Blue Sub

Izu Peninsula, Japan

The team at Blue Sub are the kind of people you want to spend a day with, even before you get in the water. We’ve always found them incredibly welcoming, patient with our rusty Japanese, and genuinely keen for you to have a good dive. They specialise in guiding you through Izu’s often-overlooked shore dives, which we think is where the real magic happens here. If you’re looking for a low-key, personalised diving experience away from the bigger boat crowds, Blue Sub is a solid choice. We love how they approach their dive briefings, pointing out exactly what to look for and where. On a recent trip, they had us spotting frogfish camouflaged against the volcanic rock almost instantly. The water here can be surprisingly warm in late summer, but always bring a hood for those longer dives, especially if you’re exploring some of the deeper thermoclines. They know the best entry points for avoiding the small waves that sometimes kick up, and their local knowledge of the currents is invaluable. Expect to spend a full day with them, often including a stop at a local *onsen* afterwards, which, frankly, is a perfect end to any dive day.