Diving in Kanagawa Prefecture offers an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse marine ecosystems along its picturesque coastline, conveniently located just a short distance from Yokohama and Tokyo. With its abundance of dive sites and rich marine life, Kanagawa has become a popular destination for diving enthusiasts seeking underwater adventures close to the urban hub of Tokyo.
The Miura Peninsula, situated within Kanagawa Prefecture, is home to several popular diving areas, including Hayama and Kamakura. These diving spots are easily accessible from Yokohama and Tokyo, with local stations just a short distance away, making them ideal for day trips or weekend diving excursions. Whether by train or car, divers can reach these coastal destinations within an hour or two from Tokyo, allowing for convenient access to the region's underwater treasures.
One of the reasons for the popularity of diving in Kanagawa is the abundance of marine life found in its waters. The region's proximity to the Tokyo Bay and the convergence of various subcurrents create an ideal environment for a diverse array of marine species. From colorful nudibranchs to endemic fish species, divers can expect to encounter a rich tapestry of underwater life at each dive site.
While diving infrastructure in Kanagawa may vary, there are dive operators and facilities catering to divers of all levels, offering guided excursions, equipment rental, and certification courses. Whether you're a beginner looking to take your first dive or an experienced enthusiast seeking new underwater adventures, Kanagawa's dive sites offer something for everyone.
So grab your gear, dive into the crystal-clear waters of Kanagawa Prefecture, and immerse yourself in the captivating underwater world waiting to be explored just beyond the shores of Yokohama and Tokyo.
Just 1hour train ride from Shinjuku station (Center of Tokyo)
Shonan sea shore, located in Kanagawa prefecture is a famous marine resort for Tokyo and Kanagawa residents. The city is filled with restaurants and marine activity facilities to entertain any Ocean lover around the world. The diving here is also exciting for marine life lovers.
There are different diving sites in this area offering many underwater scenery. From ocean floor are covered by seaweed with rock pillars to the sawtooth shaped underwater rock formation, you will see abundance of marine life all around this ar
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life
During Summer to Autumn seasons:
-Variety of tropical marine life from the south
During the Winter season:
-Whitegirdled goby(Pterogobius zonoleucus)
-Lethotremus awae
Located on the southern tip of Miura peninsula, Moroiso is a easy day trip away from central Tokyo. The diving areas are shallow (6M) and full of marine life. It will satisfy any fish watchers appetite.
Located next to the east coast Izu peninsula by Manazuru, Fukuura is a unique diving area offering protection from harsh winter winds. When all diving points on the east coast of Izu are closed due to unfavorable wind condition, Fukuura may be open.
The easy access from Tokyo by train is another factor that makes Fukuura popular.
A secret hideaway diving spot for local divers. Mitohama, with it's marina,restorants, hotel and it's coconut trees, looks more like a oversea resort rather than small local village. You can enjoy both beach and boat diving from nudibranch to schools of large fishes to entertain you.
An easy access from central Tokyo, you can night dive and still head back to Tokyo. Night diving is possible every night(Need to inquire).
From Spring to Summer, many variety of nudibranch can be seen. Also large schools of fishes are also seen here, mainly in the summer to autumn season.
An unique diving point with sunken train platforms from the big earthquake 80 years ago. The underwater environment are filled with macro creatures. Frogfishes(Various) through out the year ,Short-bodied pipe fish(Solenostomus cyanopterus) from summer to autumn season and Lethotremus awae, in the winter season.
Popular for the variety of frogfishes you can encounter through out the year. An easy access from Tokyo makes this site an ideal day trip destination.
Located between Odawara and Atami, Iwa is a diving area popular to the local divers. There is one beach point max. depth of 14m to and 4 boat points max. depth of 30m. You can enjoy both large school of fishes and the Macro creatures found in this location. In the winter time, you can see the tiny Lethotremus awae, a favorite for the Japanese divers.
Intersections for Sea currents(Tokyo Bay, Sagami Bay and the Black current)
The East side is the Tokyo Bay, with many nudibranch. With the right condition, you may be lucky to see over 30 types of nudibranch in this area. Due to the currents, you can see many large school of fishes as well. The underwater terrain is also diverse as well. You can enjoy diving along side large cracks(100m long 10m deep) and dynamic drop offs during your diving. There is a very shallow beach diving point where you can enjoy the long dive with the macro marine life.
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrinps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life
-high-crowned seahorse (Hippocampus coronatus)
-School of Japanese horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus)
-School of Japanese amberjack (Serial quinqueradiata)
Macro heaven near Tokyo
Only 1hour drive from the center of Tokyo, hayama is a popular diving destination for the Tokyo region divers. You can enjoy beech diving in a relatively shallow waters. The maximum depth is around 15m. This diving sight is not just popular because of the distance from central Tokyo,
Hayama is a "Natural monument designated area",with lush seaweed forest. It's wide range of nudibranch lures many underwater photographer from all around the region.
After diving, there are many restaurants and cafe around the diving area to relax and look back on you day of diving.
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrinps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Whitegirdled goby(Pterogobius zonoleucus)
-high-crowned seahorse (Hippocampus coronatus)
-Lined dragonet(Synchiropus lineolatus)
-Dragon moray(Muraena pardalis)
-Variety of frog fish
December to May:
-Liparis punctatus
-Lethotremus awae.
