Diving in Wakayama Prefecture offers a captivating opportunity to explore the pristine underwater world along the scenic coastline of the Kii Peninsula, amidst a backdrop of sacred mountains, mystical forests, and cultural heritage sites.
Located on the remote Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region, Wakayama Prefecture is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, including the ancient Kumano Kodo. This region is steeped in spirituality and natural beauty, with mountains considered sacred and healing onsens blending with the clear waters of the ocean.
While Wakayama is famed for its cultural and natural attractions, including Mount Koya and the Kumano Kodo, it also delights visitors with its culinary offerings. From the best ramen shops in the country serving Chuka soba (Chinese noodles) to the renowned Wakayama Beef (Wagyu beef) from the Kumanoushi cow breed, the prefecture promises a gastronomic adventure.
For diving enthusiasts, Wakayama's coastline offers access to the beautiful Pacific Ocean surrounded by lush nature. While a few hours away from the bustling city of Osaka, the Kii Peninsula provides a serene escape for divers seeking to explore underwater wonders. Divers can expect to encounter diverse marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and stunning underwater landscapes, making it an ideal destination for both beginners and experienced divers alike.
Whether you're drawn to Wakayama for its spiritual sites, natural beauty, or culinary delights, diving in this prefecture promises an unforgettable experience that immerses you in the richness and diversity of Japan's marine environment.
Salt water Soft coral forest and Fresh water Japanese Giant Salamander diving
Located at the East bank of kushimoto,you can dive through the strong health soft coral forest. Also enjoy the dynamic underwater terrain at the open ocean points. Here you can enjoy fresh water river diving, where you can meet many interesting river creatures, including the protected Japanese Giant Salamander.
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of Frog fish
-Variety of Tropical marine animals
-Japanese giant salamander(Andrias japonicus)
Spring season:
-Stout chromis (Chromis chrysura) from the south
Summer season:
Due to the Black current path, the visibility picks up. Many types of Tropical creatures from the South arrives.
Autumn season:
-Angel shark (Squatina japonica)
-Japanese butterfly ray (Gymnura japonica)
Only about 1.5hours by car from Osaka, Shirasaki is a popular diving destination for Kansai area divers. This limestone area was said to have formed 250,000,000 years ago. The contrast of the white shoreline and the cobalt blue sea are one of the reasons of it's popularity.
Minabe, like Tanabe is famous for it's deep-water neon-yellow anemones(Halcurias levis Uchida). Also macro marine life's such as as nudibranch and gobies are a popular here.
Susami shoreline stretches over 27km and here there are over 30 diving spots, both beach and boat. The visibility and the color of the Ocean is famous and is often referred to as "Susami Blue". Diving here is dynamic as you can see schools of large fishes like the rainbow runner.
A 28km Island on the tip of the Kii peninsula, Kii Oshima Island is the largest Island in Wakayama. Unlike the diving spot around this area, this Island itself is positioned different from warm black current path and thus offer a different marine life environment. (Still tropical but different)
Exciting underwater terrain and recreational wreck diving
Shirahama area has been the place to go diving in the Kansai region for a long time. "Shirahama" in Japanese means, "Long white beach", and like it's name, this area is a popular beach destination.
The diving spot varies from the blight white sandy area to the rocky 20m drop off wall filled with soft corals. The artificial wrecks is not large(31m) but the depth is only 18m, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the sea life around the wrecks.
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of squid
-Variety of Sea Horse
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Variety of Frogfish
-Black spot cardinalfish( Ostorhinchus notatus )
-Chicken grunt(Parapristipoma trilineatum )
-Japanese jack mackerel(Trachurus japonicus)
Famous table rock coral(Acroporidae)
Kushimoto is a popular diving destination for local divers in the Kansai region. It lies near the path of the Black current, giving the area with great visibility and abundance in sea life. The largest community of light green table rock coral in the mainland Japan, is just a proof of it's beautiful ocean environment.
The climate zone of Kushimoto is "Subtropical region", the warmest region in main Island of Japan.
All year around:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of squid
-Variety of Sea Horse
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Variety of Frogfish
-Harlequin Shrimp(Hymenocera picta)
-Jaw fish(Opistognathidae)
Spring season:
-Stout chromis (Chromis chrysura) from the south
-Variety of nudibranch
Summer season:
Due to the Black current path, the visibility picks up. Many types of Tropical creatures from the South arrives.
Autumn season:
-Angel shark (Squatina japonica)
-Japanese butterfly ray (Gymnura japonica)
-Common Skete (Raja kenojei)
Rare Deep water anemones(Halcurias levis Uchida, 2004)
Tanabe is famous domestically for the deep-water neon-yellow anemones ,Halcurias levis Uchida, 2004 , and of course its abundant sea slugs.
In other areas, this anemones only occur below 150m, but in Tanabe, you can encounter them within recreational diving limits. To protect the fragile anemones from habitat destruction, the Japanese local government has listed them as a national monument.
It is a 2hour dive from Osaka and a easy day trip away. The site offers variety to wide range of Large schooling fishes to and tiny nudibranch.
It is also famous for it's table rock coral(Acroporidae). You can see them at the beach entry spot, at the depth around 7m.
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of squid
-Variety of Sea Horse
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Variety of Frogfish
-Halcurias levis Uchida aka Ookawari anemones
-Whitebait
If your lucky:
-Scalloped hammerhead(Sphyrna lewini)
-Manta (Manta birostris)
-Variety of nudibranch
