reef

Log This Dive

Ishigaki double reef

The Double Reef here, just off Ishigaki, is a bit of a local secret, and we love it. It’s exactly what it sounds like – two parallel coral ridges running north to south, separated by a sandy channel about five metres deep. The outer reef wall drops down, but we stick to the top where the light is best. The real magic happens between those two ridges. It’s like a superhighway for fish. You'll often find big schools of Indian mackerel zipping through, sometimes chased by something larger. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; the Dapple Coris and Three-spot wrasse are always busy flitting between the coral heads. We’ve seen some seriously chunky Staghorn coral formations here, and the Large meandroid brain corals are impressive. Visibility can be brilliant on a calm day, giving you a real sense of the reef’s structure. Our favourite time to dive it is mid-morning, just as the sun gets high, really making the colours pop. It’s a pretty easy drift, perfect for anyone who enjoys a relaxed dive with plenty of fish action.