Kerama Islands Full-Day Snorkelling Trip from Chatan Okinawa

Chatan and Hamagawa fishing port

The day starts at Hamagawa fishing port in Chatan, a town on the west coast of central Okinawa known for its seaside promenades, sunset views and the lively American Village area nearby. Meeting time is 08:00, thirty minutes before the boat leaves, which gives you time to check in, meet the crew and complete the short health check required before snorkelling.

Departing from Chatan is convenient if you are staying in central Okinawa, as you avoid the drive into Naha, and this departure runs all year. Note that in August the boat may transit via Naha on the way out. The trip returns to the same port in the afternoon. If you are wondering how to get to Hamagawa fishing port, it is a short taxi ride from the Chatan hotel area; we send the map pin and a photo of the boat with your booking confirmation.

Keramashoto National Park and the Kerama Blue

Around 40 kilometres west of Naha, the Kerama Islands form a group of about twenty inhabited and uninhabited islands that became Keramashoto National Park in 2014. The park protects both the land and the surrounding sea, and its coral reefs are also listed as an internationally important wetland, a sign of how rich this underwater world is.

The islands are famous across Japan for Kerama Blue, a vivid, almost glowing shade of turquoise and deep blue created by very clear water over white sand and coral. Visibility here is often exceptional, which makes snorkelling feel like floating above an aquarium. The speedboat crossing from Chatan takes about an hour each way across open sea, with views of the green, hilly islands rising from the water as you approach. A Kerama Islands day trip is one of the classic sea experiences in Okinawa.

Snorkelling spots: coral reefs and marine life

Once in the park, the captain chooses 2 to 3 snorkelling spots depending on the tide and sea conditions on the day, always looking for calm, clear water over healthy reef. You snorkel straight from the boat, and wearing a life jacket is required throughout for safety, which also makes it easy for beginners to float and relax while the instructor stays close.

Below you, branching and table corals shelter shoals of colourful reef fish, from tiny blue damselfish to parrotfish and clownfish in their anemones. The Kerama waters are also known for sea turtles, which are often seen grazing near the reef, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. The best time to visit the Kerama Islands for snorkelling is from late spring to autumn, when the water is warmest, though the clear water draws visitors all year. Prescription masks are not available, so contact lens users should plan ahead.

The Kerama islands from the boat

Although this trip does not land on the islands, you see them up close from the water: Tokashiki, the largest island of the group, Zamami and Aka with their small harbours, and many uninhabited islets with white sand beaches and steep green slopes. Between spots the crew points out the landscape and the reef areas that make the national park special.

From January to March, humpback whales come to the waters around the Kerama Islands to breed, and the islands are one of the best places in Japan to see them, though this trip is focused on snorkelling. Life on board is simple: bring your own food and water, a towel and a change of clothes, and protect yourself well from the strong Okinawa sun. After the last stop the speedboat returns to Chatan, arriving back around seven hours after departure.