Japan
Yonaguni
Hammerhead sharks circling submerged stone ruins at the westernmost point of Japan.
The debate is still open. Off the southern coast of Yonaguni, Japan's westernmost inhabited island, submerged stone terraces descend in precise right angles to a depth of 25 metres. Whether they are a natural geological formation or the remains of a man-made structure — possibly 10,000 years old — remains genuinely unresolved. The dive to find out is part of the point.
Yonaguni's underwater monuments were discovered in 1987 by dive instructor Kihachiro Aratake, and the site has sparked ongoing scientific debate between geologists who attribute the formations to natural fracturing and archaeologists who argue the precision of the cuts indicates human construction. The island is also one of the world's most reliable locations for encounters with schooling hammerhead sharks, which gather in the hundreds at the southern point from November to May. Yonaguni horses, a miniature breed standing under 120 centimetres, roam the cliff-top grasslands completely wild. The island's position as Japan's westernmost territory means the country's last sunset happens here every evening.
Solo
Diving the monument alone, forming your own conclusions about what lies beneath — Yonaguni is an intellectual and physical challenge that solo divers seek out.
Friends
Hammerhead shark dives, the monument debate, and the camaraderie of remote island diving make Yonaguni a group trip for committed divers.
- Submerged stone terraces off the coast look like a sunken city — whether natural or man-made remains genuinely debated.
- Hammerhead sharks school in the hundreds from November to May at the island's southern point.
- Japan's westernmost inhabited island — the last sunset in the country happens here every evening.
- Yonaguni horses, a miniature breed under 120cm tall, roam the cliff-top grasslands completely wild.
Hanazake — 60% ABV awamori that burns clean, the strongest spirit in Japan.
Kujira-gusa whale grass — an island herb used in fish soups and tempura.
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