Culture & Coast — July 22nd — 4 spots left!See Tour

Guests on Snorkel Tour in Okinawa
Island Hopping

Kerama Islands Snorkel.

A fast boat across open water to the clearest blue in Okinawa. Sea turtles, coral, and the bluest oceans in Okinawa.

Duration
0.5 Days
Group
+
Level
Languages
enja
Best in
Spring — Autumn
Hours
8:0012:30
Kerama BlueSea turtlesCoral reefCharter boatSnorkelBeginner-friendlyHalf or full day

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.

Guests on Snorkel Tour in Okinawa
Snorkel Trip Coral
Snorkel Tour
Snorkel Tour

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 longer story

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.
K. Mercer

The practical bits.

Included5 items
  • 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
Not included3 items
  • Lunch and drinks — bring your own (full-day guests eat on board)
  • Towels
  • Transport to and from the port
What to bring
  • 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
Good to know
  • 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
Logistics
Map showing Ginowan Port — round-trip tour
Meeting point
Ginowan Port
3-chome-18-1 Uchidomari, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2227
Open in Maps
End point
Same — returns to the meeting point
3-chome-18-1 Uchidomari, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2227
Policies
Payment

Full payment due at booking to secure your boat.

Cancellation

Full refund 48 hours prior. No refund less than 48 hours before the tour. Full refund if the captain cancels for unsafe sea conditions and the boat doesn't depart.

Read the full terms
One last thing
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
Sophie Brown
10 months ago
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!!
3 day 2 night northern okinawa
Eric Sung
3 months ago
Aya was so sweet and informative during our Izakaya hopping tour. She made sure everyone felt comfortable with the dishes that were curated and was sure to dive deep into the culture, history, and background of Okinawa. We hope to come back again. Would definitely recommend!
izakaya hopping
tina b
7 months ago
Culture & Coast half day tour with. I was visiting from Australia and my tour guide was Aya. Visited market arcade stroll. Fresh fish and meat markets. Got to enjoy selecting a fish and how u like it cooked. Underground wartime tunnels & Memorial. South coast historic waterfall and tide pool. It was an amazing tour. Aya was awaresome with information about each place we visited. If your in Okinawa and want to explore and also visit the other islands around Okinawa highly recommend. I will be heading back to okinawa next year and will be booking with this tour again. 😀
culture and coast
From
¥15,600/ person
≈ $96
48 hour free cancelation