Home > Coral Photo Gallery > Okinawa Main Islands
Okinawa Island, the largest island in the Okinawa Islands group, is located near the northern end of the Ryukyu Archipelago. Although it is a long and narrow island, extending approximately 100 km from north to south and 4–28 km from east to west, its topography is remarkably diverse. The southern part consists mainly of relatively flat uplifted coral reef terraces, whereas the northern region is characterized by mountainous terrain formed from older geological strata and is covered by the subtropical forests known as Yambaru. Coral reefs are developed around much of the island, particularly along the coast of Onna Village on the west coast, where relatively calm oceanic conditions have allowed extensive and spectacular growth of tabular and branching Acropora corals. As a result, this area has become one of Okinawa’s premier destinations for coral reef tourism. In addition, several surrounding islands, including Ie Island, Sesoko Island, Tsuken Island, and Kudaka Island, together with Okinawa Island, form a complex network of coral reef ecosystems.
Since 2004, the Okinawa Environmental Science Center (OESC) has conducted annual coral reef surveys at 63 sites distributed from the southern to the northern parts of Okinawa Island as part of the Ministry of the Environment Monitoring Sites 1000 Coral Reef Survey Project (see the Photo Archive section for more information about OESC). Beginning in 2021, OIST initiated coral environmental DNA metabarcoding (eDNA-M) surveys in collaboration with and with support from this monitoring program. The data presented here were obtained primarily from seawater samples collected during 2021–2022.
During the summer and autumn of 2024, a severe coral bleaching event occurred along the coast of Onna Village and the northern west coast of Okinawa Island, primarily as a result of elevated sea surface temperatures. This event led to the large-scale loss of Acropora corals. We believe these data provide an important baseline for evaluating and understanding future reef recovery processes.
| Point Number | Point Name | Latitude/Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Usahama east
|
26.8657, 128.2662 |
| 2 |
Oku Port north
|
26.8491, 128.288 |
| 3 |
Kunigami village Akasaki north reef
|
26.821806, 128.314114 |
| 4 |
Kunigamison Akasaki north
|
26.8235, 128.3169 |
| 5 |
Adagashima north
|
26.755075, 128.330972 |
| 6 |
Adagashima south
|
26.738946, 128.337677 |
| 7 |
Ishikinazaki southwest
|
26.730321, 128.314485 |
| 8 |
Katsusenozaki south
|
26.719195, 128.302712 |
| 9 |
Aha south
|
26.707271, 128.294201 |
| 10 |
Pumped Storage Hydropower Station southeast
|
26.668477, 128.270121 |
| 12 |
Ohdomari bridge north east beach
|
26.639181, 128.247547 |
| 13 |
Higashison Miyagi Unse south
|
26.614194, 128.180389 |
| 14 |
Higashi village north
|
26.615692, 128.156958 |
| 15 |
Gesashi north
|
26.609239, 128.158064 |
| 16 |
Gesashi Uppama east
|
26.6007, 128.1546 |
| 17 |
Gesashi Uppama east
|
26.600561, 128.1569 |
| 25 |
Ikei island east reef
|
26.383539, 128.000631 |
| 26 |
Ikeijima east
|
26.384106, 128.003833 |
| 27 |
Ukibaru Yokobishi east
|
26.304181, 128.012461 |
| 28 |
Ukibaru Yokobishi south
|
26.306317, 128.002528 |
| 29 |
Minamiukibaru southeast
|
26.285063, 127.982097 |
| 30 |
Minamiukibaru south
|
26.286361, 127.978878 |
| 31 |
Ginogiiwa northeast
|
26.279563, 127.961234 |
| 32 |
Tsukenjima Agihama east
|
26.242067, 127.949094 |
| 34 |
Nakagusukuwan Chiguniga
|
26.2173, 127.8992 |
| 35 |
Uganiwa south
|
26.17775, 127.92919 |
| 36 |
Kudakajima Erabuiwa east
|
26.151242, 127.888717 |
| 37 |
Kumakajima south
|
26.141556, 127.851083 |
| 38 |
Ohjima south
|
26.124817, 127.772156 |
| 39 |
Ohjima south
|
26.122869, 127.772383 |
| 43 |
Hanashiro slope
|
26.110361, 127.745114 |
| 44 |
Mabuni south
|
26.087558, 127.719392 |
| 45 |
Ohdo east
|
26.087783, 127.709375 |
| 47 |
Ohdo
|
26.085922, 127.706675 |
| 48 |
Komesu
|
26.084539, 127.698175 |
| 49 |
Arasaki west
|
26.075806, 127.674528 |
| 53 |
Tokomasari reef
|
26.095753, 127.636767 |
| 54 |
Kyan Port west
|
26.099071, 127.646447 |
| 55 |
Itoman Port Kurantogai north
|
26.118425, 127.655325 |
| 56 |
Ukaha iwa west
|
26.14165, 127.636492 |
| 57 |
Toyosaki west
|
26.156071, 127.641938 |
| 58 |
Oominezaki Oose
|
26.192417, 127.614583 |
| 59 |
Gima no se
|
26.210192, 127.638975 |
| 60 |
Gima no se North
|
26.211547, 127.637517 |
| 66 |
Hikiishi south
|
26.2675, 127.691 |
| 68 |
Karasuzaki west
|
26.272067, 127.694458 |
| 69 |
Janase
|
26.287142, 127.717517 |
| 70 |
Isa
|
26.296154, 127.744735 |
| 71 |
Sunabe
|
26.329228, 127.74212 |
| 72 |
Mizugama
|
26.360119, 127.739211 |
| 73 |
Mizugama
|
26.360639, 127.738694 |
| 74 |
Toguchi west
|
26.363489, 127.734461 |
| 75 |
Inanbishi south
|
26.367386, 127.720061 |
| 77 |
Takashiho
|
26.409511, 127.714428 |
| 78 |
Zanpamisaki west
|
26.436681, 127.709656 |
| 79 |
Zanpamisaki west
|
26.438639, 127.709333 |
| 80 |
Maedamisaki west reef large
|
26.442708, 127.767453 |
| 81 |
Maedamisaki west
|
26.443347, 127.768422 |
| 82 |
Maedamisaki west
|
26.445325, 127.767917 |
| 83 |
Kuraha
|
26.438583, 127.783989 |
| 85 |
Onna villege Akasaki west reef
|
26.493919, 127.839956 |
| 86 |
Onnason Akasaki west
|
26.495986, 127.837767 |
| 87 |
Onna
|
26.508889, 127.854075 |
| 89 |
Afuso north
|
26.507692, 127.881861 |
| 90 |
Busena west
|
26.539364, 127.93 |
| 91 |
Busenamisaki west
|
26.540959, 127.929331 |
| 92 |
Shiokawa Port south
|
26.606239, 127.891869 |
| 93 |
Sesoko island east slope
|
26.639792, 127.871108 |
| 94 |
Sesokojima south
|
26.6253, 127.8584 |
| 97 |
Aquarium west
|
26.6932, 127.8727 |
| 98 |
Bisesaki east reef
|
26.709844, 127.879864 |
| 99 |
Bisezaki east
|
26.711617, 127.881725 |
| 100 |
Nakijin Nagahama reef
|
26.708022, 127.947931 |
| 101 |
Nakijinson Nagahama
|
26.710625, 127.947978 |
| 102 |
Sakiyama
|
26.707139, 127.963389 |
| 103 |
Kouri island Tokeihama north
|
26.713272, 128.021036 |
| 104 |
Kourijima Tokeihama
|
26.715264, 128.021272 |
| 105 |
Takarihama west
|
26.72225, 128.145278 |
| 111 |
Ieijma Waji north
|
26.7347, 127.7893 |
| 112 |
Iejima Isharabaru east
|
26.7229, 127.8336 |
| 113 |
Iejima Funazubaru south
|
26.7032, 127.777 |
| 114 |
Iejima West
|
26.7231, 127.7421 |
| 115 |
Iejima west
|
26.723075, 127.742114 |
| 116 |
Nakanshi east
|
26.6778, 127.8225 |
| 117 |
Minnajima east
|
26.6461, 127.8244 |
| 118 |
Minna island west
|
26.652856, 127.804733 |
| 119 |
Minna island north
|
26.658996, 127.809994 |
| 120 |
Chiibishi Kamiyama North
|
26.267456, 127.574942 |
| 121 |
Chiibishi Kamiyama south
|
26.255444, 127.579861 |
| 122 |
Chiibishi Kamiyama South-west
|
26.2535, 127.577786 |
| 123 |
Chiibishi Kuefu south
|
26.244694, 127.560889 |
| 124 |
Chiibishi Nagannu south
|
26.256333, 127.539917 |
| 125 |
Chiibishi Nagannu west
|
26.27025, 127.524111 |
| 126 |
Chiibishi Nagannu north
|
26.274111, 127.550778 |
| 143 |
Izena island Agigitara
|
26.91, 127.942 |
| 144 |
Izena island 1st
|
26.907906, 127.938072 |
| 148 |
Izena island Hanabashi north
|
26.955, 127.927 |
| 149 |
Nagannu south
|
26.254603, 127.538478 |
| 150 |
Yabu
|
26.594256, 127.942667 |
| 151 |
Ginowan fishing port west
|
26.285671, 127.740278 |
| 152 |
Sesoko island north
|
26.65082, 127.852488 |
| 153 |
Manzamou
|
26.504539, 127.8473 |
| 154 |
Manzamou west
|
26.504711, 127.8449 |
| 155 |
Fuchaku Chinbagumui
|
26.468706, 127.808869 |
| 156 |
Hamahiga island west
|
26.318619, 127.946011 |
| 157 |
Sakimotobu
|
26.631308, 127.884456 |
| 158 |
OhyamaNagase south
|
26.297169, 127.727061 |
| 159 |
Ukabi south east
|
26.174061, 127.842372 |
| 160 |
Magaya north east
|
26.162028, 127.840419 |
| 161 |
Chinazaki beach east
|
26.184986, 127.823914 |
| 162 |
Kudakazuni
|
26.171979, 127.856738 |
| 163 |
Kumaka island north
|
26.152111, 127.849861 |
| 164 |
Shippishi
|
26.727758, 128.127067 |
| 165 |
NakaoHigata north
|
26.688833, 128.0688 |
| 166 |
Hikiishi north
|
26.272703, 127.686431 |
| 168 |
Nakanshi west
|
26.6744, 127.8156 |
