Kerama Islands diving: sites, levels and day trips

Gina, off Aka, is a beginner-friendly site with coral landscapes and a chance to see both green and hawksbill turtles.¹⁸ The listed depth is 25 m with minimal current, and no license is listed.² The site is a sensible place to practice buoyancy and to enjoy slow, relaxed time over coral, since nothing about the current rushes you. Take care not to disturb turtles, especially when they are sleeping or eating, and give them a clear route to the surface.¹⁹

Nishibama, also off Aka, is described by Visit Okinawa as one of the best spots in the Kerama Islands, with vibrant coral and species such as green chromis and pink basslet. Its listed depth is 26 m, the current is occasionally strong, and the level is beginner.³ Diving is regulated here to conserve the coral community, so use a licensed operator and follow their briefing.²⁰ Because the current is occasionally strong, ask about the conditions on the day and stay close to your guide.

Amuro Fish Reef is a shallow beginner site at 7 m deep with minimal current.⁴ Jeweled finger coral grows around artificial reefs, and you are asked to keep neutral buoyancy to avoid accidentally banging into the coral.¹⁷ Uminchu, off Tokashiku Beach on Tokashiki, is a beginner site at 25 m with an occasionally strong current, and its name means fisherman.⁵ Between them, these beginner sites cover coral gardens, turtles and artificial reefs, which is why they are the usual first choices for newer divers.

Ijyakajya is a manta cleaning station, where manta rays gather to be cleaned by other marine life, and you can often see mantas there between May and October.⁸ The listed depth is 30 m, the current is moderate, and the level is beginner, with no license listed.²¹ Treat the level label as the listing's own rating rather than a promise, and ask your operator whether your certification suits that depth.

There is usually a high chance of encountering sea turtles at the same site, according to Visit Okinawa.²⁵ That makes it a favorite with photographers who want both animals in one dive. Do not chase or touch the mantas; stay low, breathe slowly and let them come and go as they please. A cleaning station only works if the animals feel safe, so a calm group matters more than a close shot.

The season window is useful for planning. If the mantas are the aim, aim for May to October, and keep a spare day in case the sea turns rough, because a boat day can be canceled when conditions are poor. In winter you may swap mantas for whales on the surface, since humpbacks migrate to the Keramas then, though that season belongs to the boat tours and not to the dive sites above.¹⁵ A flexible itinerary is the best protection against disappointment.

Okinawa dive shops on the islands handle the boat, the tanks and the briefing, and Visit Okinawa recommends basing yourself on Tokashiki, Zamami, Aka or Geruma if you want to really explore the underwater environment.²⁶ Tour operators also offer day trips from Naha and other areas on the main island, so you do not have to move house to dive.²⁷ For the best of both, stay a night on Aka or Zamami and add a day trip.

Safety comes first on a boat day. The current can change what a site feels like in minutes, so the guide's briefing on entry, depth and exit is not a formality. Follow the recommended levels in the table below, stay within your certification and abort a dive if you feel unwell. The sea remains warm for most of the year, but ask your operator what exposure protection they supply for the month you travel.¹²

A day plan is simple. You are collected, driven to the port, taken by boat to the dive area, briefed, dive twice and returned. Eat lightly before you dive, drink water and avoid flying right away. Our site tour is a snorkeling day, so if diving is the goal compare it with the listings above; for the park, access and conservation, the Kerama Blue page explains the rules that apply to every visitor.