What kind of scene do you imagine when you hear shark diving?
Were you watching the Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), from inside the special cage offshore South Africa? Or diving with Blacktail reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker, 1856)), or Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)) in the colorful coral reef of Micronesia?
You can enjoy shark diving near Tokyo, Japan.
The exact place is Ito, Tateyama, Chiba, Japan. Ito is the name of a tiny fisherman port town located the most south of the Boso peninsula. It is similar to the later shark diving, though the different point is the location.
The exact place is Ito, Tateyama, Chiba, Japan. Ito is the name of a tiny fisherman port town located the most south of the Boso peninsula. It is similar to the later shark diving, though the different point is the location.
Enjoy the world-class underwater tunnel also
It is easy to get to the dive site to use the Aqualine route. The Aqualine is the Tokyo bay Crossing route that runs an undersea tunnel from Kawasaki, Kanagawa to Kisarazu, Chiba. Half of the course is the long bridge, and after half is the undersea tunnel. The artificial island "Umihotaru" locates in the center of the route. There are restaurants and souvenir shops.
The tunnel is 9,610 meters long, and it is one of the longest undersea tunnels in the world. When you reach Chiba side, You can automatically run on Motorway. From Tokyo to Tateyama is about a 2hours ride depending on traffic conditions.
Visit Shark Paradise! Ito, Tateyama
Sharks, where you can dive, are Bandedhound sharks (Triakis scyllium Müller & Henle, 1839). The banded hound shark is a species of hound shark in the family Triakidae. It is called "Dochizame" in Japanese. "The Fish Base," says that Banded houndshark length is 99 - 108 cm (Maturity), Max length is 150 cm, and feeds is on small fishes and probably crustaceans, harmless to humans.
There is the diving service "Ito Diving Service BOMMIE" there.
You can rent tanks and can ask for arrangements for the diving boat.
The diving spot locates only a 3min boat ride.
The spot faces the Pacific Ocean; the current is sometimes strong. But the shop staff who have excellent skills help you.
Dancing with Sharks and rays
When you go down along the guide lope, you may see sharks and stingrays swim at the seabed.
When all guest divers reach the bottom, the show time begins.
The guide staff takes out fish from the basket, spreads the smell of bait. Then, sharks and stingrays come together around the guide. 20, 30, 50, the numbers of fish are getting larger and larger. When enough fish gather, the guide starts to swim, and then the fishies chase him like dogs.
When he stops swimming at the spot for the show, the fishies start swimming around him. Then he starts to go up gently. The fishies chase him and rise while spinning around. The shape of that looks like a tornado.
Though Banded houndshark is harmless, it needs attention.
The fish get excited like this situation quickly. So sometimes sharks graze or collide with the divers. So, consider that the mask or regulator will come off. You will hear these cautions in a briefing before diving.
The bottom depth is around 20m.
Fun times feel short.
Need attention to "bottom time" for your safety, Buddy,
This web page is English available.
About sharks:
Banded houndshark
Great white shark
Blacktip reef shark
Blacktail reef shark or Gray reef shark
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