【Must-Buy in Japan】World's Largest Dive Shop mic21 — Top 5 Best-Selling Products Revealed

YouTube HD Video: https://youtu.be/GiiqHBETKSI

mic21 has long been a pilgrimage destination for divers across Asia. With a showroom spanning well over 100 pings, thousands of products on display, vibrant shelving, and clearly marked prices, shopping for dive gear here is an experience on a whole different level. With a total of 11 branches in major cities across Japan, mic21 satisfies every diver's urge to stock up on gear whenever the mood strikes. As the diving markets in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China continue to grow — bringing with them a surge of local brick-and-mortar and online retailers — mic21 has had to think outside the box and forge a new path. This time, BlueTrend has teamed up with mic21 to curate and share some of Japan's most unique and best-selling dive products, so that divers planning a trip to Japan can lock in their targets online in advance. If you need to check stock, feel free to email any branch to inquire!

Bonus tip: All mic21 stores across Japan are running a major clearance sale from 1/18 to 2/16, 2020 — 10% off storewide, with selected items up to 30% off, and older models going at rock-bottom prices! For example, the beloved TG-6 bundle set will save you NT$6,000. With the yen at a low, now is the perfect time to splurge! The Okinawa store is also offering an additional ¥2,000 coupon through 1/31 (link attached)! Note: Actual prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations — please check with the store directly.

This time we invited Olive, mic21 Naha Store's Taiwan Representative, to walk us through the store's top 5 best-sellers along with some bonus small-gear recommendations. Let's follow Olive on a shopping tour!

TOP 1:

Fisheye FIX UNDER WARMER

Rechargeable Heated Vest for Diving

First up, Olive introduced this rechargeable heated vest, which has been in development and testing for the past couple of years. According to Olive, when it launched in Japan at the end of 2019 it caused quite a sensation — divers flocked to mic21 just to try it on! It's no surprise, then, that it shot straight to the top of mic21's best-seller chart. As most people know, water temperatures in many parts of Japan can get quite cold in winter, so divers there rely heavily on thermal protection. This rechargeable heated vest offers the perfect solution for those who can't be bothered squeezing into a 5mm wetsuit or a drysuit, and its target market is very clearly defined. Based on the manufacturer's test data, wearing this vest inside a wetsuit can raise the body temperature from 25°C to 34°C, while wearing it inside a drysuit pushes it from 27°C all the way up to 46°C — truly impressive results!

The Fisheye FIX UNDER WARMER is controlled via a wristband controller that offers three temperature settings. When switching between temperatures, the device gives a haptic vibration alert — a thoughtful touch. The product also comes in two configurations: front-only heating (abdomen) and front + back heating, giving cold-sensitive divers plenty of options.

Olive specifically reminded users that the vest must be worn inside the wetsuit — wearing it on the outside would let the water flow through and completely negate the warming effect. Olive also shared that many Japanese divers doing cold-water dives wear this vest underneath their drysuit for added warmth. With such versatile functionality, it's no wonder this product earned its place on mic21's sales chart.

• Fisheye FIX UNDER WARMER Official Website

TOP 2:

Breaker Out

Custom-Made Wetsuits by Japanese Craftsmen

Japanese aesthetic sensibility doesn't stop at the water's surface — it extends all the way underwater. Custom wetsuits are hugely popular in Japan, and while the dazzling array of color combinations you can mix and match is certainly part of the appeal, the real key advantage of a custom wetsuit is warmth. Off-the-shelf wetsuits come in fixed cuts, where you simply pick a size based on height and weight. A custom wetsuit, on the other hand, is tailored entirely to your measurements. At mic21, a specialist will take your height, chest width, hip circumference, and more — because the better the suit fits your body, the warmer you stay. The store staff will then help you choose the material thickness (3mm or 5mm options are available), as well as the grade of the material. Breaker Out also offers a PREMIUM DRAIN quick-dry fabric, which not only has a finer, more supple stretch, but its quick-drying properties mean you won't have to climb back into a cold, wet suit for your next dive after a surface interval!

On top of all that, choosing from the huge range of color options would easily overwhelm the most indecisive among us — which is why the store provides an on-screen computer simulation, letting you drag and click to virtually design your dream wetsuit before placing your order.

• Breaker Out Official Website

TOP 3:

World Dive Dry Suits

Custom-Made Drysuits by Japanese Craftsmen

If there are custom wetsuits, of course there are custom drysuits too! World Dive prides itself on being entirely Made in Japan — handcrafted by skilled artisans to a high standard — and backs that up with a two-year warranty against normal use, giving you extra peace of mind when diving in a drysuit. This is why World Dive suits are so popular in Japan; with proper care, a single suit can last well over 15 years. In addition to neoprene models, World Dive also offers Shell Dry options to cater to divers with different needs and budgets. Of course, the most important benefit of a made-to-measure suit is the perfect fit and custom tailoring — a level of comfort that simply can't be matched by any off-the-rack drysuit.

• World Dive Official Website

TOP 4:

apollo bio-metal mask PREMIUM/pro

Aluminum Alloy Type A, B & D Series Masks

As the saying goes, you might fall short on technique, but never on gear! If you want to take stunning photos underwater, a stylish, eye-catching mask is an absolute must-have accessory. The most sought-after mask at mic21 in 2019 was undoubtedly the apollo metal-frame mask. Not only does it come in a wide range of colors, but it's also available with aluminum alloy or stainless steel frames. With one of the lowest internal volumes on the market, it's a top choice for freedivers who love underwater photography. While the freediving market in Japan is still developing, more and more divers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau have been taking up the sport in recent years, and this mask gives you far more choice when it comes to picking the right one.

Lens options include prescription lenses and UV-protective lenses, and the mask skirt can be chosen in either white or black. Olive also specifically recommended the polarized lens option for even greater clarity underwater. If you're gearing up for a beautiful portrait shot beneath the waves, this is one product you absolutely cannot miss!

• apollo Official Product Page

TOP 5:

apollo bio-filter

Air Purifier and Humidifier

For the final product, we're looking at a longtime favorite among experienced divers in both Japan and Taiwan — the apollo air purifier and humidifier. Do you often feel dry-mouthed and parched while diving? Or have you been unlucky enough to breathe from a dirty scuba tank and felt queasy? Simply attach this device to your first stage regulator, and your next dive will be noticeably more comfortable and refreshing. Olive shared an experience from a store customer who, after using the filter for some time, removed it and found a layer of grime on it — just imagining all that residue from inside the scuba tank being inhaled into your lungs is enough to make your skin crawl. So if you want to enjoy a truly high-quality dive experience, this is the product for you!

• apollo Official Product Page

Olive's Bonus Recommendations:

Olympus TG-6 Underwater Housing Bundle & mic21 Exclusive Ring Flash DL2001

Why recommend the TG-6? Can't you already buy it in Taiwan? No, no, no — buying the TG-6 + official underwater housing bundle in Japan is already cheaper than in Taiwan, and on top of that, the weak yen and tax-free refunds stack up for some serious savings. If you factor in the mic21 nationwide clearance sale running from 1/18 to 2/16, 2020, you'll be grinning from ear to ear. The ever-budget-savvy Editor did the math and came up with instant savings of six "Benjamins" (NT$600 bills). The Okinawa store is also offering an additional ¥2,000 coupon through 1/31 (link attached).

In addition, the exclusive ring flash sold only at mic21 is highly recommended for beginners. It features 5 continuous light settings and 2 strobe modes (no fiber optic cable needed), making it a fantastic training tool for divers just getting into underwater photography. The DL2001 charges via USB, so topping up the battery is effortless. Best of all, the handle can be fitted with an optional attachment that converts it into a 1,200-lumen Torch — two tools in one, offering incredible value!

Olive's Bonus Recommendations: Okinawa Dive Instructor Must-Have "Kaito" Sandals & Marine Publications

In Okinawa, every dive instructor swears by these flip-flops — another of Olive's top picks. Tough, durable, and non-slip, they're the go-to footwear for instructors doing shore dives on foot, especially in Japan where stiff-soled booties are not as commonly favored. A true essential — you'd be crazy not to grab a pair!

For those who love studying marine life, you'll definitely appreciate Japan's beautifully produced field guides. Breaking away from traditional textbook-style formats, these books use illustrations and artwork to convey the characteristics of marine life in a truly engaging way. Highly recommended for anyone who has a passion for ocean ecology.

The mic21 Okinawa Naha Store not only stocks an incredible range of products, but also offers a wide variety of Okinawa dive trip packages — covering not just the main island, but also Kerama, Aka Island, Ishigaki, and even Yonaguni Hammerhead Shark expeditions. If you're planning a holiday in Okinawa and want to add a dive trip into the mix, we highly recommend reaching out to Olive, mic21 Naha Store's Taiwan Representative. With service available in Mandarin, Taiwanese, English, and Japanese, you'll feel the warmth of Taiwanese hospitality alongside the refined attention to detail of Japanese service!

Bonus tip: All mic21 stores across Japan are running a major clearance sale from 1/18 to 2/16, 2020 — 10% off storewide, with selected items up to 30% off, and older models going at rock-bottom prices! For example, the beloved TG-6 bundle set will save you NT$6,000. With the yen at a low, now is the perfect time to splurge! The Okinawa store is also offering an additional ¥2,000 coupon through 1/31 (link attached)! Note: Actual prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations — please check with the store directly.

How to Get to mic21 Okinawa Naha Store?

• For customers arriving by monorail/train: after exiting the station, walk along the river toward National Route 58. Once you reach Route 58, turn right and walk straight — you'll pass a bicycle shop, a FamilyMart, a JUMBO Pachinko parlor, and an Okinawa Bank, followed by three consecutive parking lots. That's where you'll find us! Alternatively, just Google "那霸市前島2-21-13" and you're set!

• For customers driving: you can park directly at mic21's designated parking lot, located right next to the Okinawa Bank on Route 58! Note that it's not an exclusive mic21 lot and has no mic21 signage, so make sure you don't park in the wrong spot. A parking voucher will be provided with any purchase!

Feeling tempted after reading this? If you're heading to Okinawa for the Lunar New Year, or if you have friends going, spread the word about this incredible deal! Olive, the Naha Store's Taiwan Representative, will be working every day over the holiday period — pop in to wish her a Happy New Year, have a chat, and maybe haul some gear back home with you!

If you're now curious about how this Taiwanese representative ended up working in Okinawa, let's wait for her to share her own story of building a life there...

Related links:

• mic21 Official Website

• mic21 Okinawa Naha Store

• mic21 Okinawa Naha Store ¥2,000 Coupon (valid through 2020/1/31)

• A Taiwanese Woman's Okinawa Diving Secrets — You Can Even Dive Inside a Stalactite Cave!

• Naha Store Taiwan Representative Olive's Personal Facebook

• Naha Store Taiwan Representative Olive on IG: diver_olive

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