Things to do · Destination Guide
Volcanic Miyakejima diving and carefully managed Mikurajima dolphin swims
Pick an activity mode to compare signature sites, skill fit, and gear planning notes before you lock your trip.
Scuba is a Miyakejima activity, with locally operated shore, boat and some night dives. The Miyakejima Tourism Association lists Ocean Club No.3, Santomo, Snapper, Tokyo Diving Center and other island services. The Santomo site guide documents volcanic rock entries, reef/coral areas, turtles, macro life and the limited-access Megane Iwa arches. Do not book scuba on Mikurajima or classify Mikurajima dolphin swims as scuba.
Okubohama
Representative black-sand/gravel entry with rock reefs, fish life and reported squid spawning in spring; active local conditions required.
Togahama
Coral-rich Miyakejima coast with demanding gravel approach on some itineraries; boats may be preferable.
Megane Iwa
Photogenic underwater volcanic arches.
Tsuchikata
Shallow tide-pool entry used for beginner practice by a local operator, contingent on sea conditions and permitted boundaries.
Kamanoshiri
Rocky coastal route with potential turtles and current outside the entry zone; local guide and gas plan important.
Gakkoshita (School-shita)
Boulder entry and varied rocky terrain with a reported drop-off, fish schools and arch structure.
Operator Checklist
Book a locally listed operator, disclose your certification and recent experience, confirm permission for the exact site, and ask about tanks, weights, nitrox if needed, exposure suit, boat pickup, weather alternates and decompression-emergency planning. Megane Iwa is tied to June/October permissions, sometimes more narrowly to approved weekends. Never rely on a historic brochure for actual opening dates or assume an arch qualifies as ordinary open-water diving. No verified dive liveaboard itinerary forms the core trip.
Conditions Fallback
Avoid