On Chichijima’s east side, this popular dive site’s channel teems with bigeye jacks, sunfish, blacktip reef sharks, barracuda, and rock cod. Beyond the channel, pelagic fish and large schools abound. Dolphins sometimes appear during the safety stop, adding to the site’s allure.

A strange rock on Yomejima, the southernmost island in the Keita archipelago, about 50 km from Chichijima. The Arc de Triomphe is half-submerged in water. Bluefin tuna congregate in the holes, sometimes as many as 100 or more.

Located about 570km south of Tokyo, between the Ogasawara Islands and Hachijojima Island, this is a strangely shaped rock in a precipitous sea. A rock at an altitude of 99 meters that rises from a depth of 2500 meters. It takes about 20 hours by charter boat to get here.

This site is at the southwestern point of the island. Although it is a beach entry, there is a large cave and many nudibranchs around it, making it a popular spot. Entry and exit are done from the dedicated stairs.

Yaene, on Hachijojima’s west coast, is a calm bay beach-entry site suitable for all levels. About 200m out lies a 12m-deep arch hosting snapping turtles and rock lobsters. Green turtles are common, and macro life like nudibranchs and bee-eaters adds to its appeal.

Sokodo Beach in northeast Hachijojima features clear “Hachijo blue” waters. Entry is from the embankment, leading to Mimata Arch, home to species like long snappers and striped anemonefish. With frequent green turtle sightings, it’s ideal for both beginners and advanced divers.

Nazumado is on the west side of the island where you can see Hachijo Kojima in front of you. This dive site is set up very uniquely with ropes to help you enter and exit from a walled reef that falls sharply down the slope.

More than 200 wild dolphins live around Mikurajima. You can swim with them by skin diving only; no scuba diving is allowed. There are two ways to swim with the dolphins here. The first way is you can land on Mikurajima and approach the dolphins in a small boat.

Sanbondake is about an hour’s boat ride from Miyakejima and is officially called Onohara Island. It is an uninhabited reef floating off the coast of Miyakejima. This site is for advanced divers only due to the strong current. This dive is a complete drift style dive. It is only possible to dive when sea conditions and currents are right. It is the most dynamic point in Miyakejima, where large schools of fish and large migratory fish can be seen.

Located in the northern part of the island, this is the main dive site of Miyakejima. This is a beach entry only. The terrain is formed by lava flowing into the water, with roots protruding offshore. There is a fairly large area to the east and west of the dive site, and you can’t go all the way around on one dive.