I took my kids on the Orca, an underwater sightseeing boat departing from Naha! Can't see any fish? Will I get seasick? An honest review

The Orca is a large underwater sightseeing boat with large windows that allow you to see colorful corals and fish. The underwater viewing room is equipped with 32 large, specially made glass panels, each measuring 1 meter wide by 55 cm high, so that everyone, from small children to the elderly, can enjoy the beautiful, endless expanse of Okinawa's ocean together.

I took a ride on the Orca boat at the beginning of September, when the weather was a bit uncertain, to enjoy underwater sightseeing, so I'd like to share my experience with you.

<Table of Contents>
1. Go to the Orca
2. Underwater observation time - were you able to see the fish?!
3. Try riding the Orca
┗3-1. Were there any discount coupons?
┗3-2. What about seasickness?
┗3-3. Duration

Show all table of contents

1. Go to the Orca

オルガ号は1日に5便（1便 9:00／2便 10:15／3便 11:45／4便 14:00／5便 15:30）出ていて、ゆいレールの旭橋駅から徒歩10分ほどの場所にある「那覇埠頭」から出港です。
The parking lot is right in front of the Naha Wharf waiting area. Tell the staff at the parking lot entrance that you're taking the Orca boat and hand them the parking fee (330 yen). It's a pre-payment system, so leaving is easy.
We have a reservation for the 11:45 departure. The meeting time is 20 minutes before departure.
The Orca cruise check-in counter is located to the left after entering the Naha Wharf waiting area, marked by the sign for the tour operator, "West Marine."
After checking in, you will be given a numbered ticket, so please be careful not to lose it.
The waiting room.
At the reception desk, be sure to check the information board displaying the current water clarity and vibration levels.

On this day, you could just barely "see" it, and it "shakes."
It's a relief that it's not Level 1, which means "You can't see anything" and "It's shaking a lot"... Having signs like this helps you prepare mentally!
Incidentally, the weather that day was intermittent rain from the morning, and a large, dark rain cloud was approaching from a distance. My daughter was a little worried, wondering, "I wonder if we'll be able to see any fish," given the less-than-perfect conditions.

2. Underwater observation time - were you able to see the fish?!

After listening to explanations and important points from the staff, it's finally time to board the Orca!
The ship was divided into two floors, with toilets and vending machines on the second floor.
All seats were unreserved. For some reason, the first floor was extremely popular that day, while the second floor was completely empty.
We also chose the first floor. There are long, connected benches set up on both sides.
The boat moved further and further away from the harbor, heading towards the viewing point. The scenery from a different angle than usual was refreshing, and both my daughter and son were enjoying themselves, asking things like, "Was that building there before?" and "What's that big building?"

About 15 minutes after departure, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Please descend to the underwater viewing room." It seemed the time had finally come to see the schools of fish!

Go down the stairs and enter the underwater viewing room.
There was a seat in the middle, with large glass windows lined up on both sides. The retro atmosphere, reminiscent of a high-class Showa-era restaurant, filled me with excitement.
There are pictures of fish displayed above the windowpane.
At first, all I could see was the coral reef, which made me a little uneasy...
Suddenly, a school of fish appeared! "Look!" "There's a yellow fish!" Children and adults alike were in a frenzy of excitement. The room instantly became noisy.
The coral was also very colorful and beautiful. It's a shame that the photos don't quite capture it.
It had been raining on and off since morning, and the visibility was lower than usual, so I was a little worried about whether I would be able to see any fish. However, all those worries vanished when I saw so many fish clearly, and I was deeply moved.

It's like we're all diving into the ocean together. You can experience the depth of the sea and the fish up close, making it a different kind of enjoyment than visiting an aquarium or viewing from a glass-bottom boat.

If you're lucky, you might even spot a sea turtle. I was hoping to see clownfish and sea snakes too, but unfortunately, I didn't see any that day. What a shame! I'd like to try again on a sunny day next time.

3. Try riding the Orca

3-1. Were there any discount coupons?

The regular price for the Orca underwater stroll is 2,400 yen for adults (13 years and older), 1,200 yen for children (6-12 years old), and free for infants (5 years and under).

If you make a reservation in advance, the price will be 2,200 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for children, a discount of 200 yen, so it is recommended to make a reservation through the official website before going. Online reservations are accepted up to two days in advance, and telephone reservations are accepted until 3 PM on the day of your visit.

Additionally, travel booking sites HIS and Tobu Top Tours are offering discount coupons, but all of them offer the same 200 yen discount.

Since the service may be canceled depending on the weather, it's a good idea to check the official Instagram for updates on the operating status.

Reference: West Marine Official Instagram

3-2. What about seasickness?

This time, I boarded the ship without taking any motion sickness medication.

The rocking became more intense as we approached the underwater viewing spot, which was a bit unpleasant, but not to the point of feeling nauseous or like I was going to throw up.

However, the shaking that day was only "Level 4 (shaking)," so if it had been "Level 5 (very shaking)," I might have gotten seasick.

If you are prone to seasickness or are feeling anxious because it's your first time on a boat, we recommend taking motion sickness medication as a precaution.

3-3. Duration

The Orca cruise takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes.

Please gather 20 minutes before each departure time for registration and a briefing. If possible, please use the restroom at this time as well.

We will move to the underwater viewing room about 10-15 minutes after departure. Please proceed to the underwater viewing room when the announcement is made.

The underwater viewing time was about 20 minutes, and afterwards we returned to the deck and sat comfortably in chairs, enjoying the sea breeze and feeling "so good" on the way back.

It's a quick and enjoyable experience that only takes about an hour, so it's also recommended if you want to do a little more sightseeing in Naha!

4. Conclusion

Although we were a little worried because the weather looked like it might rain, we were able to see the fish so clearly and beautifully that it blew away all those worries. The time spent on the boat ride to the viewing point was pleasant, and in the underwater viewing room, it felt like we were all diving into the ocean together. It was a much more fulfilling experience than we expected. The children also seemed to enjoy it immensely and are eager to ride again, saying, "Next time, we want to see sea turtles and Nemo (clownfish)." If you're visiting Naha, be sure to enjoy underwater viewing on the Orca!