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Yonehara Reef

Yonehara Reef, located in Kawadaira, in the northern part of Ishigaki Island, Japan, is a captivating dive site that can only be accessed by boat. With its average depth ranging from 5 to 30 meters and a maximum depth of 19 meters, divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, can enjoy exploring its underwater wonders.

Diving into Yonehara Reef reveals a stunning display of coral life, including dense coverage of branch and table corals. The reef is teeming with a variety of marine species, such as the red-headed flounder and Debus damselfish, creating a vibrant and thriving ecosystem. Colorful butterflyfish gracefully swim around the reef, while the shelf invites divers to witness the abundance of damselfish in their natural habitat.

The visibility in Yonehara Reef is exceptional, reaching up to 24 meters, providing divers with a clear and immersive experience. The reef's open and bright environment, enhanced by the presence of white balas, offers an ideal setting for beginners to explore and appreciate the beauty of underwater life.

In addition to its natural allure, Yonehara Reef presents unique opportunities for divers, particularly during the early spring months when the courtship and spawning of gnats can be observed. This fascinating phenomenon adds an extra layer of awe-inspiring experiences to the dive.

Yonehara Reef is conveniently located near Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, allowing divers to easily access this captivating site. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced diver, Yonehara Reef offers a memorable underwater adventure that showcases the richness and diversity of marine life in this region.

Diving Conditions Score for Yonehara Reef

6.2
Above Average

Decent conditions, proceed with caution.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Yonehara Reef

Depth

19m

Visibility

24m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced

Weather Conditions for Yonehara Reef

Wave Height

1.28m

Wind Speed

10.7 m/s

Water Temp

29.7°C

Visibility

9.04km

Cloud Cover

29%

Wave Period

8.9s

Air Temperature

29.2°C

Precipitation

0.2 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Yonehara Reef
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Yonehara Reef

Best time to dive: 8:00 with score 6.725248210922787/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.28m, Wind 10.5 m/s.Best night dive time: 5:00 with score 6.357294382022472/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Yonehara Reef: 06:00
Sunset at Yonehara Reef: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Yonehara Reef are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
8:00

Score: 6.7/10
Waves: 1.28m (8.85s), Wind: 10.5 m/s

🌙
Best Night
5:00

Score: 6.4/10
Waves: 1.24m, Wind: 12.2 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Yonehara Reef
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Yonehara Reef

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for Yonehara Reef

Winter

Avg. Score: 8.4/10

Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.

Best Months for Yonehara Reef

January
Score: 8.5
November
Score: 8.4
February
Score: 8.3

Ideal Conditions for Yonehara Reef

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

27.7°C / 81.9°F

June

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

11.3m / 37.1ft

July

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

2.0m / 6.6ft

November

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Yonehara Reef

Yonehara Reef shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with July being the warmest month (29.1°C) and January the coldest (15.5°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in November with average wave heights of 2.0m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in November with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). March is usually the driest month with 0.5mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during November to January, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 23, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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