Diving into the ‘Kerama Blue’

Islands both large and small scattered through some of the clearest waters in the world, fringed by coral reefs that teem with a variety of marine life. These are the Kerama Islands, a place where unspoiled natural surroundings and traditional culture can be found can be found in abundance.

Just 40km from Okinawa’s largest city, Naha, the Kerama Islands are a group of islands consisting of four inhabited islands (Zamami, Tokashiki, Aka, and Geruma), more than 30 other uninhabited islands, and numerous reefs.

The Keramas can be reached in under one hour from Okinawa’s main island via high-speed boat and about 70 minutes by ferry; they could be considered “remote” but are very much within easy reach. In that short time, the visitor is taken from the hustle and bustle of the city into a tropical paradise that feels a world away.

The Kerama Islands are said to have once been part of a 1,500m high mountain range that connected them with the main island of Okinawa; subsequent tectonic movements caused the islands to sink into the sea, leaving only their tops above the waves. This formation gave rise to dynamic landscapes such as sea cliffs carved by the waves and the intricate lines of the jagged rias coasts.

The islands are filled with forests of fan palms and Ryukyu pines, and in spring the flowers of the Kerama azalea and fruit of the yamamomo (Japanese apricot) provide a pleasing contrast to the stunning blue sea.

The islands are abuzz with migrating hoopoes and gray-faced buzzards, and if you walk around Aka or Geruma, you might see a Kerama deer—a protected species—peeking out from between stone walls. This remarkable scenery that is not found anywhere else in Japan, is within easy reach from Okinawa Island.

One of the primary attractions of this island group is the “Kerama Blue,” the name given to the stunning color of the sea here, one of the clearest bodies of water in the world. The gradation of the color as it shifts from the light blues to the deep cobalt is a reminder of just how diverse the colors of blue to be found in nature can be. 

Characterized by their density and proximity to land, coral reefs act as natural breakwaters, creating a calm shoreline and providing a home to an abundant variety of marine life.

With the guided snorkeling and diving services available in the Keramas, the beautiful coral-filled world is within reach of any visitor. 

“We often have garbage washing up on shore from foreign countries. Of course, our garbage also can pollute the seas of other countries, too. The ocean connects us all, and the issue of pollution is one we all need to tackle on a global scale.”

“As we continue to monitor the coral reefs, we have found that the coral in Kerama is in fact recovering; an increase in the amount of coral is a rare phenomenon in the world today. We are still investigating the reasons for this, but if we can identify why the corals are recovering, it may be helpful for other areas.