Kerama - Seasir Aka

Located on Aka Island within the Kerama Islands of Okinawa, Kerama - Seasir Aka serves as a gateway to one of Japan's most diverse marine environments. The centre is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, positioned to take advantage of the archipelago's numerous reefs and clear waters.

Most dive sites are accessible via a short boat trip, with many located just 5 to 15 minutes from the shore. This proximity allows for a flexible diving schedule, including the ability to return to the port between dives to rest or refresh.

The team consists of 8 instructors, ensuring professional guidance for all levels of experience. To maintain a high standard of safety and individual attention, the centre operates with a ratio of 8 divers per guide.

Communication is made easy for international visitors, as the staff is multilingual, speaking Japanese, English, and Chinese. This helps ensure that safety briefings and course instructions are clearly understood by the diverse range of divers who visit the islands.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of PADI training programmes. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, while those looking to expand their skills can progress through the Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

For divers looking to specialise, Enriched Air Diver training is available on-site. The centre also provides Divemaster training for those pursuing a professional career in diving.

The centre operates dedicated diving boats designed specifically for divers. These vessels are equipped to handle the logistics of reef and drift diving, providing a stable platform for entering and exiting the water and managing equipment.

On board, you can find tea and hot water to relax after your dives. The boats are used for a variety of excursions, including day trips to the many sites around the Kerama Islands and night dives to observe the bioluminescent plankton.

For those travelling light, a full range of equipment is available for hire, including wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, and dive computers. Underwater torches and underwater cameras are also available for rent to enhance your experience during night dives or macro photography.

The centre provides essential shore-based facilities, including a dedicated area for cleaning and drying your equipment. For those staying at the adjacent Pension Seasir, the accommodation includes a rooftop jacuzzi and an on-site restaurant.

The Kerama Islands are renowned for their abundance of large marine life. You can regularly encounter sea turtles (Cheloniidae), including Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Manta ray (Mobula alfredi) are also a significant draw for the region, particularly at specific drift sites.

The reefs are teeming with colourful tropical reef fish, such as angelfish (Pomacanthidae), parrotfish (Calotomus), and various species of damselfish. You will also see clownfish (Amphiprion) amongst the anemones and large schools of anthias and jack (Carangidae) moving through the water column.

For those interested in macro life, the area is a haven for nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and various crustaceans. Keep a close eye on the reef structures for shrimp, crabs, and leaf scorpionfish.

During the spawning season from May to June, the area becomes particularly active with coral spawning events, adding another layer of interest to the underwater landscape.

Diving in the Kerama Islands involves a variety of environments, from shallow reef flats to open-water drift dives. Currents can be present, particularly at the more advanced drift sites, which are well-suited for experienced divers.

Night diving is a regular part of the programme, offering the chance to see the ocean illuminated by bioluminescent plankton.