Parking, restrooms, showers, and nearby restaurant context.
Boat-only Ishigaki coral shelf with a shallow reef and sandy drop-off.
Boat-only Ishigaki coral shelf with a shallow reef and sandy drop-off.
Yonehara Reef is a boat-only coral site off Ishigaki's north side, built around a shallow reef top, hard coral heads, and a cleaner sandy falloff. It suits relaxed reef drifting, short boat-based outings, and careful snorkel or breath-hold sessions where the main reward is slow viewing over coral structure rather than deep water. Keep buoyancy tight and treat the reef edge as a delicate, weather-sensitive zone.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
5m - 30m
Depth Note
Average depth range given as 5–30 m; coral shelf at 5–6 m dropping to sandy areas around 20–25 m.
Best Season
March to November
Typical Conditions
Warm-water reef diving with clear water on calm days. The site feels easiest when wind and swell stay low, with late summer and autumn often bringing the clearest conditions.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Safety Notes
Keep buoyancy tight over the coral shelf, avoid coral contact, and treat surface conditions as weather-sensitive; currents can build in the wider Yonehara area.
Access Restrictions
Boat-only site; plan it as an operator-led dive or snorkel stop rather than a shore entry.
Legal Notes
Inside Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, so reef-protection rules and local boat-operator guidance apply.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Depths are described as averaging 5–30 m, with a shallow shelf dropping into deeper sandy areas.
Freediving
Best for controlled breath-hold viewing rather than depth hunting; stay shallow, keep sessions coral-safe, and work the reef top slowly.
Snorkeling
Works best as a boat-supported snorkel stop on calm days, with the shallow shelf keeping coral and small fish close to the surface.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Parking, restrooms, showers, and nearby restaurant context.
Popular snorkeling area with current cautions.
Season window, sighting list, and visibility note.
Yonehara area popularity and strong-current warning.
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