
Aka Island Coral Garden
Kerama Islands · Japan
The north shore of Aka Island hosts one of the densest stands of hard coral in the entire Ryukyu Archipelago, with table Acropora colonies exceeding two metres across packed so tightly that the reef crest resembles an underwater forest canopy. The site descends gently from 5 to 25 metres over successive coral terraces, each terrace supporting distinct fish communities from damselfish nurseries in the shallows to large sweetlips and grouper on the deeper rubble slope. Kerama blue — the island's signature water colour — delivers visibility frequently exceeding 30 metres, giving divers unobstructed views across the entire terrace system.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
19 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Your chances of seeing each animal
Green Sea TurtleLeast concern
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Bumphead ParrotfishVulnerable
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Manta RayVulnerable
Rare
Now and then
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