& Ocean
【＆Ocean Schedule】
2025
1st Tour
Thursday, August 21 (Day 1) – Arrival & Northern Reef Diving
Friday, August 22 (Day 2) – Southern Reef Diving
Saturday, August 23 (Day 3) – Whale Swim
Sunday, August 24 (Day 4) – Whale Swim
Monday, August 25 (Day 5) – Departure
2nd Tour (Diving only ;Details here)
Monday, August 25 (Day 1) – Arrival & Northern Reef Diving
Tuesday, August 26 (Day 2) – Southern Reef Diving
Wednesday, August 27 (Day 3) – Southern Reef Diving
Thursday, August 28 (Day 4) – Departure
3rd Tour
Thursday, August 28 (Day 1) – Arrival & Northern Reef Diving
Friday, August 29 (Day 2) – Southern Reef Diving
Saturday, August 30 (Day 3) – Whale Swim
Sunday, August 31 (Day 4) – Whale Swim
Monday, September 1 (Day 5) – Departure
4th Tour (Diving only ;Details here)
Monday, September 1 (Day 1) – Arrival & Northern Reef Diving
Tuesday, September 2 (Day 2) – Southern Reef Diving
Wednesday, September 3 (Day 3) – Southern Reef Diving
Thursday, September 4 (Day 4) – Departure
Pricing
① &Ocean Sperm Whale Challenge
¥32,000 per day
Minimum 6 participants / Maximum 8 participants
② Rental Gear for Whale Swim
Price (per day)
Full set (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit) ¥4,400
Light gear set (mask, fins, snorkel) ¥2,200
Individual items (mask, fins, snorkel) ¥1,100 each
Wetsuit (single item) ¥2,200
Boat coat ¥1,100
🧾 Other Costs
① Airfare
Please arrange your own flights.
② Accommodation
DAY 1 : Stay in Koniya area (e.g., Sauna & Stay, Livest Inn, etc.)
DAY 2–4: Stay at Gori Marine House (booked by &Ocean, Kakeroma-island)
Gorimarine house Price
Day 2 1 night with 2 meals ¥13,200
Day 3 1 night with 2 meals ¥13,200
Day 4 1 night with dinner ¥12,100
Single room supplement: +¥1,100 per night
Guests may also arrange their own accommodation in Koniya for DAY 2~4.
If staying in Koniya, activities end at the port, and guests will need to use a rental car to get between hotel and port.
Recommended Hotels in Koniya:
Livest Inn
Sunflower City Hotel
Sauna & Stay
Zero Gravity Shimizu Villa
③ Diving fee on Arrival Day (Northern Area)
1 boat dive: ¥12,000
2 boat dives (includes lunch): ¥19,000
④ Southern Area Diving (Typically on Day 2)
3 boat dives (includes lunch): ¥26,800
⑤ Diving Gear Rental (per day)
Full gear rental set ¥9,900
BCD + Regulator set ¥5,500
Wetsuit ¥2,200
Mask / Fins ¥1,100 each
Dive computer ¥2,200
⑦ Meals
All meals (outside Gori Marine House) are paid individually or shared among the group.
⑧ Rental Car
Required for guests staying in Koniya (self-arranged)
🗓️ Tour Schedule Details
DAY 1 – Northern to Southern Area
🕗 08:40 arrival at Kise Fishing Port → Eligible for 3 dives (with lunch)
🛬 Arrival at Amami Airport by 11:00 → Eligible for 2 dives (with lunch)
🛬 Arrival at Amami Airport by 13:30 → Eligible for 1 dive (no lunch)
Note: Please come to Kise Port via Shuttle bus by &Ocean, taxi or rental car.
Airport pick-up may be arranged through dive center staff.
🍽️ 18:00 – Dinner in Tatsugo or Naze area
🛏️ 21:00 – Check-in at accommodation in Koniya
DAY 2 – Southern Area
🚗 07:30 – Depart hotel (approx. 1-hour drive)
🤿 09:00–15:00 – 3 boat dives (includes Gori lunch)
🏠 15:00 – Check-in at Gori Marine House or disembark at Koniya
🍽️ 18:00 – Dinner
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 3 – Southern Area
🐋 08:00–14:30 – Sperm whale swim
🍽️ 18:00 – Dinner
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 4 – Southern Area
🐋 08:00–14:30 – Sperm whale swim
🍖 18:00 – BBQ at Satahama Beach
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 5 – Southern to Northern
🚐 Depart from Koniya in the morning via rental car or bus
Example: Shimabus departs "Umino Eki Koniya" at 06:40, transfer at Naze, arrive at airport by 09:03.
🐋 Time table of the day of "Whale Swim"
🕗 08:00 – Meet at Gori Marine Pier in Koniya
(Contact: Takuma Sato 📞080-6006-4630)
🛥️ 08:10 – Board the boat
🌊 08:30 – Depart for whale search & swim
Note: No set lunch break – please bring your own light meal or snacks.
🕝 14:30 – Return to port, hot shower and change onboard, then disband
Return time may vary depending on weather and whale conditions.
If you need to return by 15:00, please inform us in advance.
🚐 Transport / Shuttle / Rental Car Options
✈️ Airport ↔ Southern Area (Koniya)
Shuttle service available (if possible) for ¥3,000 per day
If schedules don’t align or if you prefer flexibility (e.g. sightseeing), please rent a car:
Option 1: Pick up & return at airport
Option 2: Pick up at airport, return in Koniya / Pick up in Koniya, return at airport
⚠️ Note: Only one company, Kurousagi Rent-a-Car, currently offers one-way rentals between airport and Koniya. Early booking recommended.
☎️ Reservation: 0997-63-0600
🚌 Shimabus Notice
As of June 2024, there are no direct buses between Koniya and the airport.
You must transfer in Naze, so please plan accordingly and allow extra time.
🎒 What to Bring
Clothing & Personal Items
Change of clothes and towel (a changing poncho is useful)
Swimsuits (bring more than one if possible)
Light jacket or cover-up that can get wet
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for the boat
Motion sickness tablets (highly recommended – the boat may rock)
Personal drinks (no beverages provided on board)
Lunch (for whale swims: simple food like rice balls that can be eaten on a rocking boat)
Diving / Snorkeling Items
Certification card
Logbook
Pen
Snorkeling gear:
Mask
Fins
Snorkel
Rash guard or thin wetsuit (for warmth and sun protection)
If you don’t have your own gear, please ensure you have arranged rental in advance.
Camera Equipment
Camera & housing
SD cards
Spare batteries and charger
🚫 Cancellation Policy
Within 7 days of swim date: 100% of whale swim fee charged
After July 31: 70% of whale swim fee charged
After June 30: 50% of whale swim fee charged
If the tour is canceled by &Ocean, a full refund will be provided.
⚠️ Sperm Whale Challenge Note
If weather prevents us from entering the offshore whale zone, we will switch to a southern diving tour instead.
If your flight is canceled due to a typhoon, please try to rebook on the next available or alternate route to reach the island.
If other guests still arrive and the tour proceeds as planned, a partial cancellation fee may apply to cover minimum operational costs.
This fee will be calculated based on the minimum expenses required to avoid losses for the boat company and &Ocean.
💳 Payment
Invoices will be sent to all participants in late May.
Please complete bank transfer payment by June 30.
Additional costs incurred during the tour can be paid on the final day in cash, by card, or via bank transfer.
Note: A 3% fee applies to all card payments.
⚠️ Important Notes – Please Read Before Booking
🧜♂️ Participation Requirements
Participants must have a valid scuba diving license and be confident swimmers.
You will be swimming in the open ocean, where you cannot see the bottom. This activity requires strong swimming ability and self-reliance in deep water.
🐋 About the Sperm Whale Swim
This is a new activity launched in 2024, and sightings have only recently become more consistent.
We travel long distances to offshore waters up to 800 meters deep, so the trip is highly weather-dependent.
There may be no whale encounters, or no opportunity to swim even if whales are spotted.
Please join with the understanding that this is a challenge-based experience.
No refunds will be issued in the event that whales are not seen or cannot be approached in the water.
🐳 Whale-Centered Experience
Our approach prioritizes the whales’ comfort and behavior.
We only swim with whales that show interest, and we never chase or intercept them.
While snorkeling, the rule is to stay still when a whale is visible—we wait for the whale to approach us.
This is not suitable for those seeking close-up photography or physical proximity to whales.
Even if whales are seen from the boat, we may not enter the water depending on the whales’ behavior.
🌊 Surface Observation Only
Regardless of your skill level, no skin diving or duck diving is allowed.
Scuba diving for whale encounters is prohibited by local regulations in Amami.
🌬️ Ocean Conditions Can Be Rough
Please assess your own ability and the surface conditions.
Do not enter the water if you feel unsafe.
Our captain and guide may restrict entry at their discretion if they judge conditions to be dangerous.
🌞 Sun Protection Is Essential
Please prepare adequately: hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are strongly recommended.
Prolonged exposure on the open ocean can result in serious sunburn.
🤢 Prepare for Motion Sickness
The boat will travel far offshore and may rock significantly.
Get plenty of sleep the night before, and take seasickness medication in advance.
There is no option to return early once the tour has started.