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Mikomoto Dive BriefingMikomoto Tour Information and LogisticsThe 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 at 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 9 pm OR Izukyu Shimoda station at 11:30 pm. With the regular Shinkansen bullet train schedule, the Kodama 601 departs Tokyo at 19:56 and arrives at Mishima at 21:00. The drive from Mishima down to Shimoda takes about 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. Please visit the Mikomoto Dive Tour Overview page for information on price, accomodations and other package details. The tour is normally limited to 6 divers with 2 dive leaders.Dive Tour ScheduleFriday21:00 Pickup at Mishima Station, North exit (bullet train side)
Saturday
2 Dive Schedule 2-4
Sunday2 Dive Schedule 1-3
Complete 4 Kaiyusha Fukumaru 290 Dive Boat Schedule (For Reference)
Section 2 - Special Procedures for Mikomoto Boat Diving2-1 Equipment Preparation and SetupAll equipment must be put into a mesh bag (no hard bags or dive luggage allowed) which is transported from the dive service down to the dock. There is a small staging area on the dock next to the mooring which is used for equipment setup. There are single yoke Aluminum 10 liter (80 cubic foot) tanks at the dock. Weights and weight belts are onboard the boat. After setup, the gear is loaded onto the boat for the first dive. There is a limited window of time when the boat arrives, divers disembark and unload their gear, and then the next group loads their gear on. It can be very hectic and we advise to double check the contents of your gear before boarding as well as after it is set up onboard to make sure that you have not forgotten any equipment and it is set up properly because the boat will not return to the dock until after the dive is completed. The location/station of each group is written on a board and the Mar Scuba Divemaster/Dive Leader will instruction the members of the group where to go. Normally, we are in the midsection or bow section on the port (left) or starboard (right) side. 2-2 BriefingThe boat departs the dock and it is approximately a 15-30 minute ride to the dive site. Those who are prone to seasickness should take any motion sickness medicine at breakfast or at least 1 hour before boarding. Before arriving to the site, the captain will advise the divers to prepare while the dive leaders take part in a site briefing with information such as currents, bearings to take, and possible sightings. This information will be conveyed to the divers in each group. The name of the dive boat we use is FUKUMARU. For the Mar Scuba Divemaster/Dive Leader conducted briefing, information is handed out before the tour and a thorough briefing is conducted during breakfast before we arrive at the dive service. Then, pertinent information for the specific dive site is conveyed on the boat after the briefing from the Boat Divemaster just before arrival at the dive site. 2-3 Entry Procedures and DescentThe captain will signal when the boat is in position and ready for divers to enter the water. Divers put on their fins and shuffle to the back platform where they group and enter. The divers in the stern area depart first using a giant stride entry, followed by those in the bow area. Each group is accounted for by the Divemaster on board. When all divers are safely in the water and grouped up, the divers as a group begin the descent. The divers must keep the same depth as the dive guide, due to possible different current flows at different depths. Each buddy pair must maintain the buddy system and keep the other buddy in sight. In the event of any trouble on the surface, the diver must return to the boat, alone without the group. 2-4 CurrentsMost of the diving in Mikomoto is drift diving, with unexpected upcurrents, downcurrents, and different currents at depth, i.e. the current has laminar flow. For example, the current may be moving in one direction at 10 meters depth but the opposite or different direction at 20 meters depth. If caught in a downcurrent, fin upwards and inflate BCD if necessary. Then, when out of the current, be prepared to vent air from the BCD. If caught in an upcurrent, deflate BCD and kick downward. 2-5 SeparationIf any diver gets separated from the group, after making a brief sweep (turning 360 degrees and looking in all directions), the diver should ascend slowly to the safety stop depth of 5-6 meters and deploy the safety float. For this reason, each and every diver must carry a signal safety float with attached line and reel or spool. The dive guide and group will make a search for the missing diver, but often times cannot locate the missing diver and will terminate the dive at that point, deploying the safety float and ascending to safety stop depth and then the surface. 2-6 Dive Time and Return PressureThe total dive time is limited to 40 minutes maximum by the rule and regulation of the Mikomoto Diving Association. Return pressure is 70 bar, i.e. the safety stop is started with 70 bar. This conservative rule is to ensure that each diver has enough air that in case of a sudden downcurrent, there will be enough air to manage a safe ascent and safety stop as well as to have enough air on the surface to breathe in case of high waves. The rule of the dive boat Fukumaru is to deploy the safety float and start the safety stop after completing 30 minutes of bottom time. All dives are to be no decompression. 2-7 Exit ProceduresThere are several dive boats and fishing boats operating in the Mikomoto area and it can be very dangerous to surface without first using a safety signal float from depth. When ascending, make sure to look and listen for any approaching boats, rotating 360 degrees to confirm all directions. Normally the boat nearest the group of divers on the surface will approach the safety float. If the boat that approaches is not your boat, announce the name of the dive boat, FUKUMARU, and the name of your group, MAR SCUBA. Then, the captain of that boat will radio the appropriate dive boat with the location in order for a pickup. Sometimes the group must wait in the water for 30 minutes or longer while the dive boat picks up other groups. When the dive boat approaches for a pickup, wait until the captain has the boat into position and the onboard Divemaster has called for the group to approach. With mask on face and regulator in mouth, swim to the platform, grab the rails with both hands and step onto the platform. Timing is essential because in rough seas the platform can go from 1-2 meters depth to completely out of the water. There are spaces for 6 divers standing side by side. In some cases, the Divemaster will instruct the remaining divers of the group to get onto the platform. For example, if there are 8 divers, 6 will stand in each space with 2 doubling up. After everyone is on, the Divemaster will push the switch to raise the platform up to the deck level. If you fall off, keep the regulator in your mouth and swim away from the boat. The boat will reposition for another pickup. 2-8 Mikomoto Weather, Wave, and Dive ConditionsWe rate Mikomoto as an advanced/expert level site due to many factors including laminar flow currents, downcurrents, upcurrents, challenging wave conditions on the surface, combined with the unpredictable and sometimes rapidly changing weather conditions. Those who dive Mikomoto must be able to effectively control buoyancy during the dive and at the safety stop, use a safety surface float from depth, deal with challenging currents, and sometimes wait on the surface in high wave conditions for an extended period of time. Due to the policy of the dive boats, there are no refunds for cancelling the dive for any reason other than the boat not going out. We encourage each diver to evaluate the conditions and make the decision whether to dive based upon those factors and personal fitness, strength, and physical condition that day. 2-9 Hammerheads and Marine LifeWhile Mikomoto is famous for sightings of hammerhead sharks during the summer but there is no guarantee of seeing hammerhead sharks. Sightings include hammerhead, grey reef, nurse and/or wobbegong. There is also an abundance of marine life, from the smallest nudibranch to large animals such as rays and the occasional whale shark. Due to the proximity of Mikomoto on the southern tip of the Izu peninsula and the warmer water temperatures, there can be many varieties of tropical fish not normally seen in other locations on the coast. Required Equipment and Gear Checklist
Additional required equipment
Section 4 - Final WordThere are a lot of rules and regulations for diving in Mikomoto, more than any other dive location on the Izu Penninsula. These rules are in place for the safety of the divers and the dive leaders. If you have any uncertainty about any aspect of the dives or need more information, please let us know before the dive tour. We want each diver to have an excellent dive experience at one of the best dive sites in Japan. |
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