High waves and strong tides following the passage of a typhoon pulled four family members who were visiting Irabu Island in Okinawa Prefecture away from the shore and three of them drowned.
The accident happened Monday while they were snorkeling near Toguchi-no-Hama Beach in the city of Miyakojima, police said Tuesday.
The victims were identified as Shinsuke Ieiri, 72, his son-in-law, Shigekazu Kamei, 47, and Kamei's 12-year-old son, Rintaro.