Local Column
COLUMN
Snorkeling Experience at Irabu Island, a Spectacular Spot in the Miyako Archipelago
Many people enjoy traveling to the Miyako Archipelago using Miyako Island as a base, and many of them take the opportunity to try marine sports. Among the many marine sports, snorkeling on Irabu Island has become very popular. Why is snorkeling on Irabu Island so popular? What kind of island is Irabu Island anyway? We would like to answer these questions and explore the appeal of snorkeling on Irabu Island!
目次
What is Irabu Island?
Irabu Island is a small island located 5 km northwest of Miyako Island. Although the island was formed by uplifted coral, it has a population of about 5,000 and is a popular tourist spot for many tourists based on Miyako Island. Adjacent to Irabu Island is another island in the Miyako Archipelago, Shimoji Island. Together with this island, it takes about 45 minutes to make a round trip on Raima, and with the opening of the Irabu Bridge in 2015, access to Miyako and Irabu islands has become more convenient. It seems to have had a positive impact on the lives of the islanders. With easier access to Irabu Island, more tourists are visiting the island than ever before, and it is truly a hot tourist spot!
How to get to Irabu Island
You can easily reach Irabu Island from Shimoji Island to the neighboring Irabu Island by crossing the Irabu Ohashi Bridge from your base on Miyako Island or via the Miyako Shimoji Airport Terminal. More information on how to get to Irabu Island from Miyako Island across the Irabu Ohashi Bridge will be provided later.
Miyako Shimoji Airport is accessible from Haneda, Kansai International, Kobe, and Naha Airports, so if you wish to visit the Miyako Islands directly, these air routes are easy to use.
To the Miyako Islands, you can fly from any city.
If you wish to travel around the Miyako Islands with Miyako Island as your base, we recommend that you use Miyako Airport. Miyako Airport is very convenient to access from major cities such as Haneda, Kansai International, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. In addition, it is very convenient to fly to the other Miyako Islands, Tarama and Ishigaki. You cannot go to Irabu Island from Miyako Airport, but if you fly from Naha Airport to Miyako Shimoji Airport, access to Irabu Island will be even easier, which is also recommended.
Crossing the Irabu Bridge to Irabu Island
To reach Irabu Island via the Irabu Bridge, you will need to take a bus or rent a car. If you use a bus, you cannot go directly from Miyako Airport to Irabu Island, so you will need to transfer to another bus. It is recommended that rental cars be rented and returned within Miyako Island. It is also possible to rent a bicycle or cross the island on foot. The 3,450-meter-long Irabu Bridge can be crossed in about 10 minutes by car. However, the Irabu Bridge is not a flat bridge, and there are several mountainous sections along the way, so climbing up these sections requires physical strength. It may take more than 30 minutes depending on the person, so please consult with your physical strength before attempting the climb!
Irabu Island Snorkeling
Why is snorkeling on Irabu Island so popular? It is, in fact, because there are many great snorkeling spots! From the many snorkeling spots on Irabu Island, we have carefully selected three to introduce to you.
Recommended snorkeling spots
Here are three recommended snorkeling spots on Irabu Island!
Exceptional transparency! Blue Cave
Did you know that there are actually several snorkeling spots in Okinawa called "blue caves"? The Blue Cave on Irabu Island is one of them. However, there is one point that is incomparable to the others. That is "transparency. The Blue Cave on Irabu Island is so transparent that you can closely observe what is going on under the sea. The reason why the transparency is so high is believed to be because rainwater that seeps into the ground is filtered by the power of nature, becoming clean groundwater that flows out into the caves. It is not possible to maintain such high transparency only with water from the sea. The view of the Blue Cave on Irabu Island changes depending on the tide. If you try snorkeling during the time of day when the scenery is outstanding, you will be able to closely observe the beautiful blue of the sea and the fish!
17 END of the installation
Nowadays, 17END, read as "one seven end," is a very popular spot for taking pictures to post on social networking sites such as Instagram and Facebook! It is located on the north-northwest side of Irabu Island and is a popular spot for viewing beautiful ocean views and enjoying sunsets without snorkeling. 17END is usually a full ocean, but it is also famous for its beautiful white sand beach that appears at low tide. However, because of the fast current of the tide, it is possible to be swept away without realizing it. In fact, there have been cases of women being rescued after being swept away. Because of the fast current, it is said to be unsuitable for snorkeling, etc. However, some companies offer snorkeling tours at 17END, so you can enjoy the best time at 17END with peace of mind!
No need to take a boat! Nakanoshima Beach
This spot is not exactly on Irabu Island, but on the adjacent Shimoji Island. Known locally as Kayaffa, this place is very famous as a snorkeling spot where you can see a lot of fish and coral. It is often referred to as a "natural aquarium" because of its close proximity to Okinawa's typical bears and other lovely fish. The depth of the inland sea is about 2 to 4 meters, so even beginners can enjoy snorkeling without anxiety.
You can cross the Irabu Bridge and drive for about 20 minutes to get there, but it may be a little difficult to find. It may be a little difficult to find, but it is possible to go on a tour, so it will be easier to get there!
An island of almost everlasting summer! Climate of Irabu Island
Irabu Island has a subtropical climate that is warm throughout the year. The average temperature is 16°C even around February, which is quite warm, although it is unthinkable in Honshu, and from May to October, the temperature exceeds 25°C most days, making the period when you can go to the sea much longer than in Honshu. One of the most significant characteristics of the island is that the average annual temperature is 22°C, with no significant temperature differences during the year. Such a climate, combined with the charm of Irabu Island's ocean, makes it a great place to enjoy snorkeling at any time of the year.
Snorkeling can be enjoyed in winter with a wetsuit!
As I mentioned earlier, there is little variation in temperature throughout the year, and one of the reasons why so many tourists come to Irabu Island is because the weather is warm and stable enough to enjoy snorkeling even during the winter months. However, the water temperature is still high on Irabu Island, so you can enjoy the sea as long as you wear a wetsuit. Depending on the day, you may even be able to enjoy the sea without a wetsuit. However, from December to the beginning of March, wetsuits are required. However, if you wear a wetsuit, you can fully enjoy snorkeling. Winter snorkeling is recommended because fewer other tourists visit the area during the winter than during the summer, allowing you to enjoy snorkeling in a more relaxed atmosphere! If you want to spend a relaxing time with a small number of people, you may want to try the winter season.
Notes on snorkeling at Irabu Island
Although not limited to Irabu Island, there are several precautions that should be taken when snorkeling. In particular, snorkeling accidents are the most common water-related accidents among tourists. Here is a brief summary of what you need to be aware of.
Be careful of areas with fast currents, such as rip currents!
Protect yourself with proper equipment!
Strong sunlight is dangerous even in the sea!
It is best to avoid snorkeling in areas with fast currents, especially if you are a beginner snorkeler. Even intermediate and advanced snorkelers may panic if they are swept away. Also, although there are many cute fish in the sea, there are also many poisonous jellyfish and starfish lurking in the water. It is important to learn how to deal with them in advance and to be properly equipped in case of an emergency. Although a surprisingly blind spot in the ocean, you should also be careful of the strong sunlight in Okinawa. The sun's rays are more intense on the surface of the water than on land, and sunburn is more likely to occur there. In a place like Okinawa, where the sun is so strong, you must be careful to snorkel for long periods of time, avoiding times of strong sunlight and taking frequent breaks in the shade, as you may end up with burns.
Taking a tour is highly recommended to get the most out of the tour.
Given the above precautions, tours accompanied by snorkeling professionals are safe and recommended. In particular, first-time snorkelers and those who have not snorkeled in a long time often use such tours. There are many snorkeling tours available on Irabu Island, so it is easy to get lost. If you have never snorkeled before, why not take this opportunity to try snorkeling?
summary
Wouldn't you like to visit snorkeling spots on Irabu Island? Irabu Island is warm throughout the year, but the number of tourists will be decreasing in the coming season, so you may want to take advantage of this to enjoy the waters of Irabu Island!
This article was written by.
