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sea turtle
1. What is a sea turtle?
Sea turtles are endangered creatures found primarily in tropical and subtropical waters.
They are popular among divers in Japan and around the world because they are said to "bring good luck.
There are three types of sea turtles that can be seen on Miyako Island: green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and loggerhead turtles, but it is the green turtles that have the highest encounter rate, and it is unlikely that you will encounter other hawksbill and loggerheads.
The season for seeing sea turtles is from April to October.
Sea turtles are known to lay their eggs mainly in a fixed location and are likely to return to the same place every year.
They also feed primarily on algae and often appear in shallow water.
There is no specific time of day for the meal, but the best time to encounter them is around noon when the tide is low.
To tell if it is a male or female, look at the tail and the claws on the forelimbs.
Males have long, thick tails and large forelimb claws.
0 "Green sea turtle"
Green turtles are listed as Endangered II (Ministry of the Environment).
It has a gentle face, a rounded head, and a smooth, broad oval carapace.
The "ao" in the name does not refer to its appearance, but is named after the color of the fat in the body (green).
They can be red, brown, black, and many other types of colors on the outside.
At 100 cm in length, it is one of the largest in the world and can weigh as much as 150 kg.
A herbivorous sea turtle that lives relatively close to the coast in the tropics and subtropics, it feeds primarily on seaweed and seagrass, but is omnivorous as a hatchling.
Their life span is roughly 70 to 80 years, and sexual maturity is said to be around 35 years old.
Newborns live by hiding in algae floating near the water's surface, and when their shells reach about 30 cm in length, they begin to live along the coast.
0 "Loggerhead Turtle"
Loggerhead turtles are listed as Endangered II (Ministry of the Environment).
Because they are pelagic, they are not encountered as often as green turtles.
Loggerhead turtles born in Japan are rather temperate and are known to migrate to the California Peninsula off the coast of Mexico and return to the waters around Japan after growing up.
They are smaller than green turtles, measuring 80 cm in length and weighing about 100 kg.
Its stubby body and large head are also known as "idiot's head" in Europe.
The shell is heart-shaped and may be covered with many barnacles.
The shell is reddish brown in color, and the loggerhead's name comes from its outward color.
Their lifespan is about 50 years, and sexual maturity is about 30 years old.
They have a rough personality, are omnivores, and have strong jaws for eating hard foods such as shellfish and hermit crabs.
0 "Taimai."
The hawksbill turtle is listed as an endangered species IB (Ministry of the Environment).
They are small, measuring 70 to 80 cm in length and weigh about 60 kg.
The carapace is yellow with a blackish-brown mosaic pattern, with jagged rear edges and a pointed beak.
The "bekko," which remains in the Shosoin Imperial Collection, is made from the shell of this taimai, but nowadays it is prohibited to import the shell from overseas or to capture it for bekko purposes.
They live in coral reef seas and their staple food is sponges between coral and coral, and jellyfish are also a favorite food.
The lifespan is said to be about 50 years.
Currently the only known spawning grounds are Kuroshima, Ishigaki Island, Tarama Island, Mizuna Island (Sakishima Islands), Miyako Island, Aka Island, Zamami Island, Okinawa Island, and Mizuna Island (Okinawa Islands).
2. Sea turtles on Miyako Island
0 Wai Wai Beach
It is the original sea turtle spot.
It is no exaggeration to say that if you go snorkeling on a sandy beach south of Miyako Island, you can almost always encounter sea turtles.
This is the beach most used by tour operators for sea turtle tours.
There are no rocks or coral reefs, so there is no risk of injury, and sea turtles can be seen just off the beach.
So, it is a casual beach where you can go to see sea turtles on your own.
Just be careful not to go too far out to sea because of the sea turtles.
Also, because of the ease of seeing sea turtles, there are always 5-6 companies worth of tourists who come on tours, so the beach is crowded.
Therefore, it may be difficult to swim with sea turtles in a relaxed environment.
There are no stores nearby to rent snorkel sets, changing rooms, or showers.
After getting out of the water, you will inevitably get sticky, so it is a good idea to bring a plastic bottle of water with you and use it as a shower.
0 Shigira Beach
This beach is located near the Shigira Resort.
The sandy area is a spot where you have more than an 80% chance of seeing sea turtles, and like Wai Wai Beach, you can see them just a few minutes from the beach.
June to July is spawning season and sea turtles may be seen coming ashore, but be careful never to interfere with their spawning.
0 Shinshiro Coast
Compared to Waiwai Beach and Shigira Beach, the chances of seeing sea turtles are lower, but since they are not listed in many guidebooks, they are recommended because they are less crowded.
You can enter from the beach, but if you want to see sea turtles, the better place is outside the reef, about 500 to 1000 meters off the beach.
Giant branch corals and Ryukyu chrysanthemum corals, one of the largest in Japan, can be seen, and many sea turtles swim here.
The scene is like a dragon's palace, where visitors can enjoy an elegant time.
The offshore area is too dangerous to go on your own, so be sure to take a tour or other means to get there.
If you are on a tour, you will leave by boat from Urasoko Fishing Port.
3. snorkeling to meet sea turtles
If you want to see sea turtles easily, snorkeling is better than diving.
Swimsuits, flip-flops, and towels are required.
If it is not cold, you can go see them in a bathing suit, but if it is cold, you will need to wear a wetsuit over your bathing suit.
Goggles, snorkels, fins, and wetsuits necessary for snorkeling can be rented.
They can be rented from beach vendors, snorkeling stores in town, or dive stores.
The best way to do this is to sign up for a tour with a snorkeling or diving store.
It may cost a little more, but you will get a proper lecture on snorkeling and the sights.
And above all, it is very important to have insurance to safety.
If you are not accustomed to this, it can be deadly, especially if you are going out to sea.
Guided tours are also popular.
The guide will dive with you and take pictures from below to create great memories.
Also, even if you are not a good swimmer, you can still participate in the experience with your children.
In addition to snorkeling, tours that combine the experience with diving and kayaking are also available.
In addition, when you look at the tour details, it is written as 100% or 99% for the probability of seeing sea turtles, which gives you a high probability of seeing sea turtles.
There are a few precautions to take when snorkeling, so be sure to keep these in mind.
interpoint (interword separation) Do not enter the sea alone.
Where there are no waves is called the reef current, where the sea water flows rapidly away from the shore.
Remember how to escape the flow.
Learn "mask clear" and "snorkel clear".
Be sure to wear a life jacket.
In fact, sea turtles are a favorite of sharks.
Always consider that sharks may be near sea turtles and be aware of your surroundings.
4. Summary
Listed as an endangered species, sea turtles are adorable creatures that are popular not only in Japan but also among people in other countries around the world.
Sea turtles also lay eggs on Miyako Island, but spawning observation tours are not offered.
This is because sea turtles are very delicate and the presence of people may cause them to abandon their eggs.
If you can't get into the sea, you can look into the sea from the Kuma Ohashi Bridge.Sea turtles may be seen.
Why not visit Miyako Island to see sea turtles?
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