Wannai - Izu Peninsula

Wannai is a special one for us on the Izu Peninsula. It's got that rugged, volcanic vibe that just makes a dive feel more adventurous. We love dropping down here, especially when the light hits just right, illuminating the overhangs where you often find prickly lanternfish darting around. It’s not a site for spotting big pelagics, usually, but the smaller stuff, the stuff you have to look for, is where Wannai shines. We've spent ages here just watching the hair-tailed blennies, little characters that are always a joy to find. The landscape itself is fantastic, lots of nooks and crannies, perfect for spotting Japanese electric rays tucked away or a sneaky Gilbert's synaphobranchid eel poking its head out. The honeycomb and wrinkle corals add a lot of texture to the rock faces. This isn't a drift dive, it's a site for slow exploration, for divers who enjoy taking their time and really observing the smaller, unique marine life that thrives in these temperate waters. Our favourite thing to do is find a good spot and just watch the banded blue sprats school, a mesmerising silver cloud.

Location

Izu Peninsula, Japan, East Asia

Coordinates

35.025837, 138.786970

Marine Protected Area: 黄金崎