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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
I came for “a tour” and accidentally got the best day of my vacation. Zero chaos, zero awkwardness, and somehow we hit a bunch of incredible places without it feeling like we were being herded around. 10/10 would happily do another tour with these guys!
I came into this with little-to-no expectations, knowing that I was initially interested in Okinawan culture and being more adventurous. Fortunately, I'm glad to say that Things To Do In Okinawa went above and beyond with personalizing my private 3-day tour to match exactly what I wanted to get out of Okinawa! The tour was amazing from start to finish. I began with exploring Shimuku Gama in learning how it served as a shelter for 1,000 refugees who came out of there alive during WW2, swimming through a secret cave near Cape Maeda, trekking to a hidden lesser-known waterfall for a dip and some stoneskipping, and peacefully glamping with yakiniku grilling to end the night. The next day then had me being welcomed as family by the locals of Izena Island with charter fishing, snorkeling and a home-cooked dinner featuring our fresh catches. On my final day, the itinerary consisted of understanding Izena Island's relation to Okinawan history overall, getting introduced to some of the island's hardworking local businesses/products, and lastly basking in the beauty of Cape Manzamo while enjoying the refreshing taste of acerola. Truly, I could not have asked for a better experience. David, Aya, James, and the lovely folks at や～ぐな～ were so accommodating and kind throughout my entire tour. All my thanks to the team at Things To Do In Okinawa for helping to create unforgettable memories for my first time in Okinawa. I would highly recommend doing a tour with them for anyone visiting Okinawa, or even to those already living there!
We did the 3 day 2 night tour and it was outstanding. The itinerary was so well thought out and we were well prepared for our trip. David was ready to answer any questions we had which we really appreciated. The activities were well planned but also we felt we had plenty time to relax and take in the surroundings. This is a trip that you absolutely need to add to your bucket list. We will be back hopefully!!
