Omijima Island in Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park, Japan

Alps of the sea. Marine Day in Japan

The sheer cliffs and dramatic angles of Omijima Island have earned it the nickname The Alps of the Sea. But this striking coastline, dotted with sea stacks, is found on the other side of the world, at Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park, in Yamaguchi, Japan. Year-round scuba diving adventures reveal a world under the waves just as beautiful as the one above the surface.

Today Japan celebrates Marine Day. Also known as Ocean Day or Sea Day, Marine Day is a celebration of the life-giving waters that surround the island nation. Families may spend the day - usually celebrated on the third Monday of July - visiting beaches to swim, snorkel, surf or dive. National aquariums also host special water-related events on this day.