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)
Top Regions to Explore
Upcoming 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 approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
2k Sightings
J
70
F
55
M
134
A
129
M
225
J
220
J
223
A
282
S
237
O
180
N
99
D
105
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.5k Sightings
J
50
F
56
M
104
A
124
M
194
J
180
J
148
A
183
S
211
O
175
N
65
D
54
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
1.3k Sightings
J
49
F
32
M
68
A
50
M
82
J
85
J
248
A
245
S
152
O
131
N
71
D
70
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
563 Sightings
J
7
F
13
M
78
A
60
M
76
J
38
J
47
A
54
S
82
O
52
N
45
D
11
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead
431 Sightings
J
25
F
47
M
22
A
8
M
5
J
47
J
100
A
64
S
63
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 approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
390 Sightings
J
18
F
10
M
26
A
19
M
35
J
30
J
86
A
79
S
27
O
11
N
23
D
26
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
255 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
10
A
41
M
28
J
26
J
31
A
30
S
28
O
31
N
15
D
6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
130 Sightings
J
7
F
12
M
9
A
12
M
15
J
11
J
7
A
7
S
18
O
9
N
10
D
13
iStock/Extreme Photographer
Whale Shark
127 Sightings
J
16
F
4
M
15
A
14
M
13
J
18
J
8
A
10
S
5
O
12
N
5
D
7
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
118 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
11
A
11
M
21
J
5
J
11
A
15
S
10
O
10
N
11
D
4
Tobias Friedrich
Bottlenose Dolphin
108 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
16
J
11
J
10
A
28
S
16
O
20
N
3
D
0
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark
94 Sightings
J
7
F
1
M
7
A
1
M
3
J
10
J
30
A
13
S
14
O
2
N
1
D
5
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
84 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
10
A
10
M
13
J
2
J
9
A
6
S
6
O
8
N
9
D
0
AdobeStock-wildestanimal
Common Dolphin
72 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
6
A
2
M
10
J
8
J
3
A
6
S
15
O
16
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.: 350
Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish
2.3k Sightings
J
99
F
61
M
97
A
115
M
213
J
193
J
308
A
328
S
300
O
283
N
159
D
125
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
2.3k Sightings
J
61
F
56
M
136
A
198
M
307
J
289
J
205
A
221
S
246
O
284
N
148
D
100
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
1.5k Sightings
J
67
F
37
M
91
A
116
M
161
J
168
J
131
A
165
S
209
O
220
N
88
D
94
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
1.4k Sightings
J
68
F
42
M
72
A
69
M
115
J
149
J
134
A
153
S
194
O
208
N
97
D
97
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
1.3k Sightings
J
46
F
60
M
58
A
82
M
148
J
112
J
149
A
164
S
155
O
147
N
44
D
108
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
1.2k Sightings
J
53
F
29
M
83
A
86
M
130
J
132
J
102
A
140
S
150
O
176
N
96
D
47
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
1.2k Sightings
J
75
F
49
M
118
A
138
M
172
J
113
J
114
A
99
S
100
O
73
N
54
D
83
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
1k Sightings
J
30
F
30
M
62
A
82
M
148
J
129
J
80
A
78
S
123
O
119
N
70
D
57
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 85
iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish
957 Sightings
J
43
F
24
M
47
A
72
M
84
J
102
J
86
A
113
S
134
O
126
N
58
D
68
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets
953 Sightings
J
38
F
25
M
47
A
36
M
87
J
64
J
147
A
189
S
112
O
115
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 approx.: 8
Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish
878 Sightings
J
30
F
30
M
46
A
72
M
98
J
90
J
44
A
88
S
148
O
120
N
74
D
38
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 150
Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts
809 Sightings
J
30
F
16
M
41
A
48
M
57
J
52
J
74
A
152
S
133
O
127
N
45
D
34
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 40
iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish
758 Sightings
J
7
F
25
M
8
A
27
M
28
J
52
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 approx.: 25
AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish
746 Sightings
J
36
F
28
M
52
A
45
M
82
J
40
J
79
A
103
S
98
O
90
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 approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish
735 Sightings
J
39
F
10
M
47
A
41
M
53
J
67
J
60
A
108
S
104
O
103
N
42
D
61
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
599 Sightings
J
16
F
15
M
25
A
45
M
99
J
70
J
43
A
74
S
65
O
76
N
37
D
34
AdobeStock-Richard Carey
Banded Sea Krait
591 Sightings
J
15
F
17
M
53
A
66
M
105
J
66
J
55
A
45
S
43
O
62
N
38
D
26
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish
497 Sightings
J
20
F
16
M
37
A
35
M
73
J
27
J
91
A
33
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 approx.: 3
Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish
463 Sightings
J
14
F
16
M
14
A
33
M
36
J
61
J
22
A
41
S
86
O
84
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 approx.: 300
Shutterstock_DiveIvanov
Squid
463 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
16
A
19
M
107
J
81
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 approx.: 50
istock-atese
Frogfish
461 Sightings
J
42
F
24
M
34
A
21
M
29
J
28
J
55
A
45
S
54
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 approx.: 3400
Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp
441 Sightings
J
24
F
8
M
30
A
13
M
53
J
36
J
64
A
40
S
57
O
51
N
29
D
36
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
392 Sightings
J
16
F
11
M
18
A
37
M
44
J
73
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 approx.: 3
Shutterstock-Miroslav Halama
Cornetfish
391 Sightings
J
28
F
19
M
18
A
17
M
33
J
23
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 approx.: 110
iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper
339 Sightings
J
8
F
6
M
9
A
24
M
33
J
34
J
27
A
27
S
56
O
60
N
34
D
21
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish
338 Sightings
J
3
F
7
M
31
A
26
M
53
J
56
J
24
A
42
S
46
O
17
N
22
D
11
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark
305 Sightings
J
10
F
7
M
18
A
27
M
41
J
64
J
25
A
31
S
29
O
23
N
25
D
5
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 7000
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab
225 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
17
A
16
M
20
J
25
J
38
A
26
S
15
O
28
N
16
D
9
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 30
Shutterstock-s_a_j
Sand Eel
211 Sightings
J
29
F
6
M
5
A
13
M
18
J
13
J
16
A
38
S
19
O
25
N
19
D
10
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse
180 Sightings
J
15
F
2
M
5
A
5
M
9
J
27
J
43
A
32
S
22
O
4
N
14
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 120
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Cuttlefish
168 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
25
A
26
M
51
J
14
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 approx.: 120
AdobeStock-Composer.
Flounder
167 Sightings
J
5
F
7
M
13
A
9
M
13
J
12
J
47
A
27
S
6
O
10
N
10
D
8
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 20
iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish
167 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
10
A
13
M
18
J
15
J
11
A
15
S
52
O
13
N
13
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock-bearacreative
Emperor
159 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
7
A
15
M
17
J
23
J
9
A
14
S
20
O
33
N
7
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 26
iStock-Martin Voeller
Angel Shark
147 Sightings
J
10
F
4
M
16
A
5
M
13
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 approx.: 130
iStock-Christian von Mach
Pipefish
145 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
4
A
11
M
31
J
10
J
12
A
14
S
15
O
16
N
13
D
13
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish
134 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
5
A
9
M
11
J
15
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 approx.: 15
Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish
117 Sightings
J
4
F
6
M
4
A
2
M
14
J
9
J
13
A
17
S
21
O
16
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 approx.: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster
108 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
4
A
5
M
19
J
16
J
17
A
7
S
14
O
5
N
12
D
1
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 1500
iStock-ifish
Hard Corals
101 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
22
M
38
J
38
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
0
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.: 3500
Unsplash-pascal van de vendel
Soft Corals
95 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
29
M
47
J
16
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
0
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.: 30
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Stonefish
90 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
4
A
5
M
15
J
9
J
15
A
19
S
14
O
4
N
2
D
1
Alamy-Water Frame
Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)
88 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
5
A
1
M
19
J
0
J
4
A
13
S
7
O
14
N
11
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
iStock-deraugenzeuge
Snake Eel
82 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
5
A
16
M
10
J
9
J
2
A
2
S
4
O
13
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 approx.: 1700
Shutterstock-Ethan Daniels
Sea Cucumbers
72 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
27
M
24
J
20
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Leaf Scorpionfish
65 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
9
J
6
J
11
A
6
S
15
O
2
N
8
D
4
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 15
Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna
60 Sightings
J
7
F
6
M
3
A
2
M
8
J
5
J
1
A
5
S
9
O
4
N
6
D
4
AdobeStock_cherylvb
Garibaldi Damselfish
60 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
2
A
9
M
10
J
1
J
3
A
0
S
20
O
3
N
8
D
3