Miyakojima Paradise Blog

Bonjour à tous!

Last week we fully enjoyed the sunny weather (30°C already!) to go on our first snorkelling tour of the season!

This blog already have a lot of articles dealing with Miyako’s aquatic life and loads of photos with coral and tropical fish, so today’s thread is about the program of a snorkelling tour in MiyakoJima.

We generally leave at 11.00 am, so everybody can sleep as long as they like! We prepare everything in advance (snorkelling set, lunch boxes, etc) so you just have to bring your towel and your flip-flops (without forgetting the sunblock!)

The “road trip” goes along the sea front so you can have a nice view of the costs, then we stop in a place overlooking the lighthouse at the very end of the eastern peninsula.

Heading to Yoshino after this little pause, we book for everybody tables and parasols so everybody can comfortably undress

After few pieces of advice about the good using of the material and some recommendations, everybody throws oneself into the water….

…and surprise,  you are already surrounded by a bunch of curious fish, swimming around you. In order to make this snorkelling tour more interesting, we bring some fish food, so everybody is free to feed the fish and enjoy the show!

The time spent in the water globally depends on people’s wishes, we adapt the situation to your desires!

Then we have lunch just in front of the sea, during which the cost guard comes to talk about Yoshino and share experiences. He also likes to give tourists small presents he made from coral (necklaces or straps, both if you’re lucky!)

In the afternoon we get back to the water at high tide, so we can see more varieties of fish, like sword fish for exemple.

After a good shower we leave Yoshino beach, the head full of good memories.

Tempted?

The touristic season is beginning next month, and the island is preparing to welcome visitors; on Painagama beach, in front of the studios, four shelters were built so people can enjoy their meal by the seafront without getting sunburned. Indeed, barbecues are very popular in Miyakojima, especially during summer time, and it’s easy to understand when you see the place!

and the weather is really great in winter.

33 degrees Celsius  on September 15 at 7:20 pm

Sub-tropical climate is characterized, besides other things, by a lack of contrasted seasons. Seasons there are of course, but not as split as in Europe for instance. Natural light dispensed aplenty by a bountiful sun through the year doesn’t change on Summer or (very warm) Winter.

Winter here starts somewhere in the middle of December and ends by the end of January. During that time, the sea temperature may decrease under 24 degrees but is paradoxically higher than the lowest air temperature. Swimming in Winter feels warm.

As I live here all the year, not only during Summer, I will describe over time the climate changes through the year.

A short half-day trip to Irabujima island you have a full view at from Miyakojima Paradise studios.  Currently, this island can only be reached by ferry but a bridge now underconstrcution is to be achieved in three years. The ferry trip only cost JPY 400 and you can carry along your bicycle for free. The crossing takes about 25 minutes. The island is pretty empty but natural landscapes and beaches are gorgeous. It’s a good idea to bring a picnic.

Three sea turtles have been waiting for two weeks to receive medical treatment in the restaurant located on the first floor of Miyakojima Paradise Studios building.They were salvaged in bad shape and are waiting for the vet from Okinawa island to drop by.

If you go to Yoshino beach, a well known spot for shallow sea rich with coral and fishes, you will definitely find him. This gentleman lives here the year around, under any weather conditions, right on the beach. He is not homeless. He rather prefers to live here with just a few belongings, as what matter to him is nothing but the panoramic view.

He will actually come and meet you and explain in very correct English the basic safety rules of the beach (don’t tramp on coral, don’t touch anything, etc.). Next, he will give you what he calls a Gift from Neptune, a necklace featuring a piece of coral. If you are lucky, you may even get a mobile phone strap.

This man is cuckoo on another planetand I am always surprised by the wealth of his cultural knowledge. I visit Yoshino beach several times a week to accompany customers on snorkeling tours coming from all over the world. Each time, he will tell us anecdotes about the country of origin of my customers, talking about book by German, Swedish or wherever else countries.

He is always smiling and available to answer questions. I have much respect for this man.