Diving the Izu Peninsula: Tokyo's Underwater Backyard
Two hours from Shibuya, dramatic volcanic topography, summer hammerheads at Mikomoto and a uniquely Japanese diving culture.
The Izu Peninsula and its offshore islands form Tokyo's escape route to the underwater world. The diving is cool-water, current-driven and completely different in character to the country's southern reefs.
Mikomoto Island — summer hammerheads
From July to October, scalloped hammerheads school in numbers at Mikomoto, an hour by speedboat from the Izu coast. Currents are strong, water is around 22–25 °C, and the encounters are among the most dependable in temperate Asia.
Izu coast — easy shore diving
The peninsula's coastline offers dozens of accessible shore-dive sites — Osezaki, Ito, Atami — with macro life including the iconic Japanese pygmy seahorse, harlequin shrimp and ornate ghost pipefish on temperate hard coral.
A uniquely Japanese diving culture
Expect immaculate boats, precision briefings, ritual gear care, hot ocha (green tea) between dives and onsen hot springs in the evening. Diving Izu is as much cultural as aquatic.
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Create my dive tripFrequently asked questions
Best season?+
July to October for warmer water and hammerheads. Macro is excellent year-round but cold (15 °C) in winter.
Wetsuit thickness?+
5 mm in summer with hood, 7 mm or drysuit in winter.
