Marine Pocket

Omi Maiko on Lake Biwa’s west shore in Otsu, Shiga, is the prefecture’s only dive site. Its clear waters let beginners enjoy experience and fun dives while spotting freshwater fish like ayu and black bass, offering a unique charm distinct from ocean diving.

Diving School Noris Osaka in Chuo-ku, Osaka, features a heated pool with depths of 1.2m and 4.5m. A mirrored wall helps divers check form and buoyancy, making it ideal for skill improvement at any level. Freediving and mermaid swim lessons are also offered to suit various diving styles.

Youdive Mae Beach in Oi, Fukui, is a beach-entry site just 10 seconds from the shop. Sheltered in a bay, it’s diveable almost year-round, ideal for beginners and training. Macro life like seahorses and nudibranchs abounds, and early summer brings schools of migratory fish such as yellowtail.

A 10-minute boat ride from Kamiko Port, this uninhabited island site features a drop-off from 5m to 40m+, attracting schools of Spanish mackerel, yellowtail, kanpachi, and horse mackerel. Best dived in summer, it offers dynamic scenery but is challenging in winter.

You will need to be taken to the beach by a service boat from Kamiko Fishing Port, as there is no access from land. Thanks to its location inside the bay, it is not affected by major weather conditions. Entry is from a sandy area, and the water gradually gets deeper. You can also ensure the water is deep enough for a restricted water area. To the right of the entry (north), there are rocky areas where bottom fish live.

Noris Kobe Maiko in Maiko, Kobe, is a rare urban diving school with a beach and a 5m-deep pool right in front of the shop, offering views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Suitable for beginners to pros, Maiko Beach allows night dives and hosts diverse marine life around the breakwater.