【Japan · Mikomotojima】Unlocking the Hammerhead Shark Storm – 神子元ハンマーズ

The Editor says: With their big round eyes, dopey expressions, and sleek, elegant tails, a Hammerhead Shark storm is surely on many ocean lovers' bucket lists! The English-speaking dive shop 「神子元ハンマーズ」 is your best choice! <Full article reprinted from: 3小a的隨手拍寫>

When people think of diving in Japan, Okinawa's stunning crystal-clear waters are usually the first thing that comes to mind. But Japan has plenty of other great dive destinations — the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is one of them. Mikomotojima, located in southern Izu, sits along the Kuroshio Current, making it a hotspot for rich underwater ecosystems and a high probability of encountering schools of Hammerhead Sharks.

The best time to visit is May through October each year. However, many divers find it hard to get started here due to unfamiliarity with the local environment. This article is a brief introduction to 「神子元ハンマーズ」, an English-friendly dive shop in the area.

How to Get to Southern Izu

How do you get from Tokyo to the southern Izu area? If you're traveling to Japan with a full set of dive gear, the most convenient option is to rent a car and drive from Tokyo — loading up heavy equipment and hitting the road is simply the easiest approach. The drive from central Tokyo takes roughly 3.5 hours, and having your own vehicle makes it far easier to get around, find accommodation, pop into a convenience store, or head out to a restaurant.

If driving isn't an option, you can take the limited express train "Odoriko" from Tokyo Station, or the more luxurious "Super View Odoriko," which travels directly to the terminal station of Izukyū-Shimoda without any transfers, taking about 2.5 hours. The trade-off is that accommodation choices are much more limited and prices tend to be higher.

「神子元ハンマーズ」 offers a free shuttle service to and from Izukyū-Shimoda Station — the ride to the dive shop takes about 10–15 minutes. The shop is right on the main road, with a convenience store within walking distance. The building itself is two storeys: the dive shop occupies the ground floor, while the second floor operates as a guesthouse. For those who can't drive and don't mind a shared room, staying here is a very convenient option. A signboard on the ground floor displays the day's lunch menu and the departure time for the shuttle service.

Pre-Dive Briefing

Before heading to the harbour, staff will hold a briefing at the dive shop, covering group assignments, assigned dive guides, and where to stow your gear on board. All of this information is also displayed on the whiteboard inside 「神子元ハンマーズ」.

The drive to the harbour takes about 5–7 minutes. The dive boat is not large — it accommodates a maximum of 26 divers and their gear. The stern is fitted with an automatic lift platform, so when you return from a dive, you simply step onto the platform without needing to remove your fins or climb a ladder. The dive operation style is also somewhat different from what you might be used to in Taiwan or the Philippines.

When there are more divers, groups are typically split into an early group and a late group. The early group does the 1st and 3rd dives, while the late group does the 2nd and 4th, with staggered timing. The slightly inconvenient part is that after each dive, everyone must carry their gear ashore to make way for the next group to load up. That said, if there are fewer guests and conditions allow, it's also possible to complete three consecutive dives before taking a break.

Japan takes "safety" extremely seriously, so diving practices here tend to be more conservative. Generally, after 30–35 minutes of bottom time, regardless of how much air remains, all divers are expected to follow the dive guide's signal and begin their ascent for a safety stop.

An Intermediate-to-Advanced Dive Site — The Hammerhead Shark Storm

A special note for those planning to visit Mikomotojima to unlock the Hammerhead Shark storm: because this is a drift diving site, it is strongly recommended that divers hold an Advanced Open Water Diver (PADI cert) certification with 30+ dives and be capable of looking after themselves in the water.

When it's time to enter the water by group at the dive site, don't dawdle — it holds up the next group's entry. Once everyone is assembled at the surface, the descent is fast, so divers who struggle with ear equalization may want to practice before the trip.

Remember to pack your gloves when gearing up in Taiwan, as you may need to grab onto sand or rock during strong currents or when approaching a school of Hammerhead Sharks — gloves will protect your hands from cuts on the reef. A week before my trip, I heard from a friend of a friend who had just been and didn't spot a single Hammerhead Shark across four dives over two days, which had me a little worried. Fortunately, luck was on my side: over three dives across two days, my sighting rate was 100%. I was honestly getting a little tired of seeing Hammerhead Sharks (just kidding).

On the way back to the harbour after diving, it's customary — if everyone on board spotted Hammerhead Sharks — for the crew to ask each person to make fists and hold them to their temples for a group commemorative photo. They call this the "Hammer Pose." For a July visit, water temperature is around 23°C, though brief cold currents dropping to around 20–21°C are possible, so a 5mm wetsuit is recommended. Also, although the boat ride from the harbour to Mikomotojima takes only 15 minutes, the swell can be quite significant — it's wise to bring seasickness medication just in case.

A Satisfied Return

For the early group completing two dives, you'll typically be back at 「神子元ハンマーズ」 by around 1

After rinsing your gear and freshening up, 「神子元ハンマーズ」 arranges a post-dive briefing led by each group's dive guide. Using diagrams and written notes, the guide introduces the dive site names and characteristics, and even sketches out the dive route so divers can fill in their dive log. The "A-point" marked on the map is the site with the highest Hammerhead Shark sighting rate. On my first dive, a strong current immediately after descent meant we played it safe and enjoyed some drift diving instead — the Hammerhead Shark challenge would have to wait for the second dive.

There's also a box of personalised stamps on the table, each one bearing a staff member's name. After filling in your paper dive log, you can stamp it as a memento. The shop also sells related merchandise and T-shirts — if anything catches your eye, don't forget to grab a souvenir!

Full article reprinted from: 3小a的隨手拍寫

• [Trip Report] Recommended Dive Shop for Unlocking the Hammerhead Shark Storm at Mikomotojima, Southern Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan — 「神子元ハンマーズ」

Further Reading:

• 【娘娘不要走，環遊世界ing】Snorkeling with Hammerhead Sharks at the Galápagos Islands — A One-Day Tour of Galapagos Islands
• Downwellings, Washing Machine Currents, and Near-Death Flows — Staying Calm Is the Only Way to Handle Strong Currents!
• 京太郎 Teaches You How Not to Be a Disgraceful Diver When Diving in Japan
• 【A Taiwanese Woman's Secret Dive Spots in Okinawa】Yonaguni — First-Hand Account of Hammerhead Shark Storms and Underwater Ruins
• 【Must-Read for Divers】Always Getting Turned Down When Trying to Join a Group? How to Become a Self-Sufficient Diver