Manta scramble
Dive off the coast of Ishigaki Island to see huge Pacific manta rays
Ishigaki's beautiful manta rays offer some of Asia's most exciting scuba diving. Watching them swirling above the coral reef is like witnessing a magnificent water ballet. Spring through to autumn is the best time to see the mantas.
Just off the coast of Ishigaki is a dive spot known as "manta scramble". It's also called the "cleaning station": an area of coral reef, sub-tropical anemones and sea plants home to thousands of feeder fish who gobble up parasites lurking in the skin and gills of the manta rays. It's a reasonably easy dive to see the mantas - only 50 to 65 feet (15-20m) deep in water temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and always with fantastic visibility.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
Other Wildlife experiences
View more >Blakiston's fish owl
Meet Blakiston's fish owl, the largest owl in the world, which feed on river fish around the Shiretoko Peninsula.
Wildlife boat cruises
Take a boat cruise around the shoreline of the Shiretoko Peninsula and experience the diverse wildlife of this remote wilderness
Japanese Giant Salamanders Conservation
Wade into the clear rivers of remote Tottori Prefecture for a wildlife research experience with Japanese giant salamanders.
Steller's sea eagles
Take a small ice breaker cruise into the ice flows of the Nemuro Straits to photograph Steller's sea eagles fishing for Pacific cod.