Ogasawara
Japan · Bonin Islands
The Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands are 1,000km south of Tokyo — a UNESCO World Heritage natural site reached only by a 24-hour ferry from Tokyo Bay. Whale sharks, humpback whales (in season), dolphins, hammerheads, and Japanese marine life on volcanic walls.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Remote Japanese archipelago, oceanic, low diver pressure. Cetacean encounters seasonally.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Protected on paper, but boats are still busy nearby.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
30 species across the dive sites here
Wrought-iron butterflyfish
Seen 20 days ago
at Minamijima Arch
Least concern
Whitetip Reef Shark
Seen 27 days ago
at Ogasawara Islands
Vulnerable
Yellowfin Goatfish
Seen 28 days ago
at South Chichijima Wall
Least concern
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 28 days ago
at Ogasawara Islands
Least concern
Green turtle
Seen 28 days ago
at Chichijima Dolphin Swim
Least concern
Spinner dolphin
Seen 1 month ago
at Ogasawara Islands
Least concern
Humpback whale
Seen 2 months ago
at Chichijima Dolphin Swim
Least concern
Cup Coral
Seen 2 months ago
at South Chichijima Wall
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
Seen 9 months ago
at Chichijima Dolphin Swim
Near threatened
Black Coral
Seen year round
at South Chichijima Wall
Giant Clam
Seen year round
at Minamijima Arch
Least concern
Giant Trevally
Seen year round
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Least concern
Golden Anthias
Seen year round
at Minamijima Arch
Least concern
Hawksbill Turtle
Seen year round
at South Chichijima Wall
Critically endangered
Longface Butterflyfish
Seen year round
at Minamijima Arch
Scorpionfish
Seen year round
at South Chichijima Wall
Sea Fan
Seen year round
at South Chichijima Wall
Tabletop Coral
Seen year round
at Minamijima Arch
Endangered
Tasseled Scorpionfish
Seen year round
at Chichijima Dolphin Reef
Yellowmargin Moray Eel
Seen year round
at South Chichijima Wall
Least concern
Bluefin Trevally
Seasonal visitor
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Least concern
Dogtooth tuna
Seasonal visitor
at Chichijima Dolphin Swim
Least concern
Hammerhead Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Ogasawara Islands
Critically endangered
Manta Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Ogasawara Islands
Vulnerable
Oceanic Blacktip Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Vulnerable
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Seasonal visitor
at South Chichijima Wall
Critically endangered
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Critically endangered
Silvertip Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Vulnerable
Sperm whale
Seasonal visitor
at Chichijima Dolphin Swim
Vulnerable
Tiger Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Hahajima Hammerhead Point
Near threatened
Dive sites
Chichijima Dolphin Swim
indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin · spinner dolphin · humpback whale · sperm whale
Ogasawara Islands
spinner dolphin · green sea turtle · whitetip reef shark · hammerhead shark
Minamijima Arch
green sea turtle · whitetip reef shark · wrought-iron butterflyfish · golden anthias
South Chichijima Wall
hawksbill turtle · dogtooth tuna · yellowfin goatfish · black coral
Hahajima Hammerhead Point
scalloped hammerhead shark · oceanic blacktip shark · silvertip shark · tiger shark
Chichijima Dolphin Reef
indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin · spinner dolphin · wrought-iron butterflyfish · sperm whale
What divers say
The 24-hour boat ride is part of the trip. By the time you arrive, you've earned the diving.
Good to know
Permits
World Heritage site rules limit dive impact. Book through licensed local ops only.