Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast)
宮城海岸（砂辺）26°20′ N 127°45′ EDiveDive: beginner
The Sunabe seawall on Chatan's Miyagi coast is open reef that Chatan's tourism association calls a mecca for trial dives, and dive shops run trips from it all year and surfers paddle out when a swell comes. It has no lifeguards or nets, so beginners go in with a guide.
The seawall runs north from American Village through the Sunabe district, and on weekends divers crowd it. Chatan's tourism association calls this coast a mecca for trial dives. Snorkelling and tide-pool watching at low tide are allowed at your own risk, and the association steers beginners to the dive shops' guided tours.
Many American residents live in Sunabe, and Chatan's tourism association likes to compare the coast road to the American West Coast, with ocean-view cafés selling drinks to carry out to the wall for sunset. A monument in Sunabe Baba Park marks the shore where US forces landed in 1945.
Before you swim
- Open sea with no lifeguards or nets
- Rip currents can form with changing wind and waves; Onna's tourism association warns of them on Okinawa's west coast
- Surf breaks here when a swell runs
December to March
Dives run here all year, and the coast faces west, away from the north-east monsoon that blows from December to March. Water sits at about 21–23 °C. The cafés along the wall stay open for sunset.
Snorkelling · 3/5
Entry From the seawall onto the reef; beginners should join a dive-shop tour
Chatan's tourism association recommends tide-pool watching on the reef flat at low tide
Diving · beginner
Chatan's tourism association calls the Miyagi coast a mecca for trial dives, and divers fill the seawall on weekends all year
Dive with a local shop.
Our ratings
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Sunset
- Quiet
- Families
- Scenery
Worth knowing
- Book a guided snorkel or a trial dive with a shop on the coast road; the seawall has no lifeguards.
- Bring the bike: the seawall path links Sunabe to American Village and Araha Beach on the flat.
FAQ
Quick answers about Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast)よくある質問
Can you snorkel at the Sunabe seawall?
Yes, at your own risk. The Sunabe seawall on Chatan's Miyagi coast has no lifeguards or nets, and Chatan's tourism association advises beginners to join a dive shop's guided tour.
Can you dive at Sunabe in winter?
Yes. Dive shops run trips from the Sunabe seawall all year. The coast faces west, away from the winter north-east monsoon, and the water sits at about 21–23 °C from December to March.
Can you swim at Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast)?
Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast) has no jellyfish net. Lifeguards: None. Chatan's tourism association describes the Miyagi coast as open sea used at your own risk.
Is Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast) good for snorkelling?
We rate the snorkelling at Sunabe seawall (Miyagi coast) 3 out of 5. Chatan's tourism association recommends tide-pool watching on the reef flat at low tide. Entry: from the seawall onto the reef; beginners should join a dive-shop tour.
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