Let's enjoy marine sports in Kerama! Introducing popular tours for children and adults!
Table of Contents
What are the Kerama Islands like?
The Kerama Islands are a group of islands belonging to Okinawa Prefecture, located about 40 km west of Naha City.
There are a total of about 20 islands of various sizes, with beautiful waters stretching between them.
Since 2005, part of the area has been registered as a Ramsar site, and it is an attractive tourist destination with much rich nature.
Attractions of Kerama
The main attraction of the Kerama Islands is the beautiful, crystal-clear waters that cannot be seen anywhere else.
Dotted with many islands, it offers numerous dive sites, including drop-offs and caves, and is considered a favorite destination for both domestic and international divers.
Kerama blue that fascinates the world
The sea of the Kerama Islands is also known as "Kerama blue.
The sea of the Kerama Islands is so uniquely beautiful and clear blue that it has become a special place for divers and tourists alike.
The establishment of part of the area as a Ramsar site and a national park has helped to protect much of the natural environment, allowing the waters of the Kerama Islands to remain the Kerama blue color that attracts people from all over the world.
A sanctuary for marine activities
The Kerama Islands are said to be a sacred place for marine activities.
In the clear blue waters, visitors can try a wide variety of activities, from standard diving to the more unusual SUP.
Magnificent Nature
It has been confirmed that the sea around the Kerama Islands is home to many organisms.
The area is home to about 360 species of fish and 1,640 species of corals and other invertebrates, making it like a natural aquarium once you dive into the sea.
Around the end of December each year, a pod of humpback whales also arrives for their breeding season.
The Kerama Islands are also one of the best whale-watching spots in Japan.
Attraction of Kerama Blue
White sand, many coral reefs, and clear blue waters are the charm of Keramas Blue.
By experiencing snorkeling and diving, visitors can enjoy the rich nature of the Kerama Islands.
Enjoy the tropical resort atmosphere to the fullest while in Japan.
Enjoy one of the best seas in the world!
Divers from all over the world visit the Kerama Islands.
Each of the islands, such as Zamami, Tokashiki, and Gahi, offers a different natural environment, so it is best to check carefully where and how you can enjoy your visit before you go.
What are Marine Sports?
Marine sports are sports that can be enjoyed in the sea.
There are many types, from the standard ones such as water motorcycles and banana boards to newer ones such as wakeboarding and SUP, each with its own unique and interesting features.
Marine sports in the blue sea are very popular on social networking sites, and in recent years have attracted a great deal of attention from young people.
Many marine sports can be enjoyed in the Kerama Islands, and we would like to introduce some of them to you.
Attraction of Marine Sports
The appeal of marine sports lies in the freedom that cannot be experienced on land.
The main feature is that you can experience both flying upward and diving downward.
And if you dive underwater, you will find yourself in a natural aquarium.
Enjoying sports while frolicking with colorful fish is one of the best parts of marine sports.
Active experiences are memories to last a lifetime.
Many marine sports are active, such as water motorcycles, which use water pressure to go through the water at high speed, and banana boats, which are towed by a water bike and run on the sea.
The exhilaration and thrill that can only be experienced on the water is sure to be addictive once experienced.
Among them, experiencing marine sports in the Keramas Blue, said to be the most beautiful in Japan, will be an unforgettable memory that you will never forget.
Enjoy a sense of oneness with the ocean
Diving, snorkeling, and other marine sports that take place underwater allow visitors to experience a sense of oneness with the ocean.
If you are lucky, you can even swim with dolphins and sea turtles.
Enjoy the Keramas blue as if you too were a sea creature.
Enjoyable for both children and adults.
Marine sports can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
Many thrill rides, such as banana boats, have age restrictions, such as 10 years and older, but there are also many that even small children can enjoy.
Another feature of marine sports is that they are easier for older people to enjoy than land-based sports.
We encourage parents and children of three generations to take up the challenge.
Major Marine Sports in Kerama
There are so many marine sports to enjoy in the Kerama Islands.
Please refer to the following pages for a detailed description of each one.
snorkeling
Snorkeling is a marine sport in which participants put on a snorkel, put their face in the ocean, and enjoy the underwater experience.
Even beginners can try marine sports, and even small children can enjoy them to the fullest.
Fun & Attraction
Snorkeling is done in shallow water.
Put on a snorkel and mask and enjoy an underwater walk.
The waters of the Kerama Islands are home to many colorful tropical fish.
Young children in particular will be delighted to be able to observe these fish up close and personal.
Snorkeling does not require any special licenses or qualifications, so as long as you have the right equipment, you can easily try it.
It is a great challenge for the whole family, from children to grandparents.
diving
There are two types of diving.
That is, experience diving and fun diving.
Experience diving is diving that can be done without a license, while fun diving is diving that can only be done with a C-card.
If you want to try diving in shallow water first, and if you want to dive further and see a different view, then by all means, try to get a license.
Fun diving allows you to dive to depths of up to 40 meters, so you can enjoy a different world from that of experience diving.
Fun & Attraction
Unlike snorkeling, diving involves going underwater while wearing a wetsuit and carrying an oxygen cylinder on your back.
It is a marine sport that allows people to swim underwater and view the ocean, and is said to be one of the most attractive features of this sport, which allows people to enjoy an "extraordinary" experience.
Especially in fun diving, where you can dive deeper, you may be lucky enough to swim with dolphins or sea turtles.
Fun diving in the clear blue Kerama Blue is especially popular because it feels as if you are flying through the air.
SUP
SUP is one of the newer marine sports that have become popular in recent years.
SUP is an abbreviation for "stand-up paddleboard.
As the name suggests, this activity involves standing on a special board and paddling through the water.
Fun & Attraction
To enjoy SUP, you must first practice standing on the board.
However, practice is not a problem with a little practice, as the boards are larger and more buoyant than surfboards.
Even first-timers can try it with confidence.
Unlike surfing, SUP is a marine sport that does not involve riding waves, but rather enjoying a walk on the water in calm waters.
Even those who are not fond of strenuous marine sports can easily enjoy them.
Floating above the Kerama Blue, you will feel as if you are floating on air.
Canoe/Kayak
Canoeing and kayaking are marine sports in which you paddle along in a boat.
A canoe is paddled by switching paddles with blades on only one end, and a kayak is paddled by moving paddles with blades on both ends around in a figure-eight motion.
Fun & Attraction
Canoeing and kayaking, which have attracted attention as an Olympic sport, have become increasingly popular in recent years, and more and more people are experiencing them on rivers and lakes in various regions.
Board the boat, paddle yourself, and make your way through the ocean.
The boat ride lowers your eye level considerably, so you can enjoy both the water and land views at once.
Canoeing and kayaking in the Keramas Blue are especially special.
Enjoy the magnificent nature to the fullest at your own pace.
banana boat
This is a marine sport in which participants ride on top of a banana-shaped boat and are towed through the water by a motorboat or other vehicle.
It looks cute, but it is actually a thrilling sport.
Fun & Attraction
If you lose your balance, you will be thrown into the sea in no time, so hold on to the boat tightly and enjoy the thrill of running through the water at high speed.
Running on the sea while splashing in the water is an exhilarating experience unlike anything you have ever experienced.
It is more enjoyable to ride in a large group because everyone can share the thrill of the ride.
Another attraction is that the experience is relatively inexpensive, with a per-person fee of about 1,500 yen, depending on the number of people riding.
jet ski
Jet skis are officially called water motorcycles.
A jet pump spurts out water, and the force of the jet pump makes the ride run on the water.
Fun & Attraction
To enjoy jet skiing, you must be certified as a "special small vessel pilot".
Not everyone can get on board, so let's start with certification.
Once certified, you can enjoy maritime adventures in the Kerama Islands.
In addition to dashing around, one of the attractions of the boat is that it can float on the sea and be fished.
Note, however, that there is a regulation that allows driving up to 2 nautical miles from the coast.
parasailing
Parasailing is a marine sport in which participants soar high into the sky while wearing a parachute and being towed vigorously by a water bike.
Its history is surprisingly old, having been created in France around 1962.
As it soars 70 to 200 meters above the ground, you will feel as if you were a bird.
Fun & Attraction
With a parachute attached, the boat is towed by a water bike and flies through the air in a kite-like manner.
It is said that the speed of the vehicle is 120 kilometers per hour when being towed, which is a thrilling experience.
The best part is the view from the sky.
The Keramas blue seen from the sky is spectacular.
If you come to Kerama, be sure to try parasailing.
fly-boat
Fly boating is a new marine sport that has been attracting attention in recent years and was just born in 2012.
In Japan, the number of people competing is still small, but in Europe and the United States, it has become a big breakthrough, with major competitions being held.
Fun & Attraction
Water discharged from a nozzle attached to the exhaust port of a water bike is let out from under the fly boat, and the water pressure is used to jump up into the air and enjoy a walk on the sea.
The boat dances in the air in an upright position, but after becoming accustomed to it, it can make 360-degree turns and run as if it were running on the surface of the sea.
The appeal of this product is that it can be played in a variety of ways, depending on your creativity.
Another key point is that you can play regardless of the weather.
If you don't have to worry about the weather, it will be easier to incorporate it into your travel plans.
Three recommended tours
There are several marine sport tours offered in the Kerama Islands.
Here we would like to recommend three of the best among many.
summary
We hope you enjoyed our introduction of marine sports that can be enjoyed in the Kerama Islands.
Marine sports in this beautiful sea, known as Kerama blue, will surely leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Please visit the Kerama Islands and experience marine sports.
