Yokogawa Wall

The southwestern coast of Yakushima drops away in a series of stepped walls and overhangs from 8 m to over 40 m, protected from the prevailing northerly winter winds. The Yokogawa Wall is the most accessible of these formations and is the island's best macro dive site. The wall face is encrusted with soft corals, sea whips, tunicates, and sponges that provide habitat for a rotating cast of cryptic species: thorny seahorses (Hippocampus histrix), frogfish in multiple colour morphs, juvenile scorpionfish, and a diversity of nudibranchs that peaks in spring and autumn when water temperatures are transitional. Larger animals including eagle rays and resident sea turtles patrol the base of the wall. At night the same wall transforms — coral polyps extend, Spanish dancer nudibranchs emerge, and lobsters emerge from crevices. Night diving here is considered among the best in Kyushu.