22 Jun 2023

Endemic Wildlife Wonders at Miyakojima and Ikemajima

Upon Heritage Adventurer arriving at Miyakojima we boarded coaches and headed to Ikemajima, via the impressive 1,425-metre Ikema Bridge connecting the islands, for a leisurely stroll of the lagoon hoping to catch sight of the diverse bird species in the area. As the fourth largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, Ikemajima boasts stunning rocky outcrops, pristine white sand beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Next, we made our way to Miyakojima Marine Park, where we had the opportunity to observe the local marine life through the underwater observatory's windows. The park's location benefits from the Kuroshio Current, which brings a wide variety of saltwater fish from the south to Miyakojima. We then visited Imgya Marine Garden, locally known as Imugya, a cove where spring water gushes from the sea bottom. The rocky outcrops in the area provided an excellent exploration opportunity, with some of us taking a refreshing dip in the cool blue waters of the East China Sea and others joining our naturalist guides for a shoreline walk. Those snorkelling were treated to the delightful sight of a green turtle, seemingly entertained by our presence.

In the afternoon, we returned to Heritage Adventurer where an informative lecture program awaited us as we set sail towards Taipei, Taiwan.

Image (c) by: F.Wardle