ishigaki wildflower field coastal view about discover ishigaki MO

About Discover IshigakiLocal English-Speaking Guides

Discover Ishigaki Tours is a family owned and operated business located in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan.

Discover Ishigaki was created to offer small-group tours in Ishigaki led by experienced English-speaking guides. Our goal is simple — to help international visitors explore the island safely, comfortably, and in a personal way.

We specialize in beginner-friendly snorkeling and hiking tours designed for travelers who want to enjoy Ishigaki’s natural beauty without stress. Whether you are joining your first snorkeling experience or looking for a relaxed outdoor adventure, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

With over 10 years of guiding in Ishigaki and more than 20 years of guiding and teaching diving and snorkeling worldwide, we know the best locations, seasonal conditions, and hidden spots that make Ishigaki Island truly special.

Founded and operated by a local guide with over 10 years of experience exploring Ishigaki’s reefs, beaches, and mountain trails.

Who are we? Meet Zohar and Sachi

About Discover Ishigaki family photo MO

We approach everything with a sense of humor, except when it comes to safety.

Zohar

Zohar Paz - Our Main Guide

Fluent languages: English and Hebrew
SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling instructor for more than 20 years, guiding in Ishigaki since 2016.

Zohar is Originally from Israel (hence the weird sense of humor) but after living abroad for so many years he might not be considered Israeli anymore.
Lived and worked in Honduras, Mexico, Egypt, Thailand, Maldives, Philippines, Japan(obviously) and many more countries around the globe.

Zohar has been working in the Scuba diving industry for more than 20 years and has a lot of love for nature and especially the sea.
Due to his love of tinkering he is also a SCUBA equipment technician and a serial “lets see how it works” kind of guy.

Favorite phrase: “Only one way to find out!”

Credentials:

  • PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
  • SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor
  • DAN Emergency First Responder Instructor
Sachi

Sachi Paz - "The Boss"

Fluent languages: Japanese and English
SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling instructor for more than 11 years.

If Zohar can be considered the muscle (covered with some fat) of Discover Ishigaki then Sachi is definitely the heart and brain of it all!

Sachi was born and raised in Japan but was working abroad for nearly a decade.
Sachi met Zohar while traveling in Thailand and fell in love with diving.
They have been working together in Thailand, Philippines, Maldives and Japan.

Sachi is definitely the voice of reason in Discover Ishigaki Tours!

Favorite phrase: “We’ll see…”

The Board of Directors

The ones who really pull the strings in this business / family.
All other details are classified.
(We could tell you but then we have to… see you melt from excessive cuteness!)

The Boss
the president

Our Story

Discover Ishigaki is the direct result of our passion for nature and our desire to share the love, peace, and serenity found both above and below the waters of Ishigaki Island through sustainable tourism.

Discover Ishigaki Tours was established in 2023, when we realized that the tourism industry had changed significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 20 years of experience in the tourism and water sports industry, and after working together in incredible destinations such as the Maldives, Thailand, and the Philippines, we decided to settle down and finally start our own company — Discover Ishigaki Tours.

We first arrived on Ishigaki Island in 2016 and quickly fell in love with the island, its nature, its culture, and its people.

Discover Ishigaki was created to bridge the gap between international travelers and local experiences. Many visitors to Ishigaki want to join outdoor activities but feel unsure about language barriers, safety, or choosing the right tour.

We built our tours around what travelers truly need:

  • Clear English communication
  • Small group sizes
  • Flexible locations based on weather and conditions
  • A relaxed and friendly atmosphere

Today, we welcome guests from around the world and focus on providing personal experiences rather than large, crowded tours.

We truly believe that excellent customer service begins with our first “Hello” and ends with “See you next time!”. We take pride in going the extra mile for every guest to ensure their experience becomes a memory that will last forever.

Together, we bring many years of experience as well as genuine enthusiasm for ensuring our customers leave with memories that will live on for years to come.

What We Specialize In

Our team offers carefully designed Ishigaki island activities that highlight the island’s natural environment:

  • Beach-entry snorkeling experiences
  • Sea turtle snorkeling tours
  • Blue Cave snorkeling
  • Mountain and river hiking tours
  • Private and family-friendly experiences

All tours are beginner-friendly and no previous experience is required. Safety, comfort, and personal attention are always our priorities.

Why Choose Discover Ishigaki?

Trusted by Travelers

Based on hundreds of 5-star reviews, guests consistently highlight our friendly English-speaking guides, small group atmosphere, and unforgettable experiences in Ishigaki.

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Martyna Kurbiel profile picture
Martyna Kurbiel
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It was really amazing start of the day to see so many turtles on this tour! I’ve never seen more beautiful views under the water before. Also the guide Zohar was really passionate about the underwater life. He explained us everything. What I really loved on this tour was that Zohar respected turtles environment and did not allow them to be touched or caught, as that would cause them great stress. Also he took so many beautiful photos and movies for us and took us for ice creams after the tour! 🫶🏼 GREAT DAY, GUIDE AND TOUR ❤️
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Mateusz Migot profile picture
Mateusz Migot
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What an amazing expierience!! The tour was fantastic we saw a lot of coral reef, many types of fish and turtles. Zohar is an amazing guide that knows the reef inside out. He is also very friendly and funny and knows a lot about sea life and Ishigaki Island. Highly recommend it to anyone.
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Taiki Monden profile picture
Taiki Monden
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We had a great experience snorkelling with Ishigaki Tours! The guide, Zohar, showed a lot of care to the approach of both the experience and wildlife, allowing us to see many sea turtles. Zohar was also incredibly knowledgable of the island, the history and had great recommendations on where to eat/visit! Can highly recommend and we look forward to doing the tour again in the future sometime. Thanks again Zohar!
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Goda Juršėnaitė profile picture
Goda Juršėnaitė
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We had a wonderful turtle snorkeling tour with great views of marine life, local fruit, and delicious ice cream afterwards, all planned by our guide Zohar, who made everyone in the group feel confident and relaxed to fully enjoy the experience. We managed to spot turtles multiple times and observed them in a way that didn’t cause stress or make the animals feel scared. We also saw lots of beautiful fish and reefs along the way. A must-do experience if you are in Ishigaki and enjoy wildlife! Zohar is an amazing guide, communication was very easy, and the group was small, so everyone got personal attention. Plus, we received great photos and videos taken by Zohar during snorkeling :)
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Jessica O'Leary profile picture
Jessica O'Leary
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Absolute must do if you visit ishigaki, Zohar was an absolutely incredible guide and was very patient with me as my first time snorkeling. He has incredible knowledge of the area and will do his best to make sure you are comfortable and have a fantastic time. 10/10 would recommend and I hope I get to go again some time!!
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Zsófia Szűcs profile picture
Zsófia Szűcs
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We had a great snorkeling tour with Zohar. If you are looking for a tour with very small groups I can highly recommend this company! Zohar was a great guide, he really made sure we all had a good time, and also feel safe in the water! He clearly knows a lot about the island, so ask away! :)
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J Park profile picture
J Park
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We had such a wonderful snorkeling experience with Zohar! We joined the tour with our young children and my parents, who had never snorkeled before and were nervous about even getting into the sea. Zohar was so patient and reassuring, gently guiding my parents and helping them feel comfortable in the water. They said they were able to fully relax and enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery throughout the snorkeling session. Our children also had a fantastic time exploring Ishigaki’s gorgeous sea. The ice cream shop Zohar recommended at the end was delicious too—a lovely way to finish the day! Thank you for giving our whole family such happy memories. Highly recommended, especially for families and first-time snorkelers!
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Roni K profile picture
Roni K
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We had an amazing snorkeling tour with Zohar! He was so kind, friendly and professional, and made us feel comfortable throughout the whole experience. The tour was very respectful of the marine environment, and you could really feel how much he cares about the ocean and its wildlife. Highly recommended! 🐢🌊
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Carolin Bartels profile picture
Carolin Bartels
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We had a great time snorkeling in Ishigaki and can totally recommend the guided tour!
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Robert Butcher profile picture
Robert Butcher
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Amazing experience, guide was very knowledgable and well equipped. Also a big plus for us was how respectful of the wildlife he was. My girlfriend isn’t the best swimmer but he made sure she was fine the whole time and very accommodating. Would highly recommend!

Safety and Local Knowledge

Ishigaki’s ocean and nature conditions can change quickly. Our guides carefully check weather, tides, and sea conditions every day to choose the safest and most enjoyable locations.

We use high-quality equipment, provide clear safety briefings, and stay close to our guests during the activity. Our goal is to make every tour relaxed, safe, and enjoyable for travelers of all experience levels.

Our Most Popular Tours

If you’re planning your visit, explore our most popular guided tours in Ishigaki:

Porcupine fish peeking out from the reef
Ishigaki Snorkeling Tours
Sea turtle resting on a coral reef in Ishigaki.
Sea Turtle Snorkeling Tour
Lionfish hovering in Ishigaki Island
Snorkeling & Island Tour
River hiking in Ishigaki Island
Mountain & River Hiking Tour
Children snorkeling in the shallow water
Private Family Tour
See our full range of guided tours in Ishigaki and find the experience that fits your trip.

Start Your Ishigaki Adventure

Whether you’re visiting Ishigaki for the first time or returning to explore more, our team is ready to help you experience the island in a safe, personal, and memorable way.

Contact us anytime if you need help choosing the right tour.