Japan’s Kerama Islands are an incredible destination for divers of every skill level. With pristine, crystal clear water and visibility that sometimes exceeds thirty meters, plus a wealth of amazing marine life, including rare tropical fish and crustaceans, plus many larger marine mammals and other creatures, these islands feature gently sloping reefs and mostly shallow depths. With nearly 80 named dive sites, the islands have much to offer, and have even made it onto CNN’s top ten list of the best places to dive in Asia. Understandably, choosing favorites can be difficult; here are just five of the best to help you get started.
Gina
Also known as Turtle Point, Gina is located just offshore from a beach on Aka Island, where sea turtles journey to lay their eggs each year. Renowned for its beautiful coral formations, it is home to a wealth of magnificent reef fish, including aquamarine colored damsels, butterfly fish, anthia, Moorish idols, and others. With light currents and maximum depth at just fifteen meters, the reef begins in only three meters of water and is suitable for all divers. Look for manta rays during the summer months.
Kamiyama South
Beginning at a depth of just three meters, and descending to meet the ocean floor at a depth of twenty-five meters, this beautiful offshore reef features gentle conditions and is suitable for all divers. With magnificent coral formations as well as heaps of boulders, soaring arches and steep crevasses, its landscape is simply fantastic, creating an underwater labyrinth where moray eels, octopus, squid, small sharks, and lots of colorful fish and crustaceans can be found. An excellent site for both macro and wide angle photography, it is a favorite for night dives and is usually calm even when other sites are blown out.
Aharen Lighthouse
Named for the lighthouse at Tokashiki Island, Aharen Lighthouse features beautiful coral formations, huge sponges, and a cavelike swimthrough with a large hole at the top where brilliant light from above creates an incredibly beautiful contrast with the darker blue shade among the boulders. Look for little sharks, moray eels, octopus, glassy sweepers and Moorish idols, tangs, and butterfly fish, along with barracudas and lots of snappers. Outside the hole, whimsical gobies perch outside their nests and an underwater cable leads away into the depths. Maximum depth is twenty meters, and as there is plenty to see in as little as eleven meters of water, the site is suitable even for beginning divers.
Jitsuru
A small rock located west of Gishippu Island, Jitsuru is fairly remote and features a massive coral garden with enormous sea fans, colorful bouquets of sponge, and enormous caves, as well as small drop offs and little caves where a wealth of marine life can be found in an endless kaleidoscope of color and motion. As there is quite a bit of current at this site, it is suitable for intermediate divers and above; that same current draws in shoaling dogtooth tuna and yellowtail, big barracudas, snappers, and big balls of baitfish. Maximum depth is 35 meters, and the amount of motion here makes the site ideal for underwater videography.
Ariga South
Located just off Tokashiki Island, this site is ideal for photography and is suitable for all divers. Ariaga South is well known for its enormous sea fans, some of which are larger than the divers who come here in droves, as well as for its fantastic coral formations. You’ll find schooling yellowtail sergeants, toothy barracuda, and plenty of colorful tropical species, not to mention spindly-legged crabs and stealthy lobsters. Maximum depth here is just twenty meters, and the reef begins in only four meters of water. Currents can be strong at times, allowing for a pleasant drift dive.
To see the whales that visit, come during the winter months when the humpbacks pass through the islands during their annual migration from Alaska. Protected by Japanese and international laws, these magnificent whales can sometimes be heard singing in the distance, their plaintive cries ringing off the rocks and coral in a tapestry of sound that is unforgettable. Whale watching tours are available, and in Zamami Harbor, school children have built a life-size model of a breaching humpback. During the summer, enormous manta rays with six meter wingspans gather to feed on the plankton, and if you’re lucky enough to dive at this time, you’ll be taken to areas where the mantas like to feed. No matter when you visit, you’ll enjoy this paradise, where local people are in tune with nature and Japanese hospitality is at its finest.