Yabiji - Ishigaki & Yaeyama
Yabiji is a pretty big deal around Ishigaki, a massive stretch of reef that feels more like a small underwater mountain range than just one dive site. You’ll spend most of your time drifting along its edges, checking out the hard coral formations that dominate the landscape. We’ve seen a good mix of smaller reef fish darting between the crevices, and on luckier days, a turtle or two cruising by. It’s a good choice for a relaxed afternoon dive, especially if you appreciate the sheer scale of a healthy coral system. Best enjoyed when the current isn't too strong, which opens up more options for exploration.
- Location
- Ishigaki & Yaeyama, Japan, East Asia
- Coordinates
- 25.000000, 125.266670
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: 八重干瀬
Nearby Dive Sites in Ishigaki & Yaeyama
- Antoniogaudei
- Antonio Gaudi - 26m
- Cross Hole - 24m (wreck)
- Crystal Beach - 17m
- Crystal Park - 11m (reef)
- Emperor’s Chair - 17m
- Hanadainone
- Hanazawa Drop - 16m (wall)
- Hateruma Island - 18m
- IOT - 18m
- Ishigaki double reef (reef)
- Kaiho Sports Club - 2m
- Kanokawa Nakanose - 17m
- Kinmenone - 18m
- Kohamajima Island - 18m
Nearest Dive Centres to Yabiji
- BLUE SEASON IRIOMOTE - ["PADI"]
- Blue Water
- Diving School Marea Miyakojima - ["PADI"]
- DIVING SERVICE HEKIKAI
- MARINECLUB
- MOANA Diving College ISHIGAKIJIMA - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Ishigaki & Yaeyama
Home to 442 recorded species including 289 reef fish, 119 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 6 sea cucumbers, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Stony coral (Porites cylindrica) - Hard Corals
- Honeycomb coral (Favites abdita) - Hard Corals
- Corrugated coral (Pavona varians) - Hard Corals
- Thin birdsnest coral (Seriatopora hystrix) - Hard Corals
- Stony coral (Porites lutea) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
- Smooth cauliflower coral (Stylophora pistillata) - Hard Corals
- Lesser star coral (Cyphastrea microphthalma) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Encrusting pore coral (Montipora aequituberculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aspera) - Hard Corals