Ogi Port in southern Sado Island offers rich marine life and dynamic terrain. At the “Happy Jizo” point, a Jizo statue rests at 23m, where divers leave coins for safety prayers. With drop-offs and reef zones, it’s a favorite for topography enthusiasts.

Banjin Beach in Kashiwazaki, faces the Sea of Japan and offers calm conditions with diverse underwater scenery. With a max depth of 10m and beach entry, it’s great for all levels. Sandy, rocky areas and seaweed forests host seahorses, nudibranchs, dungeness corals, jellyfish and schools of horse mackerel.

Sado Island is the second-largest island in terms of area after the main island of Okinawa, and can be reached by ferry from Niigata Port in about 2.5 hours or by jetfoil in about 1 hour. In the summer, the sea is very calm and clear, and the water temperature is warm, making it very popular with divers.

Sado Island is the second largest island in terms of area after the main island of Okinawa, and can be reached by ferry from Niigata Port in about 2.5 hours or by jetfoil in about 1 hour. In the summer, the sea is very calm and clear, and the water temperature is high, making it very popular with divers.

This is the border between Toyama and Niigata prefectures. The Oshirachi Beach is a cliff facing the open ocean, and the clarity is good, sometimes exceeding 20 meters from June to September. There are many large roots and rocks in the water, as well as arches and crevasses to enjoy the terrain.

The Okinose W-Arch is situated on the Etchu-Miyazaki Coast, at the easternmost tip of Toyama Prefecture. Located approximately 1 kilometer offshore, it faces the open ocean. The water remains clear from spring through summer, although occasional strong currents can be encountered. The water depth here is about 15 meters, and the presence of two arches side by side is an exceedingly rare occurrence on the Sea of Japan side. According to local legend, an ancient shrine once stood in this area, making it known as a power spot. Visiting this site is highly recommended.

Noto Island is located in the bay of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. The island itself can be reached by land via a bridge. There are 6 points for boat diving. With or without a C-card, you can go snorkeling and skin diving with the dolphins.

This site is beach entry only. Enter from the gravel beach, and as you descended, the Gorota stones spread out. Once off the coast, it becomes a sandy area, which has several man-made towers of sorts. The water near the entry is shallow but gradually deepens as you go offshore to a depth of over 40 meters.

Fushiki-Kokubu in Takaoka, Toyama, is a shallow beach-entry site (max 5m) in Kokubu Seaside Park. Marine life thrives around offshore wave blocks, with seasonal highlights from nudibranchs to spawning cuttlefish, turtles, schooling fish, and dungeness. Great for both beginners and experts year-round.

Yotsushima, or the Four Islands, is a rare “Jetty Dive” spot in Japan, located around Ruzaoan Island. Entry is from a ferry pier, just 5 minutes by boat. The harbor has parking, water, and flush toilets. The reefs host abundant marine life, with frequent sightings of large schools of fish.