Dive centre · Ito · Japan
4.5325 Google reviewsSUN La IZU DIVING
Master your buoyancy and skill set at this Kawana-based centre, where 17 years of experience meets a specialist focus on coaching.
What sets this centre apart
- 17 years of operational experience in the Izu Peninsula
- Specialist coaching programmes for buoyancy and air management
- Easy access from Tokyo via a 90-minute Shinkansen ride
- Free shuttle service from Kawana Station or Ito hotels
- Professional team of eight instructors and guides
- Zero accidents recorded since the centre opened
- High probability of sea turtle sightings at Kawana
- Full range of PADI courses from Open Water to Instructor
SUN La IZU DIVING about the centre
Situated in Kawana on the Izu Peninsula, SUN La IZU DIVING is ideally positioned for exploring the diverse marine environments of the Shizuoka coast. The centre is a short 90-minute Shinkansen journey from Tokyo, making it an accessible base for both local divers and those travelling from the capital.
With 17 years of operation, the centre has established a reputation for methodical, safety-focused instruction. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or seeking to refine your skills in more challenging conditions, the team provides a structured approach to learning and exploration.
The club and its team
The team is composed of eight professionals, including four permanent instructors and four occasional staff. This ensures a strong presence on-site to support both training programmes and guided excursions.
The centre operates as a PADI affiliated dive centre, offering a full spectrum of training from entry-level courses to professional development. Instruction is delivered in Japanese, and the team is known for a pedagogical approach that prioritises safety and gradual progression.
The centre at a glance
- Affiliation
- PADI
- Certification level
- Instructor Training Center
- Languages spoken
- Japanese
- Website available in
- Japanese
- Management
- Japanese
- Instructors and guides
- 8
- Equipment rental
- complet (pack de location disponible)
- Access and transfers
- 90 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen (arriving at Kawana Station), or approximately 2 hours 30 minutes by car. A free shuttle is available from Kawana Station or hotels in Ito.
- Accommodation
- The centre provides information about budget accommodation around Kawana and Ito.
- Phone
- +81 557-51-1129
- Address
- 841-1 Futo, Itō, Shizuoka 413-0231, Japan
- Official website
- sunla-izu.com ↗
Courses on offer
The centre provides a complete range of PADI training, starting with the Open Water Diver course and progressing through Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, and Rescue Diver. For those looking to move into professional ranks, they offer Divemaster and Instructor pathways.
Beyond standard certifications, the centre specialises in skill refinement. They offer dedicated one-day coaching courses designed to improve specific areas such as buoyancy control and air management, alongside various PADI Specialty Diver programmes.
Equipment and gases
A full range of rental kit is available for divers who prefer not to carry their own equipment. This includes complete rental packs to ensure you have the necessary components for your dives.
The centre is well-equipped to support divers arriving from Tokyo, providing information on local budget accommodation around Kawana and Ito to help organise your stay.
Dive sites with SUN La IZU DIVING
Kawana offers a protected beach area with a gentle topography and shallow depths between 3 and 20 metres. The low current and calm conditions make this an ideal location for beginners, with frequent sightings of sea turtles.
Mikomoto is a high-level site characterised by a steep drop-off and strong currents. This is a destination for advanced divers looking to experience drift diving and the presence of hammerhead sharks.
Atami features wreck diving, most notably the Asahi 16-go, an 88-metre long vessel. The site reaches depths of 24 metres and is suited for advanced divers.
Izu Kaiyo Koen provides deep topography reaching 40 metres. It is an advanced site where you can explore impressive areas of soft coral, such as the Ryugu-jo section.
And some of the dive sites the centre runs.
Marine life around Ito
The local waters are home to a variety of large marine life. Sea turtles are a regular sight in the calmer waters of Kawana, while hammerhead sharks can be found during more advanced excursions at Mikomoto.
The reef environments are characterised by vibrant soft corals, particularly in the deeper sections of Izu Kaiyo Koen. You will also encounter various tropical fish species throughout the peninsula.
In the deeper, more complex topographies, divers can find Hanadai among the corals. The biodiversity of the region ensures a varied experience for those exploring the different habitats from the reef flat to the deep walls.
Diving conditions
Conditions across the Izu Peninsula vary significantly depending on the site. Kawana offers calm, low-current environments, whereas Mikomoto is known for strong currents that require advanced skills to manage.
While summer is a popular time to visit, the autumn and winter months are noted for providing excellent visibility. Water temperatures typically range between 16 and 26 degrees Celsius.
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