Turtles
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Turtles is a shallow reef break along the Sunabe seawall area in Chatan. The takeoff is steep and the best rides are typically short rights featuring a hollow inside section. It’s an exposed reef environment where conditions can change quickly with tide and swell size. Across available reports, the spot is most reliably surfable in cooler months when Northwest swell is active. One report highlights best performance with NW swell and NW winds, while another emphasizes that easterly winds are offshore and help keep the face clean/groomed; the seawall can also provide some protection from strong easterly winds. Safety is a primary concern: the reef and nearby structure can be sharp, with hazards including coral/reef surfaces and sea urchins, plus a concrete seawall and rocks. Entry and exit are particularly risky because the launch is very close to the seawall, and strong currents can develop during larger Northwest swells or typhoon conditions. Booties are strongly recommended, and riders should carefully check tide timing and assess entry/exit before committing. Suitability depends heavily on experience. One provider rates it as advanced with a short, hollow right and notes it becomes more hazardous as swell increases; another describes it as an intermediate-friendly workable reef with typical manageable ride lengths. Overall, it’s a reef spot for surfers who can handle steep takeoffs, shallow water changes, and hazardous access.
- Short right reef break with a hollow inside section
- Often best with winter Northwest swell
- Seawall access—very close to the water but with hazardous entry/exit in bigger conditions
- Sharp reef/urchins: booties recommended
- Workable reef break with a hollow section on the inside on the right.
- Generally best during winter months when Northwest swell reaches the coast.
- Often less broadly known than major nearby peaks while still being a staple within the broader Sunabe area.
- Shallow reef with a steep drop and short rides; requires confidence and precise positioning.
- Entry and exit can be hazardous due to the seawall and sharp reef/rocks, especially on larger swell.
- Strong currents can occur during larger Northwest swells or typhoon conditions.
- Conditions can become extremely heavy/close out on big swell.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, NE, SE
- Offshore directions
- E, ESE, ENE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Provider reports 'frontal' wind type; spot also reported to work best with east/offshore easterly winds in surf-forecast notes.
- Reliability
- Moderate during winter months.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported as light gusts.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Seawall provides some protection from strong easterly winds, helping keep the face clean.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Mixed — Conflicting composition reports: rocks vs mixed; reef/reef flat hazards dominate.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — One provider calls it small; another reports medium waves.
- Launch
- Small — Shallow break very close to the seawall; entry typically via steps or walking across the reef flat at lower tides.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Shallow, steep drop and hazardous access; another provider rates it moderate.
Through the year
Highest on weekends and during summer holidays; winter mornings are generally quieter.
Typhoon season typically runs from August to October; May and June can include plum rain.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A shallow reef break along the Sunabe seawall area in Chatan, known for steep takeoff and a short right with a hollow inside section. It can become extremely heavy or dangerous during larger swell/typhoon conditions, and entry/exit can be hazardous due to the seawall and sharp reef/rocks.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- W, WNW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best tide reported as low by surf-forecast/spot-level data; another provider reports optimal as mid.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break; seawall influences wind exposure and access but doesn’t make it sheltered.
- Wind Effect
- Best with NW conditions per one provider; easterly winds are reported to be offshore and keep the face clean/groomed. The seawall can help shield from easterly winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Entry and exit become dangerous with bigger swell; can close out or become extremely heavy during large typhoon swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality reported as good, with one provider giving an overall quality rating of 4.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Provider reports 'powerful'; other report rates it as moderate.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Reported peeling (and short hollow inside section mentioned).
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Reported medium peel speed; other provider describes peeling.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short ride; another provider describes manageable rides that can connect across sections, with 50–100 m typical rides.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short ride with a hollow section on the inside; can connect across reef sections on a suitable right swell (50–100 m mentioned by another provider).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Turtles in the full forecast view.
Turtles wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–20 ktsGusts 36 kts
- Direction
- NNE22°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2420 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–3.2 m7s period
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
Over the next 7 days, Turtles is forecast for daytime winds of 6–20 kts, peaking around 20 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 36 kts. The prevailing direction is NNE. Waves run 0.5–3.2 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Coral reef / sharp coral heads
- Sea urchins
- Concrete seawall obstacles
- Rocky reef / sharp reef
- Shallow water at low tide
- Seawall and hazardous entry/exit
- Strong currents during larger Northwest swells or typhoon conditions
- Dangerous entry and exit in big swell
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level data says 'no' rescue availability; regional context indicates rescue is limited and managed by the Japan Coast Guard (118), with no dedicated on-site rescue boats for most launches.
- Emergency Info
- For fire and ambulance dial 119; nearest medical facilities are in Chatan, with a major hospital referenced regionally as Okinawa Chubu Hospital.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism reported.
Rules of the spot
No surfing at extreme low tide due to exposed reef. Respect standard reef-break etiquette and local surfing community rules.
- Do not surf at extreme low tide (exposed reef).
- Avoid if you cannot safely manage entry and exit from the seawall/reef, especially with larger swell.
- Booties are highly recommended due to sharp reef/urchins.
- Check the tide before heading out; most locals avoid the lowest tide stages.
- Check entry and exit carefully before committing, especially when swell is larger.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Naha
- Nearest Town
- Chatan
- Parking
- Limited public parking along the seawall road; can get very crowded on weekends.
- Access
- Very close to the seawall; direct entry typically via seawall stairs. Entry/exit can be hazardous when swell is larger.
- Local Language
- Japanese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels, hostels, and guesthouses within walking distance in the Miyagi/Sunabe area.
- Food & Drink
- The Sunabe Seawall area is known for cafes, pizza shops, and bars overlooking the ocean.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental for surfing is offered by surf shops in Chatan.
- Gear Storage
- Yes
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in the Chatan area provide minor board repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Turtles?
The best overall months at Turtles are January, February, March, December, October, November. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Turtles?
Turtles works with E, NE, SE winds. Offshore directions are E, ESE, ENE.
What skill level is Turtles suitable for?
Turtles suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.