The turtles around Miyakojima are mainly green turtles and hawksbills. Both must surface to breathe, and both feed in fairly predictable places. Understanding those two facts alone lifts your chances dramatically.
What makes a place hold turtles
Green turtles graze on seagrass, so they gather in shallow water where grass grows on white sand. Hawksbills eat creatures living in cracks in rock and coral, so you find them along reef edges and around bommies. In other words, look for the feeding grounds rather than the prettiest coral.
The hours that raise your odds
We recommend the first trip of the morning. There are few boats, it is quiet underwater, and the turtles feed without being wary. The wind has not yet risen, so the surface is settled and snorkelling itself is easier. Afternoons bring stable warmth and light, but the water gets busy — the same spot gives you a different kind of encounter.
As for tides, the window just after high water as it begins to fall is the one to aim for. Turtles that came into the shallows start moving, which brings them into depths where they are easy to watch.
GUIDE'S NOTE Chase a turtle and it will always leave. Don't cut across its path — hold your breath and float quietly. That alone is often enough for one to come to you.
What we ask of you
Don't touch, don't block their path, don't use flash. Turtles have to surface to breathe, so a crowd directly above them prevents that. Keep the space above them clear even when taking photos. Your guide will run through all of this on board.
