Mikomoto Dive Tour Overview

The scuba diving tours to Mikomoto are for experienced divers who are capable of handling unpredictable situations and changing dive conditions. Even when the weather and conditions seem to be optimal when viewed from the surface, during the dive, currents and conditions can change or after surfacing, things may have changed for the worst. Therefore, all divers going on the Mikomoto dive tours must be prequalified in one of the following methods. The first is to participate in the Mar Scuba Mikomoto Grand Slam dive package which includes 3 sessions of skills practice such as negative entries, drift diving, and safety float deployment. The second is to take a Rescue course from Mar Scuba, and then practice additional skills of deployment of safety float from depth. Divers with experience in similar conditions and dive locations such as Palau or Galapagos should contact us to be evaluated inwater by a Mar Scuba Divemaster or Instructor with Mikomoto guiding experience. Sorry, no exceptions.

Normally, tours commence on Friday evening, with a pickup at the NORTH exit (bullet train side) of Mishima station at 8 or 9 pm. With the regular Shinkansen bullet train schedule, the Kodama 589 departs Tokyo at 18:56 and arrives at 20:00, the Kodama 601 departs at 19:56 and arrives at 21:00. The drive from Mishima down to Shimoda takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, sometimes 3 hours in the summer.

Due to the train schedules, it is difficult if not impractical during the summer months to schedule pickups at Izukyu Shimoda station in the morning the day of the dives. Those who are already staying in the Shimoda area with transportation please contact us for alternate arrangements.

On Sunday the dives are finished in time for a drop off at Izukyu Shimoda station (normally JR Super View Odoriko 54 departing Izukyu Shimoda at 17:30 arriving at Shinjuku at 20:17, for Tokyo, arriving at Atami at 18:51 to transfer to Kodama 584 departing Atami at 19:02, arriving at Tokyo station at 19:56, train fare not included in tour price) on Sunday evening or ride back to Tokyo (Higashi Nakano), about 4-5 hour drive.

The Mikomoto dive tour price of 63,000 yen includes Japanese style minshuku accommodations on Friday and Saturday nights, 2 boat dives in Mikomoto on Saturday with optional afternoon dive and 2 boat dives on Sunday. The meals included are breakfast and bento lunches on Saturday and Sunday, with a BBQ dinner on Saturday evening. Vegetarian option is not available. Train fares, alcoholic beverages, and personal incidentals are not included in the tour price. A non refundable 10,500 yen deposit is required to guarantee a booking. Balance of payment is due at least 1 week before the start of the tour. Cancellations from 1 week to 3 days before the start of the tour incur a 25% charge, and any cancellations within 2 days of the dive tour are nonrefundable.

The tour is normally limited to 6 divers with 2 dive leaders.

Dive Schedule for 2008

July 18 - 20, 2008

August 15 - 17, 2008

August 29 - 31, 2008

Later dates TBD.

Pickup at Mishima station on Friday at 8 pm, 2 boat dives on Saturday and Sunday. Total of 6 spots are available.

The Mikomoto dive tour price is 63,000 yen and includes Japanese style minshuku accommodations on Friday and Saturday nights, 2 boat dives in Mikomoto on Saturday and 2 boat dives on Sunday. The meals included are breakfast and bento lunches on Saturday and Sunday, with a BBQ dinner on Saturday evening. Train fares, alcoholic beverages, and personal incidentals are not included in the tour price.

A non refundable 10,500 yen deposit is required to guarantee a booking. Balance of payment is due at least 1 week before the start of the tour. Cancellations from 1 week to 3 days before the start of the tour incur a 25% charge, and any cancellations within 2 days of the dive tour are nonrefundable. Tour is limited to 6 divers. Please contact us if you are interested in joining this tour.

Required Diver Skills & Experience

Mikomoto is regarded by most Tokyo divers as the most exciting dive destination in Izu. However, due to the unpredictability of conditions, local dive operators enforce certain rules and regulations for the safety of the divers, including:

Required 50 or more documented dives
PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

In order to join a Mar Scuba dive tour, each diver must meet the above minimum requirements, and also require demonstration of the following skills:

Drift diving (ability to swim in difficult currents)
Negative entries
Deployment of safety marker buoy (SMB) from depth

Rescue Diver certification through Mar Scuba

GUE DIR Fundamentals (Please contact us for more details)

There may be other dive operations that are not as strict, but the Mar Scuba requirements are in place for the safety of our dive leaders as well as the divers. For those who have not experienced Mikomoto, it may be difficult to understand our mindset and philosophy. But after you dive there, it will be very clear why we have the special policies and rules in effect.

We hope that you can join us!

There are normally 3-5 tours per year, in July, August, September, and October. The best months for the possibility of spotting Hammerhead Sharks are July and August, but the warmest water temperatures can be in September and October. See Section 1-1 for more tour information and logistics.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

A nonrefundable deposit of 10,500 yen is required to guarantee a booking. Balance of payment in full is due at least 1 week prior to the start of the dive tour. Payment may be made via bank transfer and instructions will be sent upon confirmation of the reservation. Alternatively, payment in cash may be made at a social event at least 2 weeks before the start of the tour.

Due to the cancellation policies of the dive boat and minshuku, the tour price is nonrefundable for any cancellations within 2 days of the start of the tour, i.e. for tours starting on Friday, any cancellation on Wednesday or later. For cancellations 1 week to 3 days before the start of the tour, there will be a 25% cancellation fee. The 10,500 yen deposit is nonrefundable.