True North

Izu Peninsula, Japan

True North, perched on Japan’s Izu Peninsula, is one of those places you end up sticking around longer than planned. They’re a full-on PADI 5 Star IDC centre, which means if you’re looking to go pro or just polish up your skills, they're well set up for it. We’ve spent a fair bit of time diving Izu, and while the currents can be lively, the resident marine life — those big schools of yellowtail and the occasional eagle ray — makes it worth the effort. True North is a good pick if you appreciate a dive operation that’s focused on solid training and a professional, no-nonsense approach to getting you in the water.