Kashiwajima and Southwest Kochi

• Dive with a named local operator, disclose certification, current logged experience and health, and follow a site-specific current and entry briefing.
• Otsuki Town explicitly prohibits jumping from the Kashiwajima bridges and warns against swimming beyond designated buoys because of active vessel lanes and strong flow.
• Kashiwajima Shirahama has an official spiny sea-urchin warning near rocky entries; use controlled kicks and avoid standing on reef.
• Follow marine park zone restrictions at Tatsukushi, and avoid assuming that arches, caves or deeper exposed sites are part of routine recreational access.
• For skin diving, use an appropriately trained rescue buddy and surface lookout; never hyperventilate, dive alone or enter fishing passages.
• DAN suggests at least 12 hours before flying after one no-decompression dive and at least 18 hours after repeated dives; longer margins can be prudent. AQUAS has a shop-specific 18-hour minimum. Symptoms after a dive require medical assessment, not a scheduled flight.

Hata Kenmin Hospital in Sukumo lists 24/7 emergency intake, but its public information does not verify a dedicated decompression chamber. The Japanese Society of Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine lists a hyperbaric facility at Kochi Red Cross Hospital in Kochi city; this alone is not evidence of emergency acceptance for a diver or a feasible immediate transfer. Call Japan emergency medical services (119) first for suspected decompression illness, neurological symptoms, chest pain or serious marine injury. Use 118 for maritime rescue and share exact port/site with rescuers. DAN Japan states emergency transport takes priority over its member hotline. Arrange insurer assistance and confirm a practical receiving and evacuation plan with your operator before diving.

Tatsukushi is part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, with four designated marine park areas and a natural-monument protected coral colony at Minokoshi Bay. The local tourism association specifically presents zone 1 for snorkeling and kayaking and zones 2-4 for glass-bottom observation. National park law controls taking designated species, modifying seabed and certain boat activities. Do not collect, touch, feed or stand on coral; avoid contacting any living reef while photographing. Respect Sakurahama as locally noted summer turtle nesting habitat without seeking wildlife. Otsuki requires visitors to take litter home, avoid unauthorized parking and respect working-fishing-community access.