Iriomote & the Yonara Channel · Japan · Drift · Channel & pass
Yonara Channel
Manta rays at several points along a constant-current strait
Photo: Paipateroma · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Yonara Channel is the strait between Iriomote and Kohama, 6 km long and 500 to 900 m wide. Its current is constant and at times very strong, so every dive here is a drift. Divers come for the manta rays, which gather at several points along the channel.
Also known as Yonara Waterway.
Where it is and how deep
24.3539° N, 123.9515° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers drop into the channel and ride the current, which runs constantly and at times very strong. The drift covers depths from 9 to 30 m. Around the manta points the dive runs at about 15 to 25 m, where several mantas at a time can be seen.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Iriomote & the Yonara Channel: Manta odds are highest from November to May; mid-June to October is the sunniest stretch, but it overlaps the June to September typhoon season.
Know before you go
- The current through the channel is constant and at times very strong, so the dive cannot be run as anything but a drift.
Dive videos
【水中映像】優雅に泳ぐヨナラ水道のマンタ · 石垣島のダイビングインストラクター 鉄矢チャンネル on YouTube
【水中映像】マンタのクリーニングシーン inヨナラ水道 · 石垣島のダイビングインストラクター 鉄矢チャンネル on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can the Yonara Channel be dived without drifting?+
No. The current between Iriomote and Kohama is constant and at times very strong, so every dive in the channel is a drift, and it is for advanced divers.
Sources
- Yonara Channel - ScubaGo — ScubaGo
- Manta diving guide, Ishigaki — Ishigaki Tours
Photo credits
- Grassy slope above a turquoise strait, with a long forested mountain island across the water under white clouds. by Paipateroma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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