When viewed from East Izu, Oshima Island is the mysterious gem floating on the horizon off in the distance to the right of Hatsushima. This pristine diving Mecca can be reached by ferry from Tokyo in less than 2 hours, and from Atami in 60 minutes.
The life on Oshima are generally encountered in greater numbers and in larger sizes, compared to many mainland Izu dive locations. It’s a fantastic site and a rather well-kept secret, relative to other Izu sites. The easy access from Tokyo makes it an ideal getaway.
The diving…
The diving at Oshima is a favorite of mine. Nice scenery above and below the water. Lots of fish and some soft corals in places. There is also a good mix of dive spots for all levels of divers. The dive center we use is much more free compared to mainland operations, so we literally have the freedom to dive any hour of the day we wish, so night diving is a possibility for those who are interested. They are super nice folks there as well.
Getting there…
Being out in the ocean, Oshima requires a scenic ferry ride. We have two choices: a Friday evening ferry “sleeper” that travels overnight from Tokyo or Yokohama leaves at 11:30 at night and gets to the island around 6 am. There is also a morning ferry from Atami that gets there about 10 or 10:30 in the am depending on the time of year. The ferry returns from Oshima in the mid or late afternoon and takes us back to either Atami or Tokyo.
We favor the overnight ferry idea since there is less time pressure once on the island, but those tickets are hard to get.
Once there, we’ll have use of a rental van, which we need to get to and from dive sites, etc.
Accommodation and meals…
We stay at a minshuku close to the dive center. Sleeping is on a floor futon, the norm for Japan. Depending on the size of our group and number of rooms available, we sleep 2-4 per room. Generally, enough rooms are given to us to allow separate lodging of men and women. As always in Minshuku, there is no guarantee that you will get to sleep with the partner of your choice. If space permits, one or two couples (or a single family) may be able to use a single room.
Our meals (dinner and breakfast) will be a short walk from our rooms. They are wonderful Japanese, multi-course meals. Lunches will be bento box at the dive center on Sat. and Sunday afternoons. Please notify me well in advance it you have any special dietary needs. There’s nothing worse than sitting down to a meal and someone suddenly announces for the first time that they are a vegetarian. If I know ahead of time, I can make arrangements.
Getting Back…
Our return time depends on availability when we book, but we generally leave the island in the early afternoon (2-3pm) and go back to Atami, though during certain times of year, a return to Tokyo is the norm.
The Cost…
The cost per diver will be approximately 45,000 and includes everything described above with two dives per day. Additional dives beyond the usual of 2 per day will be charged at ¥1,500 per additional dive. Ambitious divers could get 6 or 7 dives in over the weekend. The night dives in Oshima are a must.
Any equipment rental would be an additional cost.
Equipment…
As is standard in Japan, the dive center will supply tanks and weights. Scuba equipment rentals will also be available at the dive center (BCD, regulator, etc.). Wetsuits and drysuits are also available in limited supply. These items will be billed to Discovery Divers Tokyo, but are to be paid for by the user at cost.
When to Book By…
I buy the ferry tickets
for these trips up to two months in advance. I usually buy between 8 and 12 spots and they fill up fast. Please contact Jim as soon as you decide to book. At least a week or two in advance is advisable, though some trip do fill up sooner.. |
