Nudibranch-heavy destination context.
Japan · Miyako Islands
Shallow Miyako arch dive with strong photo appeal.
Shallow Miyako arch dive with strong photo appeal.
W Arch is a boat-access arch dive on Irabu Island in Miyako, with a shallow reef-edge profile, a heart-shaped main arch viewed from below, and a smaller arch plus cave pocket behind the reef. It is more about topography, light, and macro life than big-fish hunting, and the best dives are the ones where the team can pace the route slowly and hold a clean position under the openings.
Site Conditions
Safety Notes
Treat it as a cave-style arch dive: hold neutral buoyancy under the roof, avoid crowding the openings, and stay within the team's planned route.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only; the arch and cave pockets are underwater, so it is not a shore-entry site.
Legal Notes
Follow guide briefings on the reef edge because the site is a popular cave-style topography point.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Boat dive with a heart-shaped main arch, a smaller arch, and a cave pocket behind the reef; slow pacing rewards the best viewing.
Freediving
Not a freedive-first site because the main feature is an underwater arch system.
Snorkeling
The attraction is below the surface, so casual snorkeling is not the main use case.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Nudibranch-heavy destination context.
Marine Diving web page with W Arch depth and macro notes.
Boat-time and beginner-friendly framing.
Official W-Arch listing with depth, current, and beginner framing.

L Arch is a boat-access L-shaped arch off Irabu Island.

Shore topography dive with a light-filled hole and whip coral.

Cross Hole is a beginner-friendly Irabu cave dive with dramatic light shafts.