20–30 Minutes from Naha
to Kerama Blue
Just a 20–30-minute boat ride from Naha.
Explore the clear blue waters of Chibishi,
with coral reefs
and colorful tropical fish.
20–30 Minutes from Naha
to Kerama Blue
Just a 20–30-minute boat ride from Naha.
Explore the clear blue waters of Chibishi,
with coral reefs
and colorful tropical fish.
Okinawa Aquamarine offers snorkeling and diving tours mainly around Chibishi, the part of the Kerama Islands closest to Naha.
The water can be so clear that you can see the seabed from the boat. In the sunlight, its colors shift from blue to emerald green. Below the surface, coral reefs are home to colorful fish.
During your Okinawa trip, come and see “Kerama Blue” for yourself. Photos can only show part of the experience.
Why Visitors from Around the World Come to Kerama
West of Okinawa’s main island, the Kerama Islands form a group of more than 30 islands of various sizes, along with numerous rocky reefs.
The surrounding waters are known as “Kerama Blue.” Their clarity and rich coral reefs attract divers and travelers from around the world.
On March 5, 2014, the area was designated Keramashoto National Park, with much of the park covering the surrounding ocean.
There’s more to Kerama than beautiful blue water.
Its coral reefs support a wide variety of marine life, including colorful fish and sea turtles.
Four Things That Make Kerama Special
1. Remarkably Clear Water
The clarity of the water is often the first thing you notice in Kerama.
Looking down from the boat, you may be able to see coral reefs and fish beneath the surface.
Once you enter the water, blue stretches into the distance. As sunlight reaches through the water, you can see shades of light blue, turquoise, and deep blue.
Water clarity changes from day to day with the weather, waves, and currents.
Even the same site can look different depending on the time of day or season. That variety is part of exploring a natural ocean environment.
2. A Wide Variety of Coral
The waters around the Kerama Islands are home to coral in many shapes, including table, branching, horn-shaped, and boulder forms.
A total of 248 coral species have been recorded in Keramashoto National Park, representing about 62% of the reef-building coral species recorded in Japan.
Coral reefs do more than create beautiful underwater scenery.
They provide food and shelter for fish and other small marine animals.
Even while snorkeling at the surface, you can enjoy the coral’s shapes and colors and watch the life around the reef.
3. Colorful Fish
Many kinds of fish live around the coral reefs, including damselfish, butterflyfish, and wrasses.
Watching blue, yellow, and orange fish swim past can feel like being inside a natural aquarium.
You may see schools of fish, tiny fish hiding among the coral, or fish swimming near the surface. The marine life you encounter varies from site to site.
Even on your first snorkeling trip, you can discover just how much life there is in Okinawa’s ocean.
4. A Home for Sea Turtles
Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles live in the waters around the Kerama Islands.
If you’re lucky, you may see one swimming underwater or coming to the surface to breathe.
Spotting a sea turtle in the open ocean can be a memorable part of your Okinawa trip.
We visit sites we’ve discovered where our sea turtle encounter rate is 88%.
Sea turtles are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed. Seeing one in its natural habitat is what makes the experience special.
What Is Chibishi?
Okinawa Aquamarine’s tours mainly visit Chibishi, the part of the Kerama Islands closest to Okinawa’s main island.
Chibishi consists of three uninhabited islands—Kamiyama, Nagannu, and Kuefu—and the coral reefs around them.
One of Chibishi’s main attractions is its location. In just a 20–30-minute boat ride from Naha, you can reach the clear waters of Kerama Blue, with coral reefs and colorful fish.
Even if your time in Okinawa is limited, you can head out from Naha and experience the waters of Kerama.
Discover What’s Beneath the Surface
Kerama Blue is beautiful from the boat, but there’s much more to see underwater. As soon as you put your face in the water, you’ll see a world of coral reefs and fish.
Snorkeling lets you watch fish from the surface. Diving takes you below the surface for a closer look at the coral and marine life.
Each activity offers a different view of the same waters.
If you’re new to snorkeling or aren’t a confident swimmer, our staff will explain how to use the equipment and breathe through the snorkel before guiding you into the water.
If you’re unsure whether a medical condition, your medical history, or a medication will affect your ability to join, please contact us on LINE.
Which Tour Is Right for You?
Kerama Blue Snorkeling
A good choice if you’d like to enjoy Kerama’s clear blue water, coral reefs, and colorful fish.
This tour is also suitable for first-time snorkelers and guests who want to enjoy Okinawa’s ocean with family or friends.
Kerama Sea Turtle Snorkeling
Enjoy Kerama’s beautiful waters and visit sites we’ve discovered where our sea turtle encounter rate is 88%.
On some days, we see more than 10 sea turtles.
Snorkeling & Fishing
A good choice if you’d like to try fishing as well as snorkeling in Okinawa.
Explore beneath the surface, swim among the fish, and try catching some yourself. This plan lets you enjoy snorkeling and fishing on the same trip
Discover Scuba Diving
Try scuba diving with an instructor’s support, even if you don’t have a diving certification.
A good choice for first-time divers and guests who want to go below the surface for a closer look at coral reefs and fish.
You can also enjoy snorkeling when you’re not diving.
Fun Diving
A tour for certified divers who want to explore Kerama’s clear waters.
Enjoy beautiful coral reefs, colorful fish, and the different underwater scenery at each dive site.
We Choose Sites to Suit the Day’s Sea Conditions
The ocean changes every day.
At Okinawa Aquamarine, the captain checks the weather, wind direction, waves, and currents before choosing suitable sites for the tour.
Destinations and sites vary with the day’s sea conditions. We cannot guarantee a visit to a specific island or site, or a landing on an uninhabited island.
We put safety first and choose locations where you can enjoy the waters of Kerama and Chibishi under the day’s conditions.
FAQs About Chibishi
Are the Kerama Islands and Chibishi different places?
Chibishi is the part of the Kerama Islands closest to Okinawa’s main island. It consists of three uninhabited islands—Kamiyama, Nagannu, and Kuefu—and the coral reefs around them.
How long does it take to get from Naha to Chibishi?
The boat ride from Naha to Chibishi takes about 20–30 minutes. Travel time may vary depending on waves, wind, and other sea conditions.
Are sea turtle sightings guaranteed?
Our Kerama Sea Turtle Snorkeling tour visits sites where our sea turtle encounter rate is 88%. However, sea turtles are wild animals, so there are times when we don’t see them.
Will we land on an uninhabited island?
Our tours do not guarantee a landing on an uninhabited island. Snorkeling and diving take place at sites selected according to the day’s sea conditions.
Can I join if I’ve never snorkeled before?
Our staff explain how to use the equipment, how to breathe through the snorkel, and what to watch out for in the ocean before guiding beginners into the water. Please check each tour page for participation requirements, including age and health conditions.
Do tours operate when it rains?
Tours may operate in the rain if waves, wind, and other sea conditions allow. If we determine that the tour cannot run safely, we will cancel it or change the itinerary.
See Kerama Blue for Yourself
Blue water stretching into the distance.
Coral reefs beneath the surface.
Colorful fish swimming past.
And, if you’re lucky, a sea turtle.
Come and experience the waters of Kerama for yourself. There’s more to see and feel than a photo or video can capture.
Join us from Naha and explore Kerama Blue.
