Mar Scuba Diving Tokyo JapanThe Zen of Diving™
  

Izu Kaiyo Koen (Izu Ocean Park)  —  East Izu

Lionfish
Lionfish
 

Overview

Izu Kaiyo Koen, or Izu Ocean Park (IOP for short) is the oldest dive site on the Izu penninsula, opened circa 1965. With its easy access from Tokyo via the Odoriko express train, many people visit the Izu Kohgen area. For divers, the history and variety of marine life as well as family entertainment at IOP make it a fun and worthwhile destination. There are some salt water swimming pools in addition to the standard diver necessities such as large rinse tanks, showers, and other facilities.

IOP is probably the most well known dive spot in all of Izu, besides Osezaki. Most photographers love this spot for its easy beach access and variety of fish and aquatic life. The fingers of the mountainous rock formations jut into the sea, creating some spectacular dive sites. This is also one of the few locations in Izu where 14 liter tanks can be obtained.

Dive Sites

IOP Beach - Left
Level:Novice
Entry:Shore
Type:Beach
Depth:18 meters
 Description: This is the most well known site for its diverse marine life and long history as one of the first dive sites in Izu. Sealife: Seasonal fish carried by the Black Current from the Philippines, including angel, rockfish, damsel, and occasionally lionfish.
 
IOP Beach - Right
Level:Advanced
Entry:Shore
Type:Beach
Depth:30 meters
 Description: For going deeper, this site is for Advanced Open Water Divers, as the bottom tapers down to -28 to -32 meters. But Open Water Divers can explore the underwater post box at -22 meters, with a Christmas tree in the winter. Sealife: A nice anenome patch on the rocks leading out to one underwater pinnacle. Around the pinnacle, there are several nices fans and a medium-sized cleaning station. As with IOP Beach - Left, the variety of fish at this site is always changing.

Getting There

Pickup at Atami station (approximate driving time 45 minutes to 1 hour) or Izu Kogen station, about 15 minutes.


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