HammerTime Japan - Hammerhead Shark Diving in Japan

HammerTime Japan - Hammerhead Shark Diving in Japan
Of all the places to see Schooling Hammerheads in the world, I feel lucky to have 3 hammerhead viewing locations here in Japan: Yonaguni Island, Oshima Island, and Mikomoto Island. One of them, Mikomoto Island, is just 3 hours from Tokyo and is going absolutely bonkers right now with Scalloped hammerhead sharks. The Kuroshio (black current or warm current) has come to Japan early (again) this year, bringing the hammerhead sharks earlier and in higher numbers.
In this video, we learn a bit about the scalloped hammer, where to see them in Japan, some dive logistics, and lots of videos from recent dives. Let’s have a look.
Hammer Diving References
Hammer diving in Mikomoto (July to Sept): Kaiyusha 290 (www.290.jp/)
Hammer diving in Yonaguni (Feb high season): Doug @ Reef Encounters (www.reefencoun...)
Hammer Diving in Oshima (July to Sept high season): Contact me
Video: Yuichi Kunisada, Big Chris D., Kaiyusha 290
Kaiyusha 290 KZbin Channel - / kaiyusha290
Photos: Kazuyuki Hamamoto, Sean C.
#scallopedhammerheadshark #sharkdiving #sharkdivingjapan #mikomotohammers #mikomotohammerheadsharks
Chapters:
00:20 Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
01:00 The three Hammerhead dive sites in Japan
01:09 Yonaguni Island
01:46 Izu Oshima Island
02:33 Mikomoto Island diving
04:31 Mikoto Island basic dive plan
05:00 The Mikomoto Island dives I did last week
06:48 The dive logistics (for those who are interested or might want to make a trip)
09:23 My 2021 dive plan (lots of hammers!!!)
Safe diving!
Jim
Big Dog, DDT
DiscoveryDiversTokyo.com
Support for the channel:
Patreon - / discoverydiverstokyo
Subscribe Star - www.subscribes...
Why not subscribe and follow the evolution of our feed. My best videos are yet to come, I'm sure: kzbin.info...
---DDT Playlists you might enjoy----
Scuba How-to & Dive training:
• Scuba How-to & Dive Tr...
Gear Reviews & Explanations (Best Gear)
• Gear Reviews & Explana...
Dive Accidents & Incidents (How to avoid trouble)
• Dive Accidents & Incid...
DDT After Hours (Scuba Humor)
• DDT After Hours (Scuba...
Scuba Diving Gear Fixes
• Scuba Diving Gear Fixes
Dive Pro Material
• Dive Pro Material
Catch us on Facebook
Facebook Page (International): / discoverydiverst
Facebook Group (More local/Japan): / 11624544285
Scuba Diving,Tokyo,Japan,Sharks,Discovery,Divers,Izu,Chiba,Oshima,Motosuko,Hachijojima,Atami,Ocean,Beach,discovery divers tokyo,hammerhead shark,hammerhead shark diving,hammerhead shark cage diving,hammertime Japan,How to Hammerhead Shark Dive in Japan,mikimoto shark diving,shark diving,mikomoto hammers,mikomoto hammerhead sharks,shark diving in Japan,Izu hammerhead sharks,yonaguni island,yonaguni monument,yonaguni hammerhead sharks,scalloped hammerhead sharks

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

What was your best sharky experience? Tell us about it. Contact me if you have any Qs about hammer diving in Japan 👍

[@chelsea7229]

This is unbelievable. Honestly breathtaking footage- thank you for sharing and for adding to my diving bucket list.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks for the view and comment, Chelsea…hope you get to check this one off 👍

[@alpertjm]

man im in love with the Gruns ladies.

[@TritonsRealm]

Just added this to our bucket list! Thanks for all the great detailed info.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hope you get to check it off, Triton. Thanks for the view and comment 👍

[@Chogogo717]

Awesome!!! So glad you got that experience. I can’t wait to experience that myself some day.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks, Caleb. I might go back this week

[@TechNinjaPro]

Super excited. I’m heading to checkout a hammerhead shark dive next week here in Japan. Youre information was perfect and very helpful!

[@patrickwhite8144]

5:20 That looks like an Oceanic Whitetip which, from what I understand, is probably the most dangerous shark to enounter when diving.

[@frankdieber7090]

I’v got a small S&R / salvage side operation in the U.S. in fresh water. So I dive a lot but not much salt diving but any chance I get I take the ride to the ocean and do some wreck or reef diving. Iv run into a good amount of different sharks and have the mentality of treating them like pit bull dogs don’t fear them stay calm and every time it’s been a pleasure. One time a tiger came so close I could have pet it. But iv never been in the middle of a school like that , amazing videos ocean brotha hopefully we meet one day!

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Wow, Frank, a big tiger. Some of those monster tiger feeding vids on the net make me squirm. Thanks for taking the time to comment and look forward to seeing you around the channel and comments in the future 👍

[@houseofsolomon2440]

The only scallops I go for are tiny and live in 3' of water 😄 Amazing footage -

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

LOL...well-played, sir!

[@AriefLatif]

Oh man, I need another bucket 😂😂😂

[@kgal1298]

This looks amazing. Now if only Japan would be able to open to tourism soon. I haven't been in years, but now that I have my cert it's a good excuse to travel almost anywhere where there's diving.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Yes, needs to be open soon, I hope.

[@tammyeldred2035]

This looks amazing, Jim! How freakin' lucky you were!! I can't wait to try it!!

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks for the comment, Tammy. Yup, I did feel lucky. Def a bucket list dive for you...👍

[@tammyeldred2035]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo Was this the top of your bucket list, Jim? Or do you have another dive that tops your list?

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@tammyeldred2035 My bucket list is very expensive ;) Cocos, Palau, Galapagos...

[@tammyeldred2035]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo That sounds amazing! There is this place in Iceland I want to dive. You can actually touch two continents. Not as exciting as sharks, but the thought of it gives me chills. And not just because the water is probably cold AF.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@tammyeldred2035 Ah, Yes, I sometimes see pics of that two-continent dive. Looks cool !

[@ronsnijders3636]

Not jealous at all, nope, not this guy! Meh, who am I kidding? That's freaking ace!

[@scubasteveandunderwaterroc3547]

I'm jealous you get to experience this type of stuff! The only time I saw a hammerhead in the wild was when I was in a helicopter over the beaches at Florida. Nice thumbnail though 🤣🤣.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks, Scuba Steve! Those hammers in FL are often the Great Hammerheads...they can be darned Sea Monsters! I think they max out at like 4m! Thanks on the thumbnails...I do my best as a one-man show who rambles too much...👍

[@sbmillward]

Excellent video. I really like information about hammerheads, the currents, dive locations and dive briefing. Really good and definitely a new bucket list item for me! By the way, the same ocean currents also pass by Taiwan (where I live), close to Green Island on the east. This is also a well-known diving spot for hammerheads, but they are seen earlier in the year, around January or February, if I'm not mistaken.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Oh, interesting...about the same time as Yonaguni. Do you have a plan to go? Thanks as always, Simon!

[@sbmillward]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo ... Yes, Jim, about the same time as Yonaguni. That's probably no coincidence given the proximity of Green Island to Yonaguni and the fact they are both affected by the same currents. Who knows, it may even be the same schools of hammerheads travelling up from Green Island to Yonaguni and beyond? Does that seem feasible? And, yes, I definitely hope to see the hammers at Green Island sometime in the future. Apparently it's not a dive for the faint-hearted. :)

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@sbmillward I'm interested...

[@coldwind]

I need to get back into diving. Aomori is a horrible place to try and get back into it though. With any luck, I'll be able to make one of these trips in a year or two. Seeing a hammerhead is one of the top items on the bucket list!! thanks for the info!!

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Ah, yes, Aomori is a long drive from any ocean. Hope you get to see hammers soon! Keep me posted if you get down this way 👍

[@DSShan]

Heading to Oshima Island in 3 weeks' time for the hammerheads! Any tips?

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

That’s a great dive location any time of year. Not sure if the hammers are running yet. Who are you diving with…they’ll know. They usually come to the Keikai dive site at sunrise…in only 8 meters of water. You’ll have a blast no matter what. It’s a great place to be on surface intervals also.

[@DSShan]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo Diving with Yellow Dive (owner speaks English and is one of the couple dive centers on the island who take non japanese speaking divers). Any dive sites you would recommend (non-hammerhead specific)? Are the dive sites there good for pelagic/schools of fish or mostly macro? Was told end of June should be a good chance of hammerheads so fingers crossed.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Cool. I don’t know them. The hammers follow the Kuroshio (black current) of warmer water. It has been hitting the island earlier in recent years, and peaks in July, August and Sept. my favorite site there is Akinohama, which has a mix of everything depending on the direction and depth you go.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Can I do these dives in shorts and a rashguard or 2.5mm shorty...that's what I use in the 29-30° waters here in Phuket 🤔

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

In late August and early Sept, prolly OK, Jonnie. I get cold easily, I'm a weenie. I'd get you a full cover suit if you needed...

[@Larutus]

Given your understanding of the dive conditions, how many drift (or other specialty ) dives should someone have logged before attempting any of those dive sites ?

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hi Larry...thanks for the Q. The dive site itself requires 50 dives, and I'd say that's about right for this site, as long as a person is a reasonable swimmer.

[@Larutus]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo thanks for the feedback, maybe I’ll be lucky enough to dive in Japan sometime in the next couple years

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@Larutus Let me know if you do!!!

[@Larutus]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo Hey I have question, I’m working on a small podcast series where I interview different divers from various parts of the world. Is this something you would be willing to participate in ?

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@Larutus Hey, absolutely, if I have anything to offer. Feel free to contact me directly, [e-mail]

[@Teampegleg]

I want a liftgate on my boats.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Yes, TPL…there is NO substitute 👍