel contacted the Nago Coast Guard and reported that the woman was unconscious and that artificial respiration was being performed.
She was transported to a hospital in northern Okinawa, where medical treatment continued.
The woman was pronounced dead at approximately 2:30 am on 24 September.
Coast Guard Investigating the Incident
The Nago Coast Guard is interviewing the dive tour operator, instructor and other participants as part of its investigation into what happened during the dive.
Authorities have not announced the medical cause of death or established what caused the breathing difficulty reported underwater.
Available reports do not state whether the woman lost consciousness before reaching the surface.
Her diving certification, experience level, breathing gas, equipment condition, dive profile and ascent details have also not been publicly confirmed.
There is currently no evidence establishing equipment failure, running out of breathing gas, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, drowning or a medical condition as the cause of the incident.
Those possibilities should therefore not be presented as established explanations while the investigation remains ongoing.
The Nago Coast Guard has also reminded divers to pay close attention to their physical condition when participating in diving activities.
Sources
Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting, citing the Nago Coast Guard
Okinawa Television, FNN Prime Online
Ryukyu Broadcasting, TBS News DIG
Developing story: Diventures will update this article if Japanese authorities release further information about the circumstances or cause of death.
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