Chichijima - Bonin Islands

Chichijima · Ogasawara Islands · Japan

Chichijima, the main inhabited island of the Ogasawara archipelago, sits roughly 1,000 kilometres south of Tokyo in the vast Pacific Ocean. Often called Japan's Galapagos, this UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site is one of the most remote and rewarding dive destinations in the country, accessible only by a 24-hour ferry voyage from the capital. The isolation has preserved a marine ecosystem of extraordinary richness and diversity. The diving around Chichijima encompasses over 50 documented dive points, ranging from WWII shipwrecks encrusted with soft corals to dramatic underwater caves, swim-throughs, and volcanic rock formations. The most famous encounter is with sand tiger sharks, which gather in impressive numbers around the Japanese military vessels sunk in Futami Port during World War II. These imposing but docile sharks, with their unmistakable jagged teeth, cruise slowly around the wrecks at depths of 15 to 25 metres, offering extraordinary close encounters. Above the waterline, wild dolphin encounters are a signature Ogasawara experience. Pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins are resident year-round, and dive boats regularly stop for in-water dolphin swims between dive sites. The dolphins are wild but habituated to human presence, often initiating playful interactions. From January through April, humpback whales migrate to these waters to breed, and their haunting songs can sometimes be heard resonating through the blue during dives. The reef systems around Chichijima are in excellent condition, featuring healthy hard coral growth and an impressive variety of tropical reef fish, many found nowhere else in Japan. The Tuna Cave dive site lives up to its name with schools of dogtooth tuna, while deeper walls reveal Napoleon wrasses, giant trevallies, and the occasional eagle ray. Sandy areas between reef structures are rich in macro life, with garden eels and colourful shrimpgobies dotting the substrate. Visibility typically ranges from 20 to 40 metres, and water temperatures stay comfortable at 21 to 28 degrees Celsius depending on the season. The minimum six-day stay between ferry sailings allows divers to thoroughly explore this remarkable underwater wilderness.