Kabira Manta Point

Ishigaki · Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa · Japan

Kabira Manta Point is one of Ishigaki Island's most celebrated dive sites, located off the stunning turquoise waters of Kabira Bay in the Yaeyama Islands of southern Okinawa. This shallow reef cleaning station draws manta rays in remarkable numbers, offering divers one of the most reliable and accessible manta encounters anywhere in the world. The dive site sits at a comfortable depth of just 10 to 12 metres along a reef plateau where cleaner fish stations attract reef manta rays seeking grooming services. During peak season from late August through October, the encounter rate soars above 90 percent, with multiple mantas often circling the cleaning station simultaneously. The mantas here are accustomed to the presence of divers and frequently glide within arm's reach, their wingspans stretching up to four metres. Divers settle on the sandy bottom and watch the graceful aerial ballet unfold above them. The waters around Kabira Bay are renowned for their exceptional clarity, with visibility regularly reaching 25 to 40 metres. The reef itself is healthy and vibrant, carpeted in hard corals that shelter clownfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and the occasional whitetip reef shark. Green sea turtles are regular visitors, and lucky divers may spot giant trevallies hunting along the reef edge. The shallow depth and typically mild currents make this an ideal site for divers of all experience levels. Access to Kabira Manta Point is exclusively by boat from Ishigaki's harbour, with the journey taking approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Importantly, the site is weather-dependent: the prevailing north winds of winter months close off the Kabira area entirely, restricting diving here to the warmer season between May and November. Ishigaki is well connected by direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, and Naha, making it a convenient gateway to some of Japan's finest tropical diving. Multiple dive operators on the island offer daily trips during the manta season, typically combining Kabira Manta Point with other Yaeyama highlights for a full day of diving.