Hachijojima · Japan · Reef
Yaene
A 12 m arch about 200 m out, home to turtles and rock lobsters
Photo: さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0
Yaene is a beach-entry site in a calm bay on the west coast of Hachijojima, sheltered, with less wave and surge. It is the island's most-used dive point, a shallow dive over sand and rock that suits divers of every level. Turtles often turn up right after entry, and nudibranchs supply the macro life.
Also known as 八重根.
Where it is and how deep
33.0986° N, 139.7714° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers walk in from the beach into the calm water of the bay. The bottom starts out sandy at 6-7 m, then concrete boulders, which fill with lobsters at night, and rock gardens appear as the depth reaches about 12 m. A right turn at the boulders leads to a rock covered in large anemones crowded with young clownfish, and further on divers can spend time at 7-8 m watching the turtles. About 200 m out, a 12 m-deep arch shelters turtles and rock lobsters. Green turtles are common, and nudibranchs add the small life.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good |
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
- Outside the sheltered bay, in the open water straight ahead, the current is stronger.
Dive videos
A swelly day at Yaene - Hachijō Island - Izu Archipelago - Japan · a field of blue - underwater video on YouTube
Super-big Round Ribbontail Ray Skinshipped · yyasuda528 on YouTube
Sources
- Yaene dive site — ScubaGo
- Scuba Diving in Hachijojima — Japan Airlines
- Japan diving guide: Hachijojima — PADI blog
Photo credits
- Black lava rock shore beside a concrete breakwater and seawall, with calm sea and green headlands beyond by さかおり, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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