Ishigaki Island⚠ data unverified
Japan · Asia · East China Sea
4.1
/ 5
★★★★☆
Drift diving with visibility up to 25 m — a great fit for most divers.
Level Intermediate
Marine life
4.0
Visibility
4.0
Accessibility
4.0
Facilities
4.5
Pros
- Excellent visibility up to 25 m
- 3 standout marine species
- Best conditions in May–Oct
Cons
- Moderate currents can pick up
- Deep dives to 40 m
Best for
Not for
Plan your trip
$$🛏️
Suggested stay
3–4 days
💸
Cost level
Relative cost $$ · ≈ $137/day
Mature, well-served base — lots of competition keeps lodging reasonable.
🏨
Where to stay
Day-boat diving based at a dedicated dive resort or dive centre. Infrastructure is mature, with plenty of dive centres and lodging.
🧭
Real daily cost in Japan
Around $137/day per person · food $48 · hotel $113
Good to know
- Moderate current that makes for an easy, relaxed drift.
- Conditions can be demanding; dive with an operator who knows the site.
- An Advanced Open Water certification is recommended.
- Prime season is May–Oct.
📷 Anagounagi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Depth
5–40 m (16–131 ft)
Visibility
25 m (82 ft)
Water temp
24–29°C (75–84°F)
Current
Moderate
Best season
May–Oct
Certification
Open Water
Dive shops
15
Why go
Ishigaki Island is a reef site in the East China Sea off Japan, offering coral reefs and drift dives across its waters. Dives run to 40 m with around 25 m visibility, moderate currents and sea temperatures of 24–29°C. Marine highlights include manta rays, turtles and coral. Best season is May–Oct, typically reached by boat. A good choice for divers with some experience. Open Water certification is sufficient for most sites here. With dives to 40 m, comfort at depth is recommended.
Site type
ReefDrift
Access
Boat
The moderate currents kept things interesting from start to finish.
Reliable conditions and plenty of variety — I rate it highly for guiding.
Great diving, great vibe. A place worth coming back to.