Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on January 10, 2024
Toguchi Beach, part of the Tomarigusuku Castle Park, is a popular public beach of central Okinawa Island. Its clear and calm waters host colorful species of fish and corals. In particular, Toguchi Beach offer good chances to spot anemonefish, damselfish and sea krait.
Toguchi Beach is located in Kadena, a small town on the central western coast of Okinawa Island. It is just a 15-mile/25-kilometer drive from Naha City and the Naha Airport. Park at the Okinawa Pork Village, and walk down to the beach.
Enter the water at the southern steps (see map). Toguchi Beach is best snorkeled at low tide to be closer to the reef. At mid to high tide the reef will be 7-8 feet (2 meters) below the surface. Once you leave the reef flat be mindful of current.
From the southern steps, swim towards the reef, passing between the island and the rocky point. These shallow areas are poor in corals but you can still spot a diversity of small reef fish such as wrasse, damsels and puffers (↕6 feet/3 meters). Some 170 meters from the beach, you will reach the reef crest, beyond which the depth quickly increases (↕6-20 feet/6 meters).
On the slopes of the outer reef, corals are in good condition and support a variety of marine life. Among the most common fish species at this location are the tomato clownfish, the staghorn damselfish, the bluespotted puffer, and several types of small groupers. Blue-lipped sea kraits occasionally visit the reef.
The Okinawa Pork Village overlooks the beach and the snorkeling area.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
