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Explore Chubu

Diving in the Chubu region offers a unique blend of freshwater and riverine diving experiences that stand out against the backdrop of Japan's diverse underwater landscapes. Nestled between the Izu and Kii Peninsulas, Chubu is primarily known for its mountainous terrain. However, it surprises many with its distinct and thrilling dive spots like Lake Motosu and the Nagara River. Lake Motosu, Japan’s most popular freshwater diving destination, showcases intriguing underwater landscapes sculpted by ancient lava flows, providing a surreal experience for divers looking to explore something beyond the typical reef dives.

In the Nagara River, divers can encounter the rare and exhilarating experience of drift diving. The river is home to a vibrant array of aquatic life, including yellow-spotted band fish, black bass, small catfish, turtles, and shrimp. The star attraction, however, is the Japanese giant salamander, the world’s largest amphibian, which makes for an unforgettable sight. These dive sites offer a refreshing perspective for those accustomed to oceanic dives, allowing divers to explore the unique freshwater ecosystems and riverine environments that Chubu has to offer.

Dive Activity

Diving in Chubu

The Chubu region of Japan offers a captivating range of dive sites that attract enthusiasts from around the globe. Notable for its stunning wreck dives, the area is home to several submerged relics that tell tales of the past. Among them, Chubu’s coastal dive sites offer rocky reefs, sandy bottoms, macro life, and seasonal marine life, making the region appealing to divers with different interests.

For those preferring the convenience of shore dives, the Izu Peninsula presents numerous accessible spots with vibrant marine life. Its crystal-clear waters are ideal for witnessing unique behaviors such as spawning events. Night diving is also popular, allowing divers to observe nocturnal creatures in action. While Chubu offers ample shore diving opportunities, local boat diving options provide a balanced experience, catering to those seeking to explore a variety of coastal sites with ease and comfort.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Chubu

Chubu, Japan, offers diverse diving conditions year-round, with seasonal variations influencing the experience. Water temperatures range from 10°C/50°F in winter to 27°C/81°F in summer, impacting both marine life and diver comfort. Visibility typically spans 10 to 30 meters/33 to 98 feet, generally improving in winter due to reduced plankton activity.

Diving is possible throughout the year, though spring and fall are particularly favorable, offering mild temperatures and calm seas. Summer may bring typhoons, causing strong winds and currents, while winter's colder waters and rougher seas can deter some divers. Planning around these factors ensures a rewarding diving experience in Chubu.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Chubu

Chubu, a region in central Japan, offers divers a rich variety of marine life, including vibrant reef fish and seasonal visitors. Commonly encountered reef fish include clownfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish, which thrive in the coral gardens of the Izu Peninsula and the Noto Peninsula. These species are typically seen year-round, providing a colorful backdrop for underwater adventures. Seasonal highlights in Chubu's waters include the sightings of majestic hammerhead sharks around Mikomoto Island during the late summer months. Reef fish, macro life, soft corals, schooling fish, and seasonal migratory species can be seen around Chubu and the Tokai region depending on the area and season. Divers visiting these areas during peak seasons have a higher chance of encountering these remarkable species, making Chubu a desirable destination for marine enthusiasts.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.1k Sightings
J
19
F
19
M
61
A
51
M
71
J
72
J
174
A
246
S
205
O
89
N
43
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

688 Sightings
J
12
F
12
M
36
A
22
M
22
J
13
J
209
A
180
S
69
O
55
N
25
D
33
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

390 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
2
J
54
J
117
A
74
S
97
O
37
N
7
D
0
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

307 Sightings
J
0
F
12
M
3
A
0
M
7
J
32
J
89
A
87
S
35
O
34
N
0
D
8
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

64 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
2
J
5
J
28
A
13
S
13
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

46 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
23
A
13
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.2k Sightings
J
40
F
19
M
34
A
34
M
59
J
44
J
276
A
288
S
199
O
109
N
75
D
69

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

482 Sightings
J
15
F
12
M
34
A
10
M
36
J
22
J
68
A
96
S
67
O
61
N
26
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

410 Sightings
J
12
F
15
M
27
A
15
M
43
J
22
J
63
A
63
S
44
O
35
N
20
D
51

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

400 Sightings
J
10
F
7
M
26
A
24
M
26
J
11
J
61
A
67
S
48
O
54
N
29
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

385 Sightings
J
5
F
7
M
17
A
21
M
47
J
42
J
62
A
55
S
50
O
39
N
11
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

357 Sightings
J
12
F
11
M
28
A
28
M
30
J
7
J
64
A
62
S
29
O
30
N
16
D
40

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

327 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
4
J
12
J
124
A
64
S
78
O
36
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

324 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
24
A
2
M
31
J
8
J
53
A
69
S
41
O
29
N
15
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

308 Sightings
J
19
F
13
M
37
A
39
M
25
J
13
J
52
A
53
S
21
O
6
N
3
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

307 Sightings
J
17
F
9
M
21
A
10
M
19
J
13
J
24
A
60
S
38
O
49
N
17
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

307 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
4
A
1
M
26
J
38
J
55
A
106
S
52
O
11
N
6
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

270 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
17
A
2
M
8
J
7
J
34
A
63
S
36
O
49
N
16
D
23

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

250 Sightings
J
8
F
7
M
22
A
11
M
23
J
10
J
60
A
18
S
38
O
30
N
12
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

237 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
13
A
13
M
18
J
3
J
27
A
49
S
36
O
20
N
18
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

161 Sightings
J
8
F
6
M
10
A
5
M
11
J
8
J
7
A
23
S
12
O
11
N
8
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

150 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
15
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
13
A
34
S
29
O
22
N
13
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

136 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
11
A
2
M
4
J
2
J
20
A
28
S
12
O
21
N
13
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

112 Sightings
J
2
F
3
M
0
A
4
M
7
J
0
J
31
A
9
S
28
O
1
N
13
D
14
Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)

Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)

79 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
7
J
0
J
8
A
14
S
11
O
14
N
10
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

75 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
4
A
1
M
7
J
12
J
10
A
1
S
9
O
10
N
6
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

73 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
7
S
12
O
17
N
11
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

69 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
6
J
0
J
22
A
13
S
3
O
6
N
1
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

58 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
12
S
14
O
5
N
10
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

57 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
10
A
7
M
3
J
6
J
9
A
0
S
1
O
5
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

56 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
8
M
17
J
9
J
8
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 26

Angel Shark

Angel Shark

53 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
14
A
0
M
7
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

47 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
4
J
2
J
9
A
3
S
7
O
15
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

44 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
6
J
3
J
12
A
14
S
4
O
3
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

40 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
1
J
2
A
11
S
3
O
16
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

39 Sightings
J
6
F
2
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
19
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
5
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

38 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
3
J
0
J
4
A
4
S
16
O
3
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

33 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
11
S
2
O
9
N
5
D
0