Best time to dive Okinawa & Kerama Islands
Kerama is best from spring to June; typhoon season runs June–November (most in July–September). Humpbacks pass between the islands from late December to early April, most in January–March.
Peak season: year-round
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Macro life | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Coral & reef health | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Visibility | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Water temperature | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Weather & sea state | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Coral & reef health -1.3 · Summer bleaching risk in the year after a strong El Niño (Jul 2027 – October 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 25–35 m |
| December 2026 | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 25–35 m |
| January 2027 | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 25–35 m |
| February 2027 | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 25–35 m |
| March 2027 | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 25–35 m |
| April 2027 | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 25–35 m |
| May 2027 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 20–30 m |
| July 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| August 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–30 m |
| September 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| October 2027 | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 25–35 m |
| November 2027 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 25–35 m |
| December 2027 | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 25–35 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| humpback whale | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | |||||||
| green turtle | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| nudibranchs | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Day boat, Shore
- Suggested certification
- Open Water
- Nearest airport
- OKA
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- green turtle, humpback whale, nudibranchs
Famous sites: Kerama reefs · Maeda Point (Blue Cave) · USS Emmons (technical)
Season notes & sources
- Kerama is best from spring to June; typhoon season runs June–November (most in July–September). Humpbacks pass between the islands from late December to early April, most in January–March.
- Okinawa's reefs were badly bleached in 2024, and scientists warn of further mass bleaching.
Sources
- Why diving in Okinawa should be on your bucket list (CabinZero)
- 3 good reasons to go diving in Okinawa in summer (Remote Lands)
- Keramashoto National Park guide (Ministry of the Environment, Japan)
- Climate change threatens Okinawa's coral reefs (ABC Color / AFP, Aug 2026)
- Possible effects of El Niño on some Philippine marine fisheries resources (Philippine Journal of Science, 2016)