A must-see for divers! About popular diving sites in Kerama (Kameyoshi, Nozaki, Otokawa, Shimosone, Dragon Lady)

What are the Kerama Islands like?

The Kerama Islands are an archipelago of 36 islands of various sizes, located about 40 km west of Naha City.

Many tourists enjoy marine activities in the world-famous beautiful blue sea.

Also, the Kerama Islands can be reached by ferry or high-speed boat in 10 to 40 minutes, making it possible to fully enjoy the islands on a day trip.

 

Attractions of Kerama

There are many attractive points in the Kerama Islands.

Although there are only four inhabited islands in the archipelago, some of the uninhabited islands are maintained by tour companies and are recommended for those who have never visited the islands before.

 

Kerama blue that fascinates the world

The "Keramas blue," or crystal clear waters, are loved by divers from all over the world.

Its crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and diving, as the seafloor can be clearly seen even from above the water.

 

A sanctuary for marine activities

Most tourists visiting the Kerama Islands experience marine activities.

There are tours that include a photo shoot with sea turtles, and marine goods can be rented locally as well, making it possible to have an experience even if you do not have anything to hand as long as you are wearing a bathing suit.

Snorkeling, diving, and parasailing are especially popular.

 

Magnificent Nature

The Kerama Islands are as famous for their natural beauty as they are for their sea.

In March 2014, it was recognized as the 31st national park in Japan.

Visitors can enjoy scenery that cannot be seen in Honshu, such as hibiscus in bloom year-round and Kerama azaleas in bloom in spring.

 

Attraction of Kerama Blue attracts divers from all over the world

 

Among the vast waters of Okinawa, these Kerama blue waters are especially famous for their clarity.

Because of its beauty, divers from all over the world come to the Kerama Islands to enjoy diving.

Depending on the dive site, there is a good chance of encountering sea turtles and manta rays.

 

Enjoy diving in some of the world's best waters!

There are many easy diving tours in the Kerama Islands.

Of course, you will be accompanied by an instructor, so you can enjoy yourself with peace of mind.

Because they are local staff, they are familiar with each dive site and can guide you to the best dive site of the day!

 

Diving Attraction

Here are some of the diving attractions you can enjoy in the Kerama Islands!

 

Enjoy one of the most beautiful seas in Okinawa.

After all, the crystal clear waters are very attractive.

The waters of the Kerama Islands are outstandingly beautiful, even among the beautiful and famous seas of Okinawa, and are truly ideal for diving.

The way the sunlight reflects off the white sands of the ocean floor and makes them sparkle is as lovely as a painting.

 

Mysterious deep-sea world

One of the most exciting aspects of diving is the ability to dive deep into the ocean.

Snorkeling only allows you to go to shallow depths underwater, but diving allows you to go toAbout 20 to 30 metersThe dive can be done up to

The deeper the water, the more colorful the spectacle, since some coral reefs remain in their natural state.

 

A wide variety of organisms can be observed.

The seas of Okinawa are often inhabited by different species than those of Honshu.

Okinawa's mild year-round climate attracts a variety of tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays to its waters.

It is not always possible to see them, so we are very happy when we encounter them.

 

Types of Diving

There are two main types of diving: "experience diving" and "fun diving.

Make sure you understand the characteristics of each and enjoy the diving experience that suits you best.

　

Experience Diving

Experience diving is diving accompanied by an instructor.

Since a diving license is not required, anyone in good physical and mental health can enjoy the experience.

However, since diving is limited to what the instructor can lead, it is less flexible than the fun diving described below.

After many diving experiences, it is not uncommon to feel inadequate.

 

fun diving

Fun diving is available to licensed divers.

With a license, you can do fun diving at diving spots in Japan and around the world.

Divers dive in pairs, checking each other's safety.

As long as you don't do anything dangerous, you can explore the water with a certain degree of freedom.

Depending on the type of license, you can dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters, but the deeper you go, the greater the risk, so a depth range of up to 30 meters is recommended.

 

A must-see for divers! Popular dive sites in Kerama

There are many diving spots in the Kerama Islands, and we will introduce some of the most popular ones!

 

yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)

Kamekichi is a dive site off the coast of Gishibu Island.

 

Point Features

As the name suggests, there is a very good chance of encountering sea turtles here.

There are several species of sea turtles found in Japan, but the "taimai" species appears frequently in Kameyoshi.

They often feed on coral and can be photographed if you approach slowly.

You are also likely to see the famous tropical fish, such as the clownfish, clownfish, and the white-spotted clownfish.

 

Access

To reach Kameyoshi, take a boat to the north of Tokashiki Island.

 

hills and fields

Nozaki is a dive site off the coast of Tokashiki Island.

　　

Point Features

This place is famous for its many coral reefs.

The coral is powerful, with thousands of debasseled sparrows swimming above the coral.

If you are lucky, you can also encounter green turtles, glaucon, and pygmy sea dragons.

Please note that Nozaki is about 25 meters deep, which is surprisingly deep.

 

Access

To reach Nozaki, take a boat to the northwest of Tokashiki Island and proceed for about 50 minutes.

 

male rock

Otoko-iwa is a dive site off the coast of Zamami Island.

The name "Otokoiwa" is written "Ugan" (male rock).

 

Point Features

As the name suggests, the area is surrounded by dynamic terrain with very majestic large rocks standing around it.

In this area, you can see spiny eels, dogtooth tuna, bigeye jacks, pygmy seahorses, and more.

Because of its topography, this is a dive site for advanced divers, so it is recommended that you visit only after you have gained sufficient experience.

 

Access

To reach Otoko-iwa, proceed by boat to the northeast of Zamami Island.

 

bottom of the earth

Shimosone is a dive site off the coast of Kuba Island.

 

Point Features

Because there is nothing around Shimosone, the sea is very susceptible to the impact of waves.

The reason for the popularity of this advanced dive site is that the fish found here are very abundant.

At a depth of about 40 meters, you can see a "fish curtain" made up of large numbers of dogtooth tuna and bluefin tuna.

 

Access

To reach Shimosone, proceed by boat to the south from Kuba Island at the end of the Kerama Islands.

 

dragon lady

Dragon Lady is a dive site off the coast of Zamami Island.

 

Point Features

This point was used as a filming location for the 1989 movie "When She Wears a Swimsuit".

The plane built for the set still remains, and the name of this plane became the name of the dive site.

The fuselage has deteriorated and is already in pieces, but some of its parts remain discernible.

 

Access

To reach Dragon Lady, proceed by boat to the east of Zamami Island.

 

Three recommended diving tours

Here are three recommended diving tours you can experience in the Kerama Islands!

However, please note that a license is required for fun diving, so please be careful when choosing a tour.

 

summary

What do you think about the diving experiences available in the Kerama Islands?

In addition to the dive sites introduced here, there are many more.

We encourage you to visit various places and find the one that best suits your taste!