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Why Okinawa?
Coral Reefs
Okinawa is proud of the world class clarity of its ocean. The warm “Kuroshio current” also flows through this area providing an optimum environment for coral reefs. It is said that approximately 200 of the world’s 800 species of coral inhabit the ocean around Okinawa. In addition, the complex shapes of coral reefs are also important homes for fish. You can find magnificent scenes of fish swimming among the colorful coral reefs here.
What are the Coral Reefs that Color the Ocean of Okinawa?
A coral reef is a rock reef on top of which coral skeleton has accumulated. Islands such as Miyako Island and Taketomi Island were created by extremely large coral reefs. The ocean of Okinawa boasts world class clarity and provides coral with the most optimal environment. While approximately 800 kinds of coral have been identified in the world, one fourth or 200 kinds of coral inhabit the ocean around Okinawa. The ocean of Okinawa is a valuable ocean habitat without any equal in the world.
Abundant Nature Cultivated by Coral Reefs
Coral reefs have a symbiotic relationship with phytoplankton and have a habit of extending their tentacles to feed on zooplankton and absorbing organisms in the sea. Therefore, the existence of coral reefs is indispensable for the breeding and growth of marine animals. Various creatures including fish, shellfish, and prawns gather around the twisted and complex shaped coral reefs in search of nutrients and plankton. The spectacle of vivid colorful fish swimming among beautiful jewel-like coral reefs can suitably be called a tropical ocean paradise.
