Kyushu
Diving in Kyushu is full of amazing marine life.
Explore Japan
Diving in Japan offers a unique underwater adventure, combining vibrant marine life with diverse environments. The Japanese archipelago stretches over thousands of kilometers, creating a plethora of dive sites, each with its own distinct charm. From the icy waters of Hokkaido, where you might encounter sea lions and even drift ice diving, to the tropical seas surrounding Okinawa, teeming with colorful coral reefs and majestic manta rays, Japan provides a spectrum of experiences for divers. Japan's underwater landscapes are as varied as its culture. Divers can explore dramatic walls, mysterious wrecks, and rich kelp forests. The Izu Peninsula, just a short trip from Tokyo, is known for its accessible shore dives where you can find a wide array of marine species. Meanwhile, the Ogasawara Islands, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, offer pristine dive conditions with an abundance of pelagic life. Seasonal changes bring unique opportunities, like the chance to see hammerhead sharks in Yonaguni or the breathtaking coral blooms in summer. Whether you're on a liveaboard expedition exploring the remote Nansei Islands or a leisurely shore dive near a bustling city, the blend of natural beauty and cultural richness makes diving in Japan a truly special experience.
Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, JCB, DC, Cir, Plus
Tipping
No tipping / Service Staff / Tipping is not customary and may even be considered impolite; exceptional service is reflected in the price.
Currency
JPY
Dial Code
+81
Electricity
100V / 50-60Hz
Time
UTC+9 (JST)
Places to explore
Courses and Events
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
Top Wildlife Sightings in Japan
Japan's marine life is diverse, offering vibrant experiences for divers. Common reef fish include angelfish and butterflyfish, often spotted in Okinawa’s coral reefs. These reefs are a haven for colorful marine inhabitants, making them a must-visit for underwater enthusiasts.
Seasonally, Japan's waters host a variety of larger marine creatures. Between April and September, divers might encounter whale sharks around the Ogasawara Islands. Meanwhile, green sea turtles are prevalent from May to October, particularly in waters near the Kerama Islands. Rays can also be seen year-round, with manta ray sightings peaking around Ishigaki Island from summer to early autumn. Each location offers distinct opportunities to witness these magnificent species, maximizing the chances of remarkable marine encounters.
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: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
1.8k Sightings
J
68
F
55
M
118
A
83
M
155
J
151
J
222
A
280
S
237
O
180
N
100
D
104
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.3k Sightings
J
47
F
56
M
71
A
73
M
109
J
109
J
148
A
182
S
209
O
176
N
68
D
54
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
1.3k Sightings
J
48
F
32
M
69
A
49
M
76
J
70
J
249
A
245
S
152
O
131
N
72
D
68
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
485 Sightings
J
7
F
13
M
61
A
38
M
47
J
30
J
47
A
54
S
81
O
52
N
44
D
11
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead
399 Sightings
J
23
F
41
M
19
A
8
M
2
J
39
J
99
A
58
S
60
O
37
N
6
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
361 Sightings
J
13
F
10
M
28
A
8
M
37
J
19
J
85
A
75
S
27
O
9
N
24
D
26
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
220 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
6
A
27
M
21
J
12
J
33
A
30
S
28
O
30
N
17
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
117 Sightings
J
7
F
9
M
7
A
4
M
16
J
9
J
7
A
7
S
18
O
9
N
10
D
14
iStock/Extreme Photographer
Whale Shark
116 Sightings
J
16
F
4
M
14
A
12
M
9
J
14
J
8
A
10
S
5
O
12
N
5
D
7
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
109 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
10
A
10
M
17
J
5
J
11
A
15
S
10
O
10
N
8
D
4
Tobias Friedrich
Bottlenose Dolphin
105 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
2
A
1
M
14
J
9
J
10
A
28
S
16
O
20
N
3
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 350
Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish
2.1k Sightings
J
98
F
59
M
91
A
85
M
130
J
119
J
308
A
328
S
300
O
283
N
161
D
123
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
1.9k Sightings
J
60
F
60
M
107
A
123
M
187
J
148
J
200
A
219
S
242
O
279
N
153
D
98
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
1.4k Sightings
J
66
F
38
M
86
A
77
M
114
J
113
J
134
A
165
S
207
O
216
N
95
D
92
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
1.3k Sightings
J
66
F
42
M
69
A
60
M
90
J
95
J
134
A
153
S
194
O
205
N
97
D
95
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
1.2k Sightings
J
46
F
59
M
62
A
56
M
122
J
70
J
149
A
164
S
155
O
147
N
44
D
106
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
1.1k Sightings
J
51
F
30
M
70
A
59
M
105
J
69
J
102
A
140
S
150
O
173
N
96
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
1k Sightings
J
67
F
48
M
109
A
82
M
119
J
76
J
114
A
99
S
99
O
68
N
54
D
81
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets
925 Sightings
J
38
F
24
M
43
A
34
M
69
J
59
J
147
A
189
S
112
O
117
N
46
D
47
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
887 Sightings
J
29
F
30
M
57
A
54
M
105
J
84
J
79
A
78
S
121
O
121
N
72
D
57
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 85
iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish
887 Sightings
J
42
F
24
M
49
A
44
M
66
J
76
J
86
A
113
S
134
O
126
N
58
D
69
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 8
Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish
781 Sightings
J
29
F
31
M
47
A
50
M
66
J
47
J
48
A
88
S
148
O
116
N
74
D
37
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 150
Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts
778 Sightings
J
30
F
17
M
42
A
41
M
45
J
36
J
77
A
152
S
133
O
127
N
45
D
33
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 40
iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish
728 Sightings
J
7
F
18
M
6
A
23
M
23
J
40
J
188
A
186
S
126
O
86
N
15
D
10
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish
714 Sightings
J
35
F
28
M
53
A
36
M
66
J
35
J
78
A
103
S
98
O
89
N
28
D
65
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish
694 Sightings
J
38
F
10
M
56
A
38
M
41
J
31
J
61
A
108
S
104
O
103
N
43
D
61
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
499 Sightings
J
14
F
14
M
24
A
32
M
73
J
19
J
43
A
73
S
65
O
71
N
37
D
34
AdobeStock-Richard Carey
Banded Sea Krait
484 Sightings
J
15
F
17
M
45
A
41
M
75
J
25
J
55
A
41
S
43
O
62
N
39
D
26
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 50
istock-atese
Frogfish
464 Sightings
J
41
F
24
M
35
A
20
M
33
J
28
J
54
A
45
S
55
O
33
N
18
D
78
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish
458 Sightings
J
20
F
16
M
42
A
20
M
50
J
25
J
91
A
29
S
55
O
66
N
19
D
25
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3400
Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp
447 Sightings
J
25
F
8
M
37
A
15
M
49
J
30
J
63
A
40
S
57
O
50
N
37
D
36
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3
Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish
408 Sightings
J
14
F
17
M
10
A
16
M
35
J
29
J
22
A
41
S
87
O
81
N
35
D
21
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Shutterstock_DiveIvanov
Squid
391 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
12
A
13
M
77
J
51
J
44
A
86
S
43
O
24
N
13
D
19
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
366 Sightings
J
16
F
9
M
16
A
29
M
27
J
76
J
41
A
41
S
60
O
21
N
17
D
13
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3
k
Cornetfish
363 Sightings
J
28
F
19
M
19
A
12
M
20
J
12
J
19
A
58
S
67
O
60
N
17
D
32
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 110
iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper
311 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
8
A
17
M
29
J
19
J
29
A
27
S
56
O
60
N
34
D
19
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish
285 Sightings
J
3
F
7
M
24
A
19
M
37
J
29
J
27
A
42
S
46
O
17
N
22
D
12
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark
252 Sightings
J
10
F
7
M
12
A
11
M
27
J
42
J
27
A
31
S
29
O
23
N
27
D
6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 7000
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab
216 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
23
A
6
M
20
J
19
J
38
A
26
S
15
O
28
N
17
D
9
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 30
Shutterstock-s_a_j
Sand Eel
206 Sightings
J
29
F
6
M
5
A
15
M
10
J
6
J
16
A
38
S
19
O
25
N
19
D
18
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse
176 Sightings
J
15
F
2
M
5
A
4
M
8
J
24
J
43
A
32
S
22
O
4
N
14
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 20
iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish
151 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
11
A
7
M
8
J
11
J
11
A
15
S
52
O
14
N
13
D
4
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 120
AdobeStock-Composer.
Flounder
146 Sightings
J
5
F
6
M
5
A
1
M
12
J
7
J
47
A
27
S
6
O
10
N
12
D
8
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 26
iStock-Martin Voeller
Angel Shark
141 Sightings
J
10
F
4
M
15
A
5
M
8
J
17
J
17
A
18
S
9
O
10
N
7
D
21
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 120
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Cuttlefish
130 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
17
A
12
M
38
J
11
J
9
A
10
S
7
O
10
N
5
D
6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock-bearacreative
Emperor
128 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
7
A
7
M
9
J
12
J
10
A
13
S
20
O
31
N
7
D
5
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
iStock-Christian von Mach
Pipefish
126 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
3
A
4
M
27
J
6
J
12
A
14
S
15
O
14
N
13
D
12
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish
123 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
5
A
5
M
13
J
6
J
11
A
22
S
25
O
18
N
10
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 15
Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish
115 Sightings
J
3
F
6
M
7
A
2
M
13
J
5
J
13
A
17
S
22
O
16
N
5
D
6