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A blue five-armed sea star with rust-orange blotches lying on fine green-grey sand underwater — Shakotan Peninsula

Shakotan Peninsula · Japan · Reef · Cave & cavern

Takenoko Rock

A sheltered inlet, a drop to 20 m, hidden reefs and a cave

Area photo: snotch from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan · CC BY 2.0

Takenoko Rock sits 15 minutes by boat from Horomui harbour. A calm inlet 2 m deep lies out of the waves, then the bottom runs to 7 m and drops away in one step to 20 m, with hidden reefs and a cave. The current here is strong.

Also known as タケノコ岩, Takenoko Iwa.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Takenoko Rock: typical dive to 20 m (to 66 ft), deepest point 24 m (80 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit20 m24 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Shakotan Peninsula and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

Divers enter from the boat or from the rock shelf. A calm inlet 2 m deep lies out of the waves, ahead of the drop beyond it. Beyond the inlet the bottom runs from 2 m to 7 m, then drops away in one step to 20 m. The rock holds hidden reefs and a cave.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Takenoko Rock
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGood

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.

Know before you go

  • The current is strong, and the bottom falls from 7 m to 20 m in one step

Sources

  1. Aqua Cat Horomui point map — Aqua Cat Horomui Diving Camp

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Maehama

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