Setouchi Whale Shark Channel
Amami Islands · Japan
During summer months, whale sharks cruise the plankton-rich straits around Setouchi, making this one of the most accessible whale shark encounters in Japan. The channel concentrates nutrient upwellings that fuel dense zooplankton blooms, drawing filter feeders and the full pelagic food web they sustain. Surface conditions are typically calm in July and August, allowing snorkellers and divers alike to drift alongside these gentle giants in crystal clear water.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
18 to 31°C
shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 20 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Habu
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 22 records
Very likely
Most dives
Okinawa Pitviper
Last confirmed Jun 23, 2026 · 38 records
Very likely
Most dives
Amami Woodcock
Last confirmed Jun 14, 2026 · 25 records
Very likely
Most dives
Loo-Choo Big-Tooth Snake
Last confirmed Jun 24, 2026 · 28 records
Very likely
Most dives
Ryukyu Green Snake
Last confirmed Jun 23, 2026 · 10 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Giant Trevally
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Spotted Eagle Ray
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Whale Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear