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Location: Shimoda, Izu (Japan)
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On this page you can see an overview of the location, including interactive maps, climate data, and photos.
You can also see what other divers thought, the top dive sites, what fish to see, and what wrecks there are.
We also have detailed listings of dive centres, resorts, travel agents and helpfull websites.
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'Swept by a mixture of temperate and tropical currents, this great undersea sanctuary 60 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan abounds with a richness and variety of marine life such as I have rarely encountered in more than 30 years of diving and marine research around the world.' Dr. Eugenie Clark, National Geographic

The offshore ecosystem found off Japan's Izu Peninsula is unparalleled in the Indo Pacific, acclaimed by National Geographic and Ocean Realm as among the world's richest and most diverse marine habitats. Millions of scuba divers have explored this rare combination of vivid marine life and spectacular volcanic undersea topography.

Mikomoto is not only famous for hammerhead sharks but for its entire marine species diversity and abundance. Only the Galapagos begins to compare. Diving conditions are also similar to the Galapagos with strong currents and unpredictable visibility. It is one of the most renowned drift diving areas in the world and conditions are usually very challenging. It is essential that divers who go to Mikomoto have adequate training and experience to control buoyancy, make safety stops and deploy surface safety alerts.

Hammerhead season is summer, but sightings are obviously not guaranteed. There is a plethora of other species including sea horses, frogfish, rays, tuna and even the occasional whale shark.

It is possible to do a day trip from Tokyo but best to stay for a night or two. You can take the train to Atami or Shimoda, but you will need to take a car or bus from there. The easiest way to get to Shimoda is via the JR Odoriko Limited Express Services from either Tokyo or Shinjuku.
Nearby are excellent seafood restaurants and you can soak away the aches and pains in one of the local hot springs.

Water temperature at Mikomoto ranges from 14 degrees in the winter to 28 degrees in late summer and early autumn. Thermoclines are common and most divers use 5mm wetsuits even when the water is warm. Winter divers in Japan use drysuits to stay warm while enjoying visibility of up to 50 meters.
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Climate Data:
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Most visitors thought
Shimoda, Izu was:
Fantastic.
Ranked as Fantastic by independant reviews Ranked as Fantastic by independant reviews Ranked as Fantastic by independant reviews Ranked as Fantastic by independant reviews Ranked as Fantastic by independant reviews
Non diving activities: Some things to see and do.
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