Positioned about 24 hours south of Tokyo by ferry from Takeshiba Pier, the Ogasawara Islands are a distant chain of over 30 islands which have by no means been related to a continent. Because of this isolation, the islands are dwelling to a one-of-a-kind ecosystem and are sometimes referred to as the “Galápagos of the East.” In 2011, they had been designated a UNESCO World Pure Heritage web site.
Whereas Ogasawara’s pure magnificence is well-known, its best treasures lie beneath the waves. From giant pelagics, like manta rays and whale sharks, to vibrant colleges of fusiliers and soldierfish, the underwater scenes are wealthy, dynamic and teeming with life. Look intently and you could spot uncommon species, just like the cherry anthias or peppermint angelfish. Encounters with dolphins and whales are additionally attainable, making this a real once-in-a-lifetime vacation spot for divers of all ranges.
Chichijima Island
Chichijima Island is framed by rugged cliffs and white sandy seashores, providing gorgeous coastal surroundings and plush inland greenery. The island is dwelling to many species distinctive to the Ogasawara Islands, making it a paradise for nature lovers. Scenic viewpoints and tropical seashore spots throughout the island improve its distant island appeal.
Diving on this space primarily facilities round Chichijima and the close by Anijima and Ototojima Islands, providing a various vary of dive websites, from thrilling encounters with giant marine life to detailed macro pictures alternatives and putting underwater landscapes. There’s one thing for everybody, from freshmen to seasoned divers. Within the surrounding waters, fortunate guests could even spot dolphins or whales throughout floor intervals or boat rides.
High Dive Spot: Dobu Iso
Together with Tako Iwa, Dobu Iso is likely one of the prime spots round Chichijima for seeing bigger marine life. The dive begins close to an enormous underwater pillar that rises dramatically from a 50-meter (164-foot) seabed. As you comply with the steep, rocky slopes, you’re more likely to come throughout colleges of dogtooth tuna, bigeye trevally, barracuda and flashes of yellow-and-blue fusiliers. White-tip reef sharks are additionally a daily sight, and if luck’s in your facet, you may even see manta rays or dolphins gliding by close to the floor — typically even throughout your security cease.
Robust present are frequent right here, so this web site is taken into account advanced-level and is advisable for skilled divers.
How To Get There
The principle approach to attain Chichijima Island is by taking the Ogasawara Maru ferry, which runs between Tokyo’s Takeshiba Passenger Terminal and Futami Port on Chichijima. As of April 2025, the ferry departs from Takeshiba at 11:00 AM and arrives at Chichijima at 11:00 AM the next day. The return journey departs Chichijima at 3:00 PM and arrives again in Tokyo at 3:00 PM the following day.
Relying on the season, luxurious cruise ships, similar to Nippon Maru, Pacific Venus, and Asuka II can also make port calls to the island, providing a scenic voyage to the Pacific frontier.
Hahajima Island
Hahajima Island provides an much more peaceable and untouched ambiance than its bigger neighbor, Chichijima. With a inhabitants of simply round 450 and just one dive store on the island, it’s the proper place for a quiet, unhurried dive journey surrounded by pristine nature.
The waters across the island are divided into 5 distinct dive areas. The southern area options dramatic seascapes, whereas the north is thought for its sandy bottoms. The east boasts vibrant coral reefs, the west is dwelling to putting underwater terrain and pelagic species, and the world close to Mukojima and Hirashima Islands provides the prospect to come across dolphins and even whales.
After your dives, Hahajima invitations you to decelerate and take all of it in. The most effective methods to unwind is with a go to to Shinyuuhigaoka on the island’s west facet; it’s a preferred sundown spot with sweeping ocean views. Different highlights embody the white sands of Horaine Seaside, the fossilized coin stones of Miyukinohama, and Kitako Port, a favourite native spot for shore fishing.
High Dive Spot: Horaine Wreck
At a depth of round 20 meters (66 toes), divers can discover the Daini Saikai Maru, a sunken vessel measuring roughly 50 meters (164 toes) lengthy and eight.5 meters (28 toes) vast. Now functioning as a man-made reef, the wreck has grow to be dwelling to quite a lot of marine life, together with vibrant colleges of bluestripe snapper, groupers, like tomato grouper, and the putting wrought iron butterflyfish — a species endemic to Japan.
Surrounding sandy areas are wealthy in macro life, with backyard eels and gobies, just like the orange-striped shrimpgoby, making frequent appearances. This web site is beginner-friendly and can also be used for early morning and evening dives, providing totally different views and marine exercise relying on the time of day.
How To Get There
The Hahajima Maru ferry operates between Chichijima and Hahajima. Usually, it departs about one hour after the Ogasawara Maru arrives at Futami Port. The journey takes roughly two hours.
Tickets are offered on the day of departure on the Hahajima Maru Passenger Terminal in Chichijima. Word that tickets can solely be bought with money, so remember to plan accordingly.
Mukojima Islands
Positioned about one-and-a-half to 2 hours by boat from Chichijima Island, the Mukojima Islands are a distant group of uninhabited islands that embody Kitanoshima Island, Mukojima Island, Harinoiwa, Nakodojima Island and Yomejima Island. Whereas diving is usually attainable year-round, one of the best season is usually from Could to September when the seas are extra secure.
As a result of all the islands are uninhabited, divers can get pleasure from uncooked, untouched nature and actually wild underwater experiences. Large colleges of dogtooth tuna, clouds of vibrant, blue-and-yellow fusiliers and bartail fusiliers, and occasional sightings of sand tiger sharks are simply among the highlights. The world additionally provides gorgeous underwater topography, with dramatic rock formations and drop-offs.
Some dive operators provide “in a single day Mukojima” journeys, the place friends sleep on the boat to achieve much more distant and infrequently explored websites.
High Dive Spot: Tuna Gap, Yomejima Island
Positioned within the southern a part of the Mukojima Islands, Yomejima Island is likely one of the best to entry from Chichijima Island and residential to one of many space’s hottest dive websites. This open underwater corridor measures roughly 50 meters (164 toes) deep and 20 meters (66 toes) vast, and through peak instances, as much as 100 dogtooth tuna may be seen circling by means of it. A few of them could attain as much as two meters (seven toes) in size, providing an unforgettable, high-impact expertise. The positioning sits at a manageable depth of round 10 meters (33 toes), making it attainable to benefit from the spectacle at leisure. Faculties of blue-lined snapper and fusiliers are additionally frequent, and dolphins often cross by underwater. As a consequence of sturdy currents, this web site is advisable for intermediate to superior divers.
How To Get There
As these islands are uninhabited, there are not any common ferry routes. The one approach to entry them is by becoming a member of a guided tour with an area dive operator. Yomejima Island is about one hour and thirty minutes by boat from Futami Port on Chichijima Island, whereas Nakodojima Island and Mukojima Island take round two hours. For extra distant areas, similar to Kitanoshima Island and the distant rock formations often called Ichinoiwa to Gonoiwa, the journey can take two and a half hours to 4 hours by boat. Some dive retailers provide in a single day boat journeys for prolonged exploration.
The Ogasawara Islands provide a uncommon probability to dive in waters that few have skilled, the place dramatic seascapes meet extraordinary marine life. Whether or not you’re in search of encounters with sharks and dolphins, exploring vibrant reefs or swimming by means of hidden wrecks, this distant archipelago guarantees recollections that may final a lifetime.
To take advantage of your journey, join with an area dive store within the Ogasawara Islands. Their experience will enable you plan secure, unforgettable dives and uncover the perfect of this UNESCO World Pure Heritage web site.
