MARINE ACTIVITIES
Diving, snorkeling, kayak, marine activities... Here are few shops we can recommend you. The staff speaks English (or at least some) and foreigners are welcome.
Snorkeling & phantom island
VACANCES A LA MER ISHIGAKI
Nicolas (Vacances a la mer Ishigaki's owner) works also as a snorkeling guide.
Certifications: OMSB Life guard and first aid
Languages: English, Japanese, French
(You will find more pictures of the tours in the photo gallery page)
◆ Blue cave & snorkeling (May - October) ６ persons max
After a short walk in the jungle, we will reach the beach and will go to visit the limestone blue cave. Then we will go snorkeling for about 1 hour. You will be able to see different kinds of corals, star sand and tropical fish (including clown fish).
Total tour duration: 2h30 (only 5 minutes drive from the house)
Timetable: 9:30-12:00 or 13:30-16:00 (schedule can be adjusted to the guests request)
Tour fee: 5000 yens/adult (children from 6 to 12: 2500 yens)
Includes: transportation, tea, snorkeling sets & life jackets and marine shoes.
The guests staying at our apartments can re-use the snorkeling gears for a private use without extra cost for their entire stay.
◆ Blue cave walking tour (All year round)
For the guests who would like to visit the blue cave only. No snorkeling, no swimming. After a short walk in the jungle, we will walk to the limestone cave at low tide. On the way we will have a look on few coral rocks and tropical fish (including clown fish) before entering in the cave.
Total tour duration: 1h45
Timetables: once in the morning and once in the afternoon (timetables depend on the tide schedule)
Tour fee: 2500 yens/adult (children from 6 to 12: 1500 yens)
Includes: transportation and marine shoes.
The guests staying at our apartments can re-use the marine shoes for a private use without extra cost for their entire stay
◆ Snorkeling beginner tour (May - October) ６ persons max
For the guests who are not very familiar with swimming or snorkeling. After a short walk in the jungle, we will swim at the closest beach from the house. We will swim inside the reef in shallow waters and nearby different coral rocks and tropical fish spots.
Total tour duration: 1h30 (snorkeling time is about 1 hour)
Timetables: According to the guests requests and the tide
Tour fee: 3500 yens/adult (children from 6 to 12: 2500 yens)
Includes: snorkeling sets & life jackets and marine shoes.
The guests staying at our apartments can can re-use the snorkeling gears for a private use without extra cost for their entire stay
◆ Snorkeling set rental
We propose to our guests snorkeling sets rental.
Mask & snorkel + fins + life jacket: ￥1000 / stay / person
Fins only or Mask & snorkel only: ￥500 / stay / person
Life jacket only: Free
Children under 12 years old: ￥500 / stay / child
To the guests taking a snorkeling tour with us:
the snorkeling material is included in the tour fee. It can be reused anytime for free during the stay.
We recommend you to bring a rash guard when coming to Ishigaki. It will protect you from the sun and the venomous marine life. It's good to have marine/water shoes as well.
Haft day and 1 day tours. English speaking staff during the high season. Some members of the staff speak some English as well and do their best to communicate. Otherwise English information in the car/on the boat is available.
Marine sports, blue cave-snorkeling tour, fishing tour, phantom island + snorkeling tour, sunset kayak tour. Half day tour from ￥6000/person.
Departures from the port down town. 30 min. by boat to the phantom island.
TEL: (+81) 980-87-0136
MOBILE: (+81) 80-6743-7457
Opening hours: 7:00-20:00
To book a tour please contact Nicolas (staff member during high season)
Scuba diving
Diving (beginners or certified divers) and PADI dive course. Manta point diving.
About the owners: Anna is Swedish and owns the shop with her husband Toyo. They are very kind and will make you feel comfortable.
Departures from Kabira port
TEL: (+81) 980-87-6430
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
http://www.vikingscubakabira.com/en/
To book please fill out the online booking form
NB: Between November and April it's usually difficult to dive at the manta point. Diving trips all year round.
Euro divers is a company with branches worldwide. Ishigaki branch is located inside the Club Med in Kabira. In front of the beach, after few minutes by boat you will reach the manta point. The location of the shop is probably one of the best on the Island, in the heart of Kabira beautiful coral reefs.
The staff is very international. They speak: Japanese, English, Chinese, French, They are open from mid April until end of October each year.
Phone/Whatsapp/Viber: +818064852254
Contact form on line.
https://www.euro-divers.jp/?lang=en
Kayak & SUP
Kayak & SUP shop with English speaking staff. The shop is located in Nagura (on the west coast of Ishigaki). Count about 15 min drive from the house.
Sea Kayak, sunset kayak, mangrove kayak, Sea SUP, sunset SUP, mangrove SUP tours.
The staff takes pictures of you during the tour you can download later. Free organic rooibos tea. Free parking space.
TEL: +81-50-5362-7282 (English speaking line)
Opening hours: 9:00-20:00
Contact from on line
Marine shop & car rental located nearby Yonehara beach (you can see a sign Jelly fish on the road 79).
The staff speaks a little bit English. Foreign customers are welcome.
They propose many beach items for rental whose you can check the list on their web site. We recommend to our house guests the full wet suit rental when swimming in chilly waters (￥1500/day). Hot shower is ￥400.
The shop is located 5 min. by car from the house.
Jely fish proposes 2 tours:
◆ Blue cave sea kayak tour (￥7000)
◆ Sea turtle snorkeling tour (￥7000)
TEL.0980-88-2386
Opening hours: 9:00-19:00
Sabani sailing boat
Sabani is a traditional wooden sailboat used in the past in Okinawa. Mr. Yoshida learnt how to build it and created these unique sabani tours. Sabani is only made of natural materials. To stick the parts of wood of the boat shark oil is used.
The tours go on the beautiful Hirakubo peninsula, in the extreme Northern part of Ishigaki. From the house count about 40 min. to reach Hirakubo. There are 3 kinds of tours:
◆ Sabani ride
◆ Sabani + snorkeling
◆ Sabani sunset cruise
Online booking. Foreign customers welcome. English page.
Parasailing
Blue seasar is a marine sports shop proposing parasailing activities.
The customers car choose the length of the rope (3 options: 100m, 150m or 200 meters)
Children from 120cm can participate as well.
Departures morning or afternoon. (Parasailing from ￥7000)
◆ Parasailing only
◆ Parasailing + snorkeling (half day)
◆ Parasailing + diving (half day)
◆ Sunset parasailing
◆ Snorkeling only (half day)
◆ Introductory diving only (half day)
Online booking. Foreign customers welcome. English page.
http://www.blue-seasar.com/english/english.html
TEL:0980-87-8821
(Photo: Ishigaki tourism association)