Diving & Water Sports

1. スキューバダイビングや しーぶさいびーん。

   Sukyuuba daibingu ya shiibusaibiin.

   I'd like to go scuba diving.

   Usage

   Express interest in scuba diving

   Grammar Note

   The desiderative is the suffix -busjaN ("want to", attached to a verb stem); the stem of sjuN "to do" is sii, giving shiibusan. Examples: biNcooja siibusikoo neeNkutu saN ("I will not study because I do not want to") and siibusjahuNdee ("doing as one pleases"). The polite form replaces the ending with -saibiin, as with any adjective: shiibusaibiin, the same shape as naraibusaibiin.

2. ライセンスや いーびーが?

   Raisensu ya iibii ga?

   Is a diving certification required?

   Usage

   Ask if diving certification needed

   Grammar Note

   "Iyun" means "to need"; the polite form is "iibiin" and the negative is "irabiran" (I don't need it)

3. ウェットスーツぬ レンタルや まーんかい あいびーが?

   Uettosuitsu nu rentaru ya maa nkai aibiiga?

   Where can I rent a wetsuit?

   Usage

   Ask where to rent wetsuit

   Grammar Note

   "maa" = "where" and "nkai" is the locative particle "at/to"; "aibiiga" is the polite interrogative of "there is"

4. くぬダイビングスポットぬ ふかさや ちゃっさ やいびーが?

   Kunu daibingu supotto nu fukasa ya chassa yaibii ga?

   How deep is this dive site?

   Usage

   Ask dive site depth

   Grammar Note

   "chassa" is the Okinawan question word for quantity — it covers prices as well as measurements such as depth

5. くまんかい さばとぅ あぶなさる うみぬ いちむんや おーいびーみ?

   Kuma nkai saba tu abunasaru umi nu ichimun ya ooibiimi?

   Are there sharks or dangerous marine animals here?

   Usage

   Ask about marine hazards

   Grammar Note

   "ooibiimi" = polite "are there?" (for animate)

6. ちゅーぬ ダイビングぬ コンディションや ゆたさいびーみ?

   Chuu nu daibingu nu kondishon ya yutasaibiimi?

   Are conditions good for diving today?

   Usage

   Check diving conditions today

   Grammar Note

   "Yutasan" is the Okinawan word for "good"; "today" is "chuu", a different form from Japanese "kyoo"

7. シュノーケリングや しーぶさいびーん。

   Shunookuringu ya shiibusaibiin.

   I'd like to try snorkeling.

   Usage

   Express interest in snorkeling

   Grammar Note

   This has the same shape as sukyuuba daibingu ya shiibusaibiin: noun + ya + shiibusaibiin expresses a wish. The ending -misooree is the honorific imperative "please do" (as in kwimisooree), not a desiderative — it would turn the sentence into a request aimed at the listener. The wish is carried by the suffix -busjaN.

8. ボートダイブぬ よやくや できやびーみ?

   Booto daibu nu yoyaku ya dekiyabiimi?

   Can I book a boat dive?

   Usage

   Request boat dive booking

   Grammar Note

   "dekiyabiimi" = polite "can I?"

9. さんごしょーや まーんかい あいびーが?

   Sangoshoo ya maa nkai aibiiga?

   Where is the coral reef?

   Usage

   Ask coral reef location

   Grammar Note

   "maa nkai" = "maa" (where) + "nkai" (at/to), the standard Okinawan way to ask where something is

10. PADIぬオープンウォーターぬ ライセンス むちょーいびーん。

    PADI nu oopun wootaa nu raisensu muchooibiin.

    I'm a certified diver — PADI Open Water.

    Usage

    State your diving certification

    Grammar Note

    "Muchun" is "to hold"; its progressive is "muchoon", and "muchooibiin" is the polite form

11. サーフィンぬ レッスンや たぬまりーみ?

    Saafin nu ressun ya tanumariimi?

    I'd like a surfing lesson.

    Usage

    Request surfing lesson

    Grammar Note

    "Tanunun" is "to request"; its potential is "tanumariin", and the question form is "tanumariimi"

12. ながりとぅ しゅーぬ じょーきょーや ちゃー やいびーが?

    Nagari tu shuu nu jookyoo ya chaa yaibii ga?

    What are the current and tide conditions?

    Usage

    Check current and tide conditions

    Grammar Note

    "chaa" is the Okinawan question word for manner or state (Japanese "doo"); "chaa yaibiiga" means "how is it?"

13. みじぬみーでぃぬ きんきゅーサインや ぬーやいびーが?

    Mijinumii dinu kinkyuu sain ya nuu yaibii ga?

    What is the emergency signal underwater?

    Usage

    Ask about underwater emergency signals

    Grammar Note

    "Underwater" is miZinumii "inside the water, underwater" (example: ?ijoo miZinumii utiN ?iici siigisaN "fish seem to breathe even under water"). "Di" is the Okinawan form of the particle "de". "Nuu" is the Okinawan word for "what"

14. サーフボードぬ レンタルや できやびーみ?

    Saafuboodo nu rentaru ya dekiyabiimi?

    I'd like to rent a surfboard.

    Usage

    Request surfboard rental

    Grammar Note

    "dekiyabiimi" = polite "can I?"

15. しょしんしゃんかい いちばん ゆたさる スポットや まー やいびーが?

    Shoshinsha nkai ichiban yutasaru supotto ya maa yaibii ga?

    What's the best spot for beginners?

    Usage

    Ask for beginner-friendly spot

    Grammar Note

    "Yutasaru" is the attributive form of "yutasan" (good); "ichiban yutasaru" expresses the superlative "best"

16. くぬダイビングぬ じかんや ちゃっさ やいびーが?

    Kunu daibingu nu jikan ya chassa yaibii ga?

    How long is the dive?

    Usage

    Ask dive duration

    Grammar Note

    "chassa" is the Okinawan question word for quantity, also used to ask how long something takes

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