Diving Shop Lei
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Okinawa · Japan · Asia
Kerama Islands, Okinawa: drift diving with manta rays
With over 70 dive sites scattered around Aka Island, the Kerama Islands offer everything from exhilarating drift dives with pelagics to intimate macro encounters.
What makes this site special
- Over 70 diverse dive sites around Aka Island
- Opportunity for exhilarating drift dives
- Encounters with majestic manta rays (Mobula birostris)
- Observation of diverse nudibranch species
- Frequent sightings of sea turtles
- Vibrant reef with clownfish and tropical fish
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Kerama Islands about the site
Diving the Kerama Islands, especially around Aka Island, means you're entering a realm of rich biodiversity spread across more than 70 individual dive sites. This isn't just one type of diving; you'll find everything from vibrant reef systems teeming with tropical fish to exhilarating drift dives where the ocean currents guide your journey. The accessibility of these sites, many of which can be reached only through local dive shops, ensures a unique and less crowded experience, promising new adventures no matter how many times you descend here.
One of the defining features of the Kerama Islands is the opportunity for drift diving, which opens up encounters with larger pelagic species. Imagine gliding effortlessly along a reef edge, the current gently propelling you as you scan the blue for the distinctive silhouette of a manta ray. These sites are dynamic, offering a different perspective on the reef's topography and allowing for broad coverage of the underwater landscape, often revealing marine life that prefers the deeper, more exposed waters.
Beyond the thrill of pelagic encounters, the Kerama Islands are also a haven for macro enthusiasts. Slowing down and focusing on the intricate details of the reef reveals a miniature world populated by an incredible variety of nudibranchs, each a jewel of color and form. Among the hard and soft corals, you'll also find busy clownfish tending to their anemone homes and countless other tropical fish, creating a vibrant, bustling ecosystem at every turn. This diversity ensures that every dive, whether fast-paced or leisurely, offers something new.
Across the Kerama Islands, the underwater topography consists primarily of extensive reef formations. These reefs provide complex habitats, sheltering an array of marine life from the smallest nudibranchs to larger residents like sea turtles. While specific depths may vary between individual sites, the general profile allows for exploration at various levels, accommodating divers who enjoy shallow, intricate reefscapes as well as those seeking deeper encounters along the contours where stronger currents often bring in the larger animals.
Diving Kerama Islands: the marine life you’ll meet
Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataGreen sea turtleChelonia mydasSea snakeHydrophiinaeDamselfishChromis chromisBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusClownfishAmphiprionWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusRayBatoideaReef sharkCarcharhinusJackCarangidaeSea turtleCheloniidaeMoray eelMuraenidae
See 1 more species
Garden eelHeterocongrinae
Diving conditions
The Kerama Islands offer diving accessible to all levels, with sites catering to every certification. Currents can be present, particularly on the exhilarating drift dives offered, adding an element of dynamic movement to your experience. The primary dive type found here is reef diving, often coupled with drift dives for those seeking adventure. You can expect to encounter tropical fish, nudibranchs, sea turtles, clownfish, and the impressive manta rays during your dives.
