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Outer bay

The Outer Bay in Izu is one of those places that just hits different, especially if you’re into the smaller, weirder stuff. We find ourselves drifting along, eyes peeled for the little guys, and this site delivers. You’ll spot slender snipefish hanging head-down in the current, almost invisible, or maybe a curious alligator pipefish camouflaged amongst the rubble. It's a real treat for macro photographers or anyone who just loves to slow down and appreciate the details. What we really love here are the corals. Not the usual big, branching stuff you might expect, but the subtle beauty of the starry cup corals and smooth cauliflower corals clinging to the rocky substrate. Keep an eye out for the odd New Zealand draughtboard shark snoozing under a ledge – they’re a surprisingly common sight. The visibility can swing a bit depending on the day, but even on a slightly murkier dive, the sheer volume of unique critters makes it worthwhile. Our insider tip: go slow, really slow. This isn't a site for zooming around. It's for lingering, for observation, for finding that perfect shot of a short-head sabretooth blenny peeking from its hole.