Marine wildlife

Green turtle　

RARITY:
WHERE: Kamekichi, sand triangle, 7 banzaki etc.

They usually sleep under rocks or corals during low tides. Sea turtles are very common in the Keramas.

Broadclub cuttlefish　

RARITY:
WHERE: Sand triangle, Paraiso, 7 banzaki, Hizushi, etc.

Squids can surpass 50cm in size! You can find them in shallow waters between winter and spring.

Clown anemonefish　

RARITY:
WHERE: Sand triangle, Aliger cable, Toma No2 etc.

They have 3 distinctive stripes on their body. Watching them swim around sea anemones is somehow relaxing!

Golden sweeper　

RARITY:
WHERE: Kamigusuku, Drango lady, Triple stone etc.

Usually swarming around corals and rocks. Schools of golden sweepers make for a mesmerizing sight because of their golden color: they look just like shooting stars in the ocean!

Swallowtail cardinalfish　

RARITY:
WHERE: Toma No2, Dragon lady, Triple stone etc.

You can see their bones through their half transparent bodies. The sunlight glows upon their skin and create a very beautiful seascape.

Hawksbilll turtle

RARITY:
WHERE: Giship, Sand triangle, Hizushi etc.

At some sites, it is almost impossible not to see them! Usually not shy by nature, these turtles let swimmers get close to them rather easily.

Garden eel

RARITY:
WHERE: Toma No.2, Aliger cable, Gragon lady

Their littles heads poking out from the white Okinawan seabed is a popular sight for Japanese divers. But do not get too close or they will start hiding!

Red-spotted blenny　

RARITY:
WHERE: Chishi, Yakabi tunnel etc.

Frogfishes are small and stocky. They hide in a small hole on a rock or corals. The orange dots on their face is very charming and very recognizable.

Yellowtail clownfish　

RARITY:
WHERE: Everywhere

This is the most popular kind of anemonefish among all 6 species. They have 2 distinctive white stripes on their body.

Double-lined fusilier　

RARITY:
WHERE: Everywhere

A typical Okinawan fish commonly found in local restaurants. They don’t stand out much, but can offer a nice spectacle when they swim in very large groups.

Boxer crab

RARITY:
WHERE: Susaki、Chishi、Nanaban zaki

Hiding under boulders. It has sea anemones on its scissors and can prevent predation from foreign enemies. That makes him look like a cheerleader!

Samla bicolor

RARITY:
WHERE: Corals, rocks

A whitish blue Glaucus with a 1 cm long body. It is the fastest sea slugs species existing and is really difficult to shoot in focus.

Yellow boxfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Paraiso, Aliger, Ohsone

Baby yellow boxfish look different from their adult appearance. Young yellow boxfish have black spots on their yellow bodies and look really cute underwater!

Bicolour parrotfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Anywhere

Parrot fish change appearance when they become adults. The juvenile ones can be recognised by their red heads. It is also commonly consumed in Okinawan restaurants.

Sea goldie　

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima twin rocks, Shizuru etc

Recognisable by its bright orange colour, the Sea goldie is known for forming harems. It is a hermaphrodite: they can transform from female to male.

Red-toothed triggerfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima twin rocks, Shizuru, Susaki, Otokoiwa

They gather at sites with strong currents. They belong to the black Triggerfish family and are about 30 cm long. Their teeth are red colored.

Red lionfish

RARITY:
WHERE: TomaNo.2, Dragon lady, Triple stones, Yakara

This scorpion fish species is remarkably gorgeous! The spines on its dorsal fins are poisonous. It is often found at the roots of corals where small fish swarms in flocks.

Red-bar anthias　

RARITY:
WHERE: Uchizan, Toma No1, Ohsone

It is a member of the Anthiinae subfamily, characterized by its deep red color. It forms harems like all anthiinaes.

Pyramid butterflyfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Shizuru, Susaki, Uchakashi

A species of butterflyfish of beautiful white and orange colors. They form big schools at sites with strong currents.

Stocky anthias

RARITY:
WHERE: Toma No.1、Ohsone

A pink-colored Anthiinae. In Japan, it was first discovered in the Kerama Islands, so the Japanese name contains “Kerama” in it.

Blue green damselfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuefu north, Toma No2, Nozaki, Ohsone

A light blue fish that gather around branch corals. If they are vigilant, they will escape into the coral all at once when you approach them. The contrast between the fish and corals’ colors is striking.

Amethyst anthias　

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima north twin rocks, Shizuru etc

An anthias of a bright bluish purple color that is known to form harems. It can also turn from female to male.

Orange-striped shrimpgoby

RARITY:
WHERE: Ohsone

This type of goby has a white body with orange stripes. It coexists with pistol shrimps, which create burrows in sandy areas. If they feel danger, they will hide in these holes.

Painted frogfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Toma No.2、Dragon lady

Small painted frogfish can be found at sandy points during winter. They come in various colours such as orange, green, yellow and black.

Alfred manta

RARITY:
WHERE: Uchizan

We spot them the most in Uchizan in September and October. You can observe them hovering when they gather for their cleaning.

Dogtooth tuna

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima north twin rocks, Kamigusuku, Twin towers etc

They are often found in the open ocean at sites with strong currents. They always swim in rows.

Whitetip reef shark　

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima north twin rocks, Twin towers etc

You might see them swimming, but they are most often see still in tunnels and caves. They tend to run away if approached.

Leaf scorpionfish

RARITY:
WHERE: Toma No.2、Nozaki、Aliger、Triple stones

This scorpionfish mimics fluttering leaves. There are of various colours such as green, orange, white, black, and pink.

Ribbon eel

RARITY:
WHERE: Uchizan, North hirase, Meoto iwa

You can spot them sticking their heads out of their holes. When they go out of them, they look like a ribbon used in rhythmic gymnastics. They change body colour from black to blue to yellow as they grow up.

Pygmy seahorse

RARITY:
WHERE: Kuroshima north twin rocks、Otoko iwa, Uchakashi、Tacchu etc

They can reach a maximum length of 1 cm. They usually attach themselves to a pink sea fan at about 20 meters deep in the sea and mimic the coral’s branches.

Giant trevally

RARITY:
WHERE: Uchizan, Shimosone

This large horse mackerel can reach a maximum of 1.5 meter in length. They sometimes come and swim around divers.