Introduction

Japan is not especially famous for its diving possibilities. Even Okinawa, a tropical paradise with great dive sites, is not popular among foreigners. This is perhaps due to the remoteness of Okinawa, as well as to the fact that diving is expensive in Japan. On the other hand, the Izu peninsula - a National Park located at less that 200 km from Tokyo - offers attractive sub-tropical diving in breathtaking surroundings. However, this has a cost (and we do not only speak of the high price of the dive itself): road are very crowded (up to 5 hours from Toyko) and thousands of Japanese visit those dive sites during week-ends and holidays. A short stay in Izu, with a night at a traditional ryokan and a visit to the spas (onsen) will be an unforgettable taste of the country...

The West Coast of Izu is much wilder than the east one, and relatively unspoiled. There is no train there, and you will need to travel either by bus or by car. The most popular diving spot is Osezaki, on the north, which is also one of the easiest dives around Tokyo - thus making this place a good dive site for beginners. More to the south, Koganezaki offers good diving in beautiful surroundings (the nearby cliff is really beautiful). The southwest diving area, Kumomi, usually has the best diving conditions.

Travel facts

Diving type

Destination

easily accessible

bargain destination

Diving level & type

for beginners

for advanced divers

shore diving

liveaboard

Diving Characteristics

pelagics

lots of fish

lots of corals

interesting underwater scenery

Other activities

attractive natural spots

gastronomy

night life

beach

snorkeling

Infrastructures

• diving center
  

  Kumomi Diving Center Maruka

  
  Kumomi Diving Center Maruka (diving center)
  telephone : 81 (558) 45 0056

  fax : 81 (558) 45 0056

  address : Kumomi 325, Matsuzaki-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka-ken 410-3615, Japan

  internet : www.kumomi.jp (web site only in Japanese)
  rating : 2 / 4 stars

  comments :

  Diving center operating in Kumomi and organizing beach and boat dives. As all diving centers in Japan, Diving Center Maruka transports a lot of divers everyday. They offer either guided tour, or just boat transportation to the dive site. Probably if you feel comfortable enough, it is better to dive by yourself. There are lots of divers underwater, and the guided groups go quickly from one place to another, making it a stressing experience. Especially if you wish to observe the micro fauna or take some pictures...
  All boat's rotations being carefully planed, there is a maximum bottom time of 40 minutes... Anyway, considering the incredibly expensive prices, you won't dive here a lot with a guide!

    
  

Diving Sites

• 

  Ushitsuki Iwa
  
     [Kumomi] 
  
     (牛着岩)

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10 m
  description :
  
  Kumomi is easily recognized by the two rocks facing each other in the bay. Around them, two dive sites are quite famous, including this one. Although several caves, cracks and passages can be visited here, this dive site consists more of underwater pinnacles, some of them with an attractive fauna. Because of the depth (around 20 meters) and the necessity to travel a lot, this dive site is usually for intermediate divers. But it does not display special difficulties.
  We were surprised by the number of morays encountered (six, half of them not even hidden under rocks). Several scorpion-fish were also spotted, as well as three octopuses and several schools of reef fish. A nice anemone with a couple of clown-fish, was also seen.
            
  
• 

  One
  
     [Kumomi] 
  
     (大根)

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 10 m

  visibility : 10 m
  description :
  
  Used as dive site for beginners, this spot is however really interesting. Since the spot is located at the entrance of the pier, it is rather well protected, making it an easy dive site. At a depth of 5-10 meters, on a sandy bottom covered with vegetation and rocks, it features a couple of morays, some anemones, and typical reef fish.
      
  
• 

  Promontory
  
     [Osezaki] 
  
     (岬 （先端）)

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : average to good
  description :
  
  Located at the tip of the peninsula, this dive site is only accessible during the week-end. Furthermore, to reach the water entry area, you need to pass through the grounds of a shrine which is charging 100 yen... The journey itself from the beach can be a little strenuous, but you normally can borrow some cart from the diving shop to transport your equipment. Be aware that the diving area is limited on both sides of the peninsula, and you are supposed not to dive outside the allowed area.
  
  Divers enter the water directly from the shore, walking on stones before reaching a depth of about 2 meters. Quickly, there is a steep slope going down to 70 meters, and the diving takes place following the peninsula in either direction – check with the current first, as it can be important. This is a typical deep dive for students preparing their advanced certification.
  
  The dive itself is a good opportunity to see healthy corals, as well as schools of fish.
  
  
• 

  Inside the Bay
  
     [Osezaki] 
  
     (湾内)

  rating : 1.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : very low
  description :
  
  Perhaps the dive site where the most Japanese got their license! The beach of the bay is covered most of the time with large blue sheets, on which tens of groups of divers are preparing their equipment. The entry is really smooth, as divers just start the dive on the beach swimming toward the open sea at a depth of 2-3 meters. They then arrive in an artificial area covered with large rocks. From behind this wall, the gentle slope goes down from 6 to 25 meters. The most remarkable thing is always the number of divers underwater... During night dives – popular at this spot – it is possible to observe sometimes hundred of lamps lightening in all directions, creating a feeling found usually in sci-fi movies... While the day dive is not interesting, this spot is attractive for the night dives. Be aware that on the wall, hundreds of sea urchins go out at night, so wearing gloves is strongly recommended. During the night dive, we could see 5 stone-fish, a moray and a large lobster.