Scuba Diving in Mikomoto Island

Japan's best kept diving secret.

Amanda Zeisset
March 31, 2023

Happy Friday

This is Adventure Fix. The weekly email that'll expand your world of exploration possibilities.

Today we’re traveling to Japan, to go diving in Mikomoto Island. Japan's best kept diving secret.

Let's do this!

Photo: Mikomoto Hammers

When you think of Japan I bet the first thing that comes to mind is scuba diving, right?

Ok, ok, probably not.

That's exactly why the southern part of the Land of the Rising son is one of the best-kept secrets in the diving world.

If you love spotting huge ocean creatures, then head to Mikomoto.

It's a small, rocky, uninhabited island in Japan where you can make your dreams come to life.

Here, the mighty Kuroshio current brings warm and clear water from the south, making it a magnet for hammers.

This powerful stream of water also attracts sunfish, whale sharks, sailfish, and manta rays.

Typically to see this level of big fish action, you have to go remote. We're talkin' multiple days on a boat kinda remote.

So it's hard to believe that such a place exists just a short trip from Tokyo, the largest city in the world.

Photo: Masayuki Agawa

The best time to visit Mikomoto is from June to October when the sea conditions are relatively stable.

There are several dive centers in the Shimoda area that offer day-trips to look for hammerheads in Mikomoto during the right season.

A great way to extend this trip and explore more of Japan is to combine it with snorkeling with a Giant Salamander and exploring the Yonaguni Monument.

We hope your travels take you in this direction very soon.

Until then - keep exploring!

- Amanda