Izu Peninsula

Izu Peninsula Overview

A relatively short distance from Tokyo compared to other dive sites in Japan – the closest dive sites off Atami which is less than an hour from Tokyo - the Izu Peninsula is an excellent option for travellers wanting to squeeze a quick dive or two into their trip. The temperate waters around the peninsula and across the outlying islands provide diverse conditions and marine life. The waters off the peninsula offer soft coral with everything from the macro to the massive with colourful nudibranch to schooling Hammerheads and Tuna proving for some impressive diving.

Diving off the Izu Peninsula might not be as glamorous as better known dive sites in Okinawa but as fabulously shot video by Masayuki Hyugaji goes to show there is still plenty of incredible marine life to be seen.

Highlights

To the south of the peninsula is the pearl of Izu diving, Mikimoto. This site is for the more advanced divers offering schooling Hammerheads in the summer months, but also macro life such as Nudibranch along with other tropical fish that live on the soft coral in this warmer water.

The East coast’s Futo is one of the most popular dive sites with a variety of shore dives and fish such as Dartfish and Snapping Shrimp. The impressive Chinsen ship wreck sits at 33m just off the coast of Atami with moray, rays and lion fish often seen swimming around.

Osezaki is perhaps the most famous dive resort on the west coast of the peninsula with its fine views of Mt Fuji in the winter. One of the more interesting dive sites on the west is Kumomi with a number of small cave dives and a variety of marine life to be spotted.

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Winter (Dec-Mar)

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