Shakotan Peninsula · Japan · Reef
Canyon
Columnar rock rising from a sand floor, best in the shallows
Area photo: snotch from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan · CC BY 2.0
Canyon is a 17-minute boat ride from Horomui harbour. Columnar jointing rises straight out of a sand floor here, probably the finest of its kind on the peninsula. The current is weak, and the shallows are the best part of the dive, with the bottom at 22 m.
Also known as キャニオン.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Shakotan Peninsula and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
Pillars of columnar jointing stand up from a sandy bottom, probably the best examples on the peninsula. The current is weak. The shallower parts of the rock are the most rewarding, ahead of the 22 m bottom.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Shakotan Peninsula: Diving runs all year; July to September is the best season for fish and visibility, while the colder months bring the sea lions.
Sources
- Aqua Cat Horomui point map — Aqua Cat Horomui Diving Camp
More dive sites in Shakotan Peninsula
Fast, clear water and oversized fish off the peninsula's headland
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A tangle of interlocking rocks with entry from boat or shelf
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A shallow, weak-current dive 4 minutes from the harbour
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A loop around columnar-jointed rock, exiting through a channel
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A sheltered inlet, a drop to 20 m, hidden reefs and a cave
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