[Explore Okinawa Ocean]
In the 1980s, Yonaguni Monument was found in Yonaguni Island which is the westernmost island in Japan.
Even now, there is debate about whether the site is natural or a man-made artifact. We interviewed Kihachiro Aratake,
a discoverer of the site, about the fascination of diving at the Yonaguni underwater.
[Location]
-Underwater ruins
The underwater ruins of Yonaguni Island is a sunken structure located 100 meters off the coast of Arakawabana, on the southern shore of the island. A reef spanning more than 50 meters east and west, 150 meters north and south, and 25 to 26 meters high has patios, stairs, and ditches that look like gutters which seem to be fabricated by hand, making it look like a ruin. Although various investigations are being conducted, they have not yet reached a conclusion whether it’s manmade or was created by nature. If it’s indeed artificial, the distribution of plants and animals as well as stalactite signifies that it’s from over 10,000 years ago, making it the world’s oldest ancient ruin.It’s a famous diving spot, but recently, it can be seen from above sea in a glass bottom boat.
AloJapan.com