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Sado Island · Japan · Reef

Aka-Iwa

Resident kobudai wrasse, one of them known as Kojiro, that swim up to divers on entry

Aka-Iwa is a reef just off Kita-Koura fishing port and one of the signature dive sites of Sado Island. The dive runs between 14 and 26 m (46 to 85 ft), a range that suits newer and experienced divers alike. Divers come for the resident kobudai, the giant Asian sheepshead wrasse.

Also known as Akaiwa, Kitakoura Akaiwa, Kita-Koura Aka-Iwa.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Aka-Iwa: typical dive 14–26 m (46–85 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit14 m26 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

38.2803° N, 138.5101° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The kobudai often swim straight up to the group as soon as divers enter the water, and one of them is known as Kojiro. The reef below sits between 14 and 26 m (46 to 85 ft), so the dive can stay near 14 m or follow the reef deeper.

Nudibranchs draw macro divers, and a kinubari pair has been seen there in breeding colours. Schools of pelagic fish and giant Pacific octopuses give the site its bigger encounters.

Marine life and season

  • Nudibranchs
  • Octopus & cuttlefish
Month-by-month season rating for Aka-Iwa
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimeGoodGoodFair

Season follows Sado Island: Late August and September bring the warmest water and best visibility; winter monsoon winds chill the sea to 10°C or below by early spring.

Questions divers ask

Is Aka-Iwa a shore dive or a boat dive?+

A boat dive. The site lies just off Kita-Koura fishing port, and most Sado dive points are 3 to 15 minutes from the harbour by boat.

Sources

  1. Diving in Sado & Hokuriku — PADI
  2. Kitakoura Akaiwa — ScubaGo
  3. Trial, Fun and PADI Diving on Sado Island — Freeway
  4. Freeway blog — Freeway

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