Kerama Islands · Japan · Coral garden · Reef
Uru no Sachi
Pastel coral garden at 11 m with a high turtle hit rate
Area photo: DavideGorla · CC BY 2.0
Uru no Sachi, also written Ulunosachi, is a shallow coral garden on Zamami Island, described in its directory entry as a pastel flower garden with depths to 11 m and a section that carries on offshore into deeper water. Turtle encounters are what it is known for, and the site is dived guide-only.
Also known as Ulunosachi.
Where it is and how deep
26.2242° N, 127.2932° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive is a shallow one: published depth reaches 11 m, and the coral garden that gives the site its name sits inside that range. Pastel is the word the listing uses for it, a flower-garden look rather than a terrace of hard coral, and at that depth the light stays strong for the whole dive.
Turtles are the reason the site gets booked, with the listing citing a high encounter rate; the other named residents are damselfish and pygmy seahorses, which puts a macro lens in play for anyone not following turtles around. The garden carries on offshore into deeper water for groups that want it, though no maximum is published for that section. Diving here is guide-only, so the route and the turn are the guide's call.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Pygmy seahorses
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Kerama Islands: Calmest seas and best clarity run April-September; winter brings choppier northeast winds and cooler water.
Questions divers ask
Are turtles reliable at Uru no Sachi?+
The site listing describes it as known for high turtle encounters, which is why shops keep it on the schedule. Nothing is guaranteed on any dive, but turtles here are the stated draw rather than an occasional sighting.
Can you dive Uru no Sachi without a guide?+
No. The published description states that diving here is guide-only, so the site is booked through a local shop and the depth and route are set by the guide on the day.
Sources
- Uru no Sachi dive site — Scubago / SSI MyDiveGuide
In The Logbook
- Where to dive with sea turtlesBig animals · 15 min read
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