Diving trip from Japan to.....Okinawa? Guam? Saipan?

Question

Hi!
We are planning to go for scuba diving from Japan, where we plan to go over the new year.
The candidate places are Okinawa, Guam or Saipan which all are up to 3 hours away.

We are really interested to go to Okinawa, but
1. I read Japanese dive shops might not have large size wetsuit for my partner (>180cm).
2. I understand the language but not my partner.

Is it better to go to guam, saipan where he also can communicate(English)? Also the water seem warmer there....

I still think our first option is Okinawa so I need to be convinced.
Has anyody been diving in Okinawa (maybe on one of the american diveshops in Oki where they might have L size gear?)? What did you like? Which of the islands in Oki should I go for? Is January too cold?

Many questions... I hope I get many answers!

Hi! Thx for the answers so far. Yup, Palau seem fantastic but unfortunately they only had one week plan from Osaka. We can only fit in max 4-5 days into the schedule.....but I can find good deal with flight/hotels.
More ideas welcome!!

Answer 1

Okinawa (Kerama Islands)
http://www.pbase.com/the_underwater_world/kerama_islands
would be best but it will be too cold in January. I would go to Palau as the average temp. is about 28C and Palau is very good for diving!
http://www.palau-net.jp/point/9point-e.html

Answer 2

okinawa is in the top 5 places in the world to dive. i know that because i lived there for 3 years. i would recommend okinawa out of the list. hope you have fun wherever you go! i think that january would be a little too chilly.....best to wait til spring or summer, but anywhere on the island is a good place to go.

Answer 3

Don't overlook Palau, where you can speak English and Japanese at the same time!

Answer 4

saipan has gorgeous dive sites and it is very cheap to dive there. everybody speaks english so that won't be a problem. i went and loved it.