Sado Diving Guide
Seasonal Guide
Four Seasons, Four Completely Different Oceans
"Dive Sado through the year and you'll feel the seasons change beneath the surface. This is the Japanese ocean at its purest. Come in summer -- and come back when the snow falls." — Owner Sakuma
Spring (Mar–May)
Water temp: 8–18°C
Nudibranchs everywhere. Tiny lumpfish juveniles show up around March. Visibility is often excellent. Drysuit required.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Water temp: 18–27°C
Peak season. Asian sheepshead wrasse in full spawning display. Schooling horse mackerel, sardines, and amberjack. Wetsuit is fine from mid-July.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Water temp: 14–25°C
Visibility dips, but macro life explodes. Bigfin reef squid, jawfish, and critters galore. Switch to drysuit around mid-October.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Water temp: 10–14°C
For the adventurous. Rock greenling guard their nests (Dec–Jan). Lumpfish return. Vis is a gamble, but rewards are real. Drysuit + hood + gloves.
Asian sheepshead wrasse, rockfish, grouper, black rockfish, and damselfish are residents -- you'll spot them year-round
