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Hachijojima · Japan · Reef

Sokodo

Sheltered 3 m bay entry reached down slippery steps

Sokodo is a shore dive on Hachijojima that begins in a sheltered bay about 3 m deep. From there the dive runs out to a maximum of 16 m. The easy start and shallow profile make it a good choice for a diver who has not been in the water for a while.

Also known as 底土, Sokodo Beach.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Sokodo: typical dive to 16 m (to 52 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit16 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

33.1239° N, 139.8165° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

Divers enter the water down a set of slippery steps and are soon in a sheltered bay around 3 m deep. From the bay the dive extends into deeper water, where the bottom reaches 16 m at the deepest.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Sokodo
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairGoodPrimePrimeGoodGoodFairGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Hachijojima: April and May are the best months; the good season runs March to mid-July and mid-September to December.

Know before you go

  • The steps down to the water are slippery, so entry needs care.
  • Tidal flow outside the bay is stronger than expected, which is why the dive is rated one level above its shallow depth.

Dive videos

[ 4K UHD ]珊瑚礁の絶景：八丈島 底土港:Superb view of Coral reef at Sokodo in Hachijo-island,TOKYO islands · AQUA Geo Graphic on YouTube

Green Turtle Cruising the Sokodo Coral Reef - Hachijō Island, Japan · a field of blue - underwater video on YouTube

Sources

  1. Hachijojima — Wikivoyage
  2. Scuba Diving in Hachijojima — Japan Airlines
  3. Fun diving Hachijojima — Veltra

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