Try snorkeling in Ishigaki Island! How to enjoy to your heart's content?
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Snorkeling is a casual marine activity
Like diving, snorkeling can be enjoyed without equipment such as wet suits and tanks, special skills, or licenses.
It is perhaps the most familiar of all the marine activities that can be experienced on Ishigaki Island.
Snorkeling is an activity that requires only simple equipment and is easy for even young children to try.The following is a list of the most common problems with the
It is fun to see many colorful tropical fish passing in front of your eyes as you float and drift in the ocean while snorkeling.
We will introduce you to some of the must-try shoe kayaking spots on Ishigaki Island. Please also check out our recommended snorkeling spots!
For details and a list of Ishigaki Island snorkeling tours, click here↓.
What kind of activity is snorkeling?
What tools do I need?
A snorkel, underwater glasses (goggles), and fins are the three pieces of equipment necessary for snorkeling.
A snorkel is a tool shaped like the letter J of the alphabet and is placed in the mouth for breathing underwater.
A three-piece snorkeling set can be purchased for a few thousand yen or rented locally on Ishigaki Island.
Also, many tours include it in the tour price.
How to play snorkeling?
While diving involves wearing a wet suit and carrying a heavy tank on your back, snorkeling requires only a three-piece snorkeling set.
Just put on a snorkel, diving glasses, and fins, and you are in the water.
To play, simply put your face underwater while floating on the surface and observe underwater.
The waters of Ishigaki Island are crystal clear, so you can see a variety of creatures and coral reefs just by looking in the ocean.
Can I snorkel even if I am not a confident swimmer?
You can breathe easily through the snorkel while floating in the ocean, so there is no need to hold your breath, which can be tricky.
While swimsuits and rash guards can be worn, those who are not confident swimmers or small children can wear a floating vest or life jacket over their swimsuits to make it easier for them to float.
Can children participate?
Optional tours for diving, snorkeling, and other marine activities have a set age limit for participation.
This is a guideline for how old one should be to enjoy the activity. For snorkeling, the minimum age for participation is 3 years old, accompanied by parents.
Ishigaki Island has safe beaches with shallow waters and lifesavers on duty, so even first-time visitors can experience it with peace of mind.
Beach for couples, women travelers and families.
Maesato Beach, about 5 minutes drive from the city center, is located in front of "Intercontinental Ishigaki Resort".
The beach is available free of charge to non-hotel guests and is equipped with snorkeling equipment rentals, showers, and other facilities.
Lifesavers are stationed and protective nets for habu jellyfish are in place.
Located about 30 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, Fusaki Beach is right in front of the Fusaki Resort Village hotel.
It is also popular as a sunset view point where you can see Iriomote Island on the other side and the beautiful sunset.
The beach is free for use by non-hotel guests, and snorkeling equipment can be rented, and showers are available.
Lifesavers are on duty and there are facilities for protective nets for habu jellyfish.
Beaches for private snorkeling
Yonehara Beach is located in front of Yonehara Campground, about 30 minutes drive from Shin-Ishigaki Airport.
This is a good place for those who want to snorkel freely on a less crowded beach, where you can encounter a variety of coral reef communities and many tropical fish.
Basic facilities such as showers, water, and toilets are available.
I would like to join a snorkeling tour in Ishigaki.
Snorkeling in Ishigaki Island can be easily enjoyed at easily accessible beaches.
Ishigaki Island has some great snorkeling spots that can only be reached by optional tours.
Fantastic snorkeling in the Blue Cave
The Blue Cave is located on the coast near the Yaeyama palm colony, about 30 minutes by car from downtown Ishigaki Island.
Onna Village on the main island of Okinawa is famous for its blue cave, but there is also a blue cave on Ishigaki Island where you can enjoy the fantastic blue color created by the sunlight shining into the cave.
Because the cave is deep enough to touch if the tide is low enough, snorkeling tours of the Blue Cave are available for people of all ages, from 3 to 80 years old.
Wetsuits, marine boots, and the necessary three-piece set are included in the tour fee, so all you need to bring is your swimsuit!
Even if you are not a confident swimmer, it is recommended that you can get used to it with the advice of the guide.
Click here for a set plan of snorkeling at Kabira Bay.
Encountering many manta rays in the manta scramble!
Manta Scramble, accessible only by boat, is located northwest of Kabira Bay.
Although the currents are fast, this is probably the best place in Japan to see manta rays.
At the Manta Scramble, you will be amazed at the sight of manta rays swimming hand in hand and the size of the manta rays beyond your imagination.
If you want to make memories of snorkeling and encountering manta rays at close range, this is the place to go.
Click here for details of the snorkeling tour to encounter manta rays.
Swim with endangered sea turtles
Sea turtles are said to live only in clean waters.
Even on Ishigaki Island, there are certain spots where you can see a certain amount of the island.
We choose a snorkeling spot from among many spots such as Osaki, taking into account the sea conditions and weather on that day.
Encounter sea turtles swimming slowly!
Click here for details of the snorkeling tour to swim with sea turtles.
Might you see manta rays in Kabira Bay?
Kabira Bay has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Guidebook.
The emerald blue sea makes you want to get in the water and swim, but swimming is actually prohibited in Kabira Bay due to the tidal currents.
Therefore, if you want to enjoy snorkeling in Kabira Bay, participation in a boat tour is a basic requirement.
Snorkeling at Kabira Bay is mainly focused on points where manta rays come and colorful tropical fish swim among the coral reefs, making it a spectacular experience to take the time to enjoy the sea, known as Kabira Blue.
Although it is open to participants from elementary school age and up,Recommended for those who are somewhat familiar with the sea.
Ishigaki's No.1 photogenic spot, "Phantom Island" Hamashima
The most popular and photogenic spot in Ishigaki Island is the fantastic island "Hamashima".
Mermaid photography is very popular nowadays, especially among female travelers.
Mermaid photos look best against the backdrop of the crystal clear ocean and white sand.
This is a location I would like to experience at least once♪
The "Phantom Island" Hamashima Landing Tour offers snorkeling in the Osaki area, a spot where sea turtles can be seen, and in the Ishinishi lagoon, the largest coral reef in Japan.
Click here for details of the tour that includes landing on the phantom island of Hamashima and snorkeling.
Snorkeling with Taketomi Island Sightseeing
Recommended for those who want to visit Taketomi Island as well as snorkeling.
After enjoying snorkeling, we will go to Taketomi Island for lunch.
After that, you can enjoy a relaxing sightseeing tour of Taketomi Island by buffalo cart, renting a bicycle, or a glass boat.
We recommend a full day of snorkeling!
You are going to take a trip to Ishigaki Island, a tropical resort island.
You can make a full day of snorkeling during your trip anyway.
The instructor will take you on a snorkel boat to the best spots according to the day.
You can enjoy a full day of snorkeling with colorful corals, endangered sea turtles whose shells look like tortoiseshell, and manta rays, all of which are unique to Ishigaki Island.
Click here for details on snorkeling tours to enjoy manta rays and phantom islands ↓↓ Click here for details on snorkeling tours to enjoy manta rays and phantom islands
summary
Have you found a snorkeling spot you want to visit?
Snorkeling is greatly affected by the tide level and other factors, so please contact us if you want to go to the best spot on that day♪.
All the fun in Ishigaki Island is here↓.
Ishigaki Island Tours
