Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui · Japan · Reef
Kannoura
Whitespotted bamboosharks spawning, a sight no other Japanese reef offers
Kannoura is a large reef on the southeastern Shikoku coast, with its dive sites set around Kazura Island and Akaba Island a short boat run from the port. Divers come for the whitespotted bambooshark, since this is the only place in Japan where the species is known to spawn in front of divers.
Also known as Kochi-Kannoura.
Where it is and how deep
33.5449° N, 134.3024° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef covers a wide spread of depth, from shallow ground at 3 m down to its deepest parts at 28 m, so a dive can stay high on the reef or work down to the bottom. From May through July the whitespotted bamboosharks spawn here, alongside the broad mix of other marine life that lives on the reef.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Fair |
Season follows Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui: May to July brings the bambooshark spawning; winter has steady visibility, but strong northwest wind can close sites.
Dive videos
2023May26 Kannoura@Kaanapalidiving · basslets on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When do whitespotted bamboosharks spawn at Kannoura?+
Between May and July. Kannoura is the only place in Japan where divers are known to see the species spawn, so those months are the time to plan a trip.
Sources
- Kochi | Where to Dive — JNTO
- Kochi dive guide — JNTO
- Kochi — Dive in Japan
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