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Kerama Islands Snorkel.
A fast boat across open water to the clearest blue in Okinawa. Sea turtles, coral, and the bluest oceans in Okinawa.
A small charter boat takes you out to the Keramas, run by a local crew we've worked with for years. They find the calm water; you slip in — over coral, beside turtles, with no crowds.
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The day.
- 8:00
Meet & board
the crew runs a quick safety briefing and gear fitting, and you cast off as a group.
- 30 minutes
Crossing
Open water from the coast to the islands. Spray, horizon, and the colour shifting under the hull as the depth drops away.
- 8:40
Snorkel stops
The boat anchors over coral, and you slip in. The boat will move rounf a couple of spots depending on the group and conditions.
- 12:00
Return to port
Back across the water to the port where you started.
The blue out here is real. Locals call it Kerama Blue, and once you've seen it you understand why it needed a name of its own. The visibility runs deep, the coral is healthy, and the whole island group sits far enough offshore that the water stays clear and the days stay quiet.
The boat is small — ten people, often fewer. The crew know this water: not shouting over a crowd, but pointing out a turtle before it drifts off, moving the boat when a better patch of reef opens up. Beginners do fine — everyone gets a wetsuit and flotation.
What you'll remember is the turtles. They feed in the shallows and they're in no hurry, which means you can float above one for a long while before it decides to move on. Coral underneath, sunlight cutting through, a turtle below you — that's the morning. The full day just gives you more of it.
“We did the full day and I'd do it again tomorrow. Calm boat, tiny group, and we swam with three turtles before lunch. The guide put us on the best water every single time. The blue out there doesn't look real.”
The practical bits.
- Bilingual local guide (English & Japanese), in the water with you
- Charter boat and skipper
- Flotation aids Safety briefing and in-water guiding
- All snorkel gear — mask, snorkel, fins
- Wetsuit
- Lunch and drinks — bring your own (full-day guests eat on board)
- Towels
- Transport to and from the port
- Swimwear worn under your clothes, and a towel
- A full change of dry clothes
- Reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat
- Water and snacks — lunch too, if you're on the full day
- Difficulty: beginner-friendly. Non-swimmers are fine — wetsuit and flotation are provided, and you can stay at the surface.
- Minimum age: 8.
- Departures: the boat needs a minimum of 4 guests to sail (your group plus other sign-ups count).
- Weather: the Keramas are reached by open water. Stops shift for wind and sea conditions, and your guide makes the call on the day.
- No shore time — the day is spent on and in the water.
- The boat is not a private charter, it may have other snorkellers aboard
Full payment due at booking to secure your boat.
Full refund 72 hours prior. No refund less than 72 hours before the tour. Full refund if the captain cancels for unsafe sea conditions and the boat doesn't depart.
The crew who take you out have been working this water far longer than we've been sending guests to them — and they're the reason we keep coming back. We pick the people; they read the sea. Come ready to float, and leave the rest to us..
— — Aya & David
Have a question about this tour?
Send a note — dates, group size, dietary needs, anything. We usually reply the same day.
What guests said.
Read all reviews
We booked a full day north Okinawa tour and requested both a river trek and a hike up Mount Katsuudake. We had a great time with Yumi (who is fluent in English and - as a native Okinawan - very knowledgeable on local customs). She kept the mood light and fun.
Best day of our whole trip to Japan. We did an unbelievable river walk to a water fall and then to snorkelling. Breath taking experience.
Really solid tour from start to finish. We went with the island hopping 3 day 2 night tour and joined another group of 3 which was super fun. Would definitely recommend!
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