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- Diving in KERAMA ISLANDS
Pure white sands and blue water,
Diving in KERAMA ISLANDS
Diving information about Kerama Islands, the most popular destination in Okinawa for foreigners who love beaches. It’s also packed with useful information for your trip, such as the best seasons for diving and the underwater creatures you can see!
The beautiful clear blue seawater is called Kerama Blue and is popular with Japanese divers.
Photo by Yoichi Miyahira
Overview of Kerama Islands
Located about 40km west of Naha, the Kerama Islands consist of four inhabited islands - Tokashiki Island (Tokashikijima), Zamami Island (Zamamijima), Aka Island (Akajima), and Geruma Island (Gerumajima) - and over 20 uninhabited islands. The islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, with beaches dotting the coastline, and in the summer many tourists visit to enjoy snorkeling among the beautiful beaches and coral seas.
In winter, humpback whales come to the Kerama Islands to breed and raise their calves, making whale watching a popular activity. There are nearly 100 dive sites, including many calm sites suitable for beginners. The Kerama Islands were designated a national park in 2014.
Tokashiki Island
A beach in the Aharen area where many guesthouses, diving centers, and restaurants are located
The largest island, located 35km off the coast of Okinawa's main island. It is the closest of the four inhabited islands, about an hour from Naha, and is popular for its easy access and the rich nature of its subtropical vegetation. The surrounding sea is so beautiful that visibility is said to be up to 50 meters, making it popular with divers and beach lovers alike. There are three villages on the island: Tokashiki, where Tokashiki Port is located, Tokashiku in the central west part of the island, and Aharen, which has beautiful beaches. Tokashiki, where high-speed boats and ferries from Naha arrive, is the administrative center where the village office is also located, and Aharen is home to many diving services and guesthouses.
Zamami Island
There is a whale sculpture in Zamami Port.
Zamami Island is located almost in the center of the Kerama Islands and is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. Of the four inhabited islands it is the most populated. Many tourists visit on day trips from the main island of Okinawa, but if you want to do diving, we recommend staying on the island. From summer to autumn, you can enjoy diving in the sea with some of the world's best coral reefs, and from winter to spring, you can enjoy whale watching. Zamami, the center of the island, has many izakayas（Japanese style pub） and shops, and there are plenty of things to enjoy after diving.
Aka Island, Geruma Island
Aka Bridge connects Geruma Island and Aka Island.
Aka and Geruma islands are two small islands that line up from north to south in the south west of Zamami Island. The two islands are connected by a bridge, allowing travel between them by land. Most of the islands are covered in lush greenery, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The Kerama deer is the southernmost wild deer in Japan, living in the Kerama Islands, and is designated as a national natural monument.
On these two islands, you can sometimes see the Kerama deer, a protected species, and observe its precious ecology. Additionally, Nishibama, located northeast of Aka Island, is a beautiful white sand beach that has been used as a location for many Japanese movies. It is also a great place to enjoy snorkeling.
Season Calendar for Divers
The best season is from summer to autumn, when large schools of golden sweeper, swallowtail cardinalfish, and colorful fish such as damselfish and angelfish gather, making the sea very lively. This is also the season when you are more likely to encounter large fish, and you may be able to dive or snorkel with manta rays. In addition, the stable sea conditions make it easy to visit open ocean spots such as Shimosone, where you can enjoy outstanding visibility and encounters large migratory fish such as dogtooth tuna. On the other hand, in winter, strong north winds can sometimes make the sea rough, but the appeal of the Kerama Sea is that it is surrounded by islands, so there are always dive sites where you can avoid the wind. During the humpback whale migration season from December to April, you can enjoy whale watching and you may even hear the whales singing while diving.
Dive Sites in Kerama islands
There are many dive sites in the Kerama Islands that can be reached by boat. There is a huge variety of dive sites, from calm inner bays with almost no current to dynamic open ocean spots where you can enjoy drift diving, so there is something for everyone, from beginners to advanced divers.
Nishibama
The photogenic underwater scenery is popular among divers who love underwater photography.
Photo by Yoichi Miyahira
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 25m
Currents: sometimes strong
Distance: 5 to 10 min. from Zamami port or Aka port
They are representative dive sites in Kerama Islands. They are on the east side of Aka Island and are named No. 1, 2, and 3 according to the location of the buoys. There are many rocks in the vast sandy area, and the highlights include the cardinalfish, anthias, schools of golden-striped fish, red spotted groupers, and garden eels. Another attraction is that rare creatures can often be found here.
Amuroushiji
Inside the cave, you can see schools of bright red Blotcheye soldierfish.
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 15m
Currents: sometimes strong
Distance: 5min. from Zamami port/ 20min. from Aka port
This dive site has the ocean floor covered with table coral, and tropical fish such as anthias and damselfish dance above it, creating a colorful underwater scene. Popular creatures such as ribbon eels and clownfish can also be seen. As the current can be strong, you may need to do a drift dive.
Amurogyosho
The area around the stacked blocks is a perfect habitat for fish.
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 15m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 8min. from Zamami port / 10min. from Aka port
A dive site located in the northwest of Amuro Island. It is perfect for enjoying fish watching, you can observe over 100 types of fish. The fish reef, made of stacked blocks, is home to many living creatures, schools of swallowtail fish and barracudas can be seen floating in the mid-depth. The deepest part is only about 15m deep, so it is generally shallow, making it accessible for even beginners to enjoy.
Shimosone
Skill level: from intermediate
Maximum depth: 40m
Currents: sometimes very strong
Distance: 15 to 25 min. from Zamami port / 15min. from Aka port
An underwater reef located in the open sea south of the Kerama Islands. The strong tidal currents mean a high chance of encountering large migratory fish.
The dynamic rocks rising from the 30m seabed give you the feeling of flying. The outstanding visibility of 30 to 50 meters is also an attraction not to be missed. The water is prone to roughness in winter, so this is a summer only dive site.
Ugan
A dive site where you can see schools of migratory fish such as tuna, dogtooth tuna, and skipjack tuna.(Photo by Toshitaka Miyazaki, Teeda marine)
Skill level: advanced diver
Maximum depth: 25m
Currents: Sometimes very strong
Distance: 5 to 10 min. from Zamami or Aka port / 16min. from Tokashiki port
Located northeast of Zamami Island, this is one of the most popular dive sites in the Kerama region. The huge rocks rising from a depth of 40m are very impressive. As it faces the open ocean and has strong tidal currents, there is a high chance of encountering large fish such as dogtooth tuna and rainbow amberjack. If you look near the surface, you may see manta rays. There are also small marine life, including the Akebono goby (Purple fire goby).
Nozaki
A dive site with little current and calm waters. Enjoy fish watching.
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 20m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 5 to 10min. from Aharen or Tokashiku beach,Tokashiki
Located near the northwestern tip of Tokashiki Island, this spot is famous for its beautiful coral. The gently sloping reef is covered with table corals and branch corals. Thanks to the strong tidal currents there is an abundance of soft corals, creating an underwater landscape that resembles the Dragon Palace. There are many cute creatures to see, such as clownfish and naked scorpionfish.
Uminchu
A school of Moontail bullsey can sometimes be seen around the fish reefs that line the sandy beaches.
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 8m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 3min. from Aharen port,Tokashiki Island
This dive site is located right in front of Tokashiku Beach and about 8 minutes from Aharen.
At a depth of about 20m an artificial reef was sunk, where schools of striped snapper, turban fish, red-spotted clownfish, and Kerama anthias are found. You can also see red clownfish on the sand.
Hanari
A dive site with a tropical underwater landscape！
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 8m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 3 min. from Aharen beach, Tokashiki
This dive site is on the uninhabited island Hanarijima, located off Aharen Beach on Tokashiki Island, and is very easily accessible, just a three-minute boat ride from Aharen. The pure white sand spreads across the shallow water, about 4 to 8m deep, and is dotted with rocks where cardinalfish and goldenrods gather. You can also see many shrimps and crabs.
Toudaishita
The light shining through the arches and tunnels is fantastic and beautiful.
Skill level: all levels
Maximum depth: 18m
Currents: nearly none
Distance: 5 to 13min. from Aharen or Tokashiku beach,Tokashiki
An attractive dive site with dynamic topography including caves and arches. Because it is located south of Tokashiki Island, it is accessible when the winter seasonal winds blow and it is possible to dive all year round. The caves and arches are home to many creatures that live in holes, so there is plenty to see. There is also a spawning ground for the Kobushime (Broadclub cuttlefish), where you can observe the spawning and hatching of the eggs.
Gallery of Kerama Islands
Butsubutsusango is a photogenic dive site with sea fans scattered across a gentle slope
A juvenile boxfish encountered at Sakubarugyosho. The Kerama Sea is a fun place to observe fish.
Nita Cave faces the north side of Zamami Island and is an easy dive site to visit in the summer. You can enjoy dynamic caves, grooves, holes, and arches.
Unannzaki is a dive site with beautiful coral and a fascinating terrain including tunnels and cracks.
Diving Shops in Kerama Islands
*Please note that not all diving shops on the list have English speaking staff.
*Please choose the diving shops at your own risk. We’re not responsible for any accidents / troubles.
Transportation
If you make a reservation in advance, guesthouses or diving centers will provide transportation from the ports on each island.
Zamami Island
The center of Zamami Island is Zamami Village, located around Zamami Port. This is the center of island life and tourism, with the village office, shops, restaurants, accommodations, and more. The village buses connect Zamami Port to Furuzamami Beach and Ama Beach. Some accommodations also offer rental bikes and bicycles.
Tokashiki Island
The island's two main villages are Tokashiki in the northeast and Aharen in the southwest. There is a local bus between the two villages with departures timed to the ferry timetable. It is also possible to rent a car, moped or bicycle at Tokashiki Port.
Aka Island
There are no local buses or taxis, so the only way to get around the island is by foot, rental bicycle or motorbike. Aka Island has many hills, so electric-assist bicycles are convenient. Bicycles and motorbikes can be rented at shops near the ferry terminal.
A Day of Diving in Kerama Islands
The types of diving boats vary depending on the diving centers. And travel time to each dive site also varies depending on the type of dive boat.
You can stay on either Zamami Island, Aka Island, Geruma Island, or Tokashiki Island, but since dive sites are scattered throughout the Kerama region, the diving locations and travel times will vary depending on which island you stay on.
Diving in the Kerama Islands is generally two dives per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but depending on the diving centers, you can do three or four dives per day upon request (some diving centers also offer night diving). Since the diving spots are close and the travel time is short, it is common to return to the island for lunch, but in summer you can also land on a deserted island and enjoy lunch and snorkeling.
A Day of Diving in Kerama Islands
The inhabited islands of the Kerama Islands have many diving centers, and the accommodations are mostly homely guesthouses and low-rise hotels, with no large or high-rise hotels. This keeps the idyllic island atmosphere intact, and makes the islands especially popular with tourists from Europe and the United States, among the remote islands of Okinawa.
Dive Inn Hama, a three-story inn right in front of the sea
Pension Seasir is located in a corner of the village with Maehama Beach on Aka Island right in front of you.
Travel Information
Access to Kerama Islands
To get to each island in the Kerama Islands, take a boat departing from Tomari Port in Naha.
To Zamami Island, Aka Island
About 1.5 to 2 hours by "Ferry Zamami"
About 1 hour by High-speed ferry "Queen Zamami"
To Tokashiki Island
Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes by "Ferry Kerama"
Approximately 35 minutes by "Marine Liner Tokashiki"
All of the boats depart from Tomari Port, but please note that the Queen Zamami and Marine Liner Tokashiki depart from the north pier of Tomari port. Tickets can be purchased on the first floor of Tomarin, the terminal building at Tomari Port, as well as in the passenger waiting room on the north pier. *Information current as of February 2020.
Internet
Free Wi-Fi access at the accommodations and diving centers.
Shopping
Each island has shops selling daily necessities, drinks, sweets, etc., and there are also souvenir shops in the villages and near the port.
Hospitals
There is one clinic on each island.
ATM/Money dispensers
There is only one ATM at the post offices on Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Tokashiki Island. On Tokashiki Island there is also an ATM operated by the Bank of Okinawa. They are closed on Sundays and holidays, and their operating hours are limited, so it is safer to prepare cash in Naha before traveling to the islands.
