& Ocean
**【&Ocean Schedule】**
**You can join the full tour or participate on a day-by-day basis.**
## 2027
### 1ST SESSION
**June 28 (Mon) – DAY 1**
Arrival & Northern Area Diving
(Mandarinfish spawning)
**June 29 (Tue) – DAY 2**
Southern Area Diving
(Mystery Circle under construction)
**June 30 (Wed) – DAY 3**
Southern Area Diving
(Mystery Circle expected to be completed)
**July 1 (Thu) – DAY 4**
Whale Swim
**July 2 (Fri) – DAY 5**
Departure
### 2ND SESSION
**July 2 (Fri) – DAY 1**
Arrival & Northern Area Diving
(Mandarinfish spawning)
**July 3 (Sat) – DAY 2**
Southern Area Diving
(Mystery Circle after spawning)
**July 4 (Sun) – DAY 3**
Whale Swim
**July 5 (Mon) – DAY 4**
Whale Swim
**July 6 (Tue) – DAY 5**
Departure
### 3RD SESSION
**July 6 (Tue) – DAY 1**
Arrival & Northern Area Diving
(Mandarinfish spawning)
**July 7 (Wed) – DAY 2**
Whale Swim
**July 8 (Thu) – DAY 3**
Whale Swim
**July 9 (Fri) – DAY 4**
Whale Swim
**July 10 (Sat) – DAY 5**
Departure
### 4TH SESSION
**July 10 (Sat) – DAY 1**
Arrival & Northern Area Diving
**July 11 (Sun) – DAY 2**
Whale Swim
**July 12 (Mon) – DAY 3**
Whale Swim
**July 13 (Tue) – DAY 4**
Southern Area Diving
(Mystery Circle construction expected to begin)
**July 14 (Wed) – DAY 5**
Departure
### 5TH SESSION
**July 14 (Wed) – DAY 1**
Arrival & Northern Area Diving
**July 15 (Thu) – DAY 2**
Southern Area Diving
(Mystery Circle expected to be completed)
**July 16 (Fri) – DAY 3**
Whale Swim
**July 17 (Sat) – DAY 4**
Whale Swim
**July 18 (Sun) – DAY 5**
Departure
Pricing
Full Tour (5 days):
From JPY 169,400
Price Details
① Diving on Arrival Day (Northern Area)
-
1 boat dive: JPY 12,500
-
2 boat dives: JPY 19,500
② Diving in the Southern Area
-
3 boat dives: JPY 27,500
③ Scuba Equipment Rental (per day)
-
Full set: JPY 11,000
-
BCD & regulator set: JPY 6,600
-
Wetsuit: JPY 2,200
-
Mask / Fins: JPY 1,100 each
-
Dive computer: JPY 2,200
④ &Ocean Sperm Whale Challenge Fee
-
Sperm whale swim: JPY 34,000 per day
(Charter tour: minimum 5 people, maximum 8 people)
⑤ Whale Swim Equipment Rental
-
Full set (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit): JPY 4,400 × number of days
-
Light set (mask, fins, snorkel): JPY 2,200 × number of days
-
Single item (mask, fins, snorkel): JPY 1,100 each × number of days
-
Wetsuit only: JPY 2,200 × number of days
⑥ Accommodation
-
Day 1: Gori Marine House (with breakfast) JPY 9,900
-
Day 2: Gori Marine House (1 night, 2 meals) JPY 13,200
-
Day 3: Gori Marine House (1 night, 2 meals) JPY 13,200
-
Day 4: Gori Marine House (1 night, dinner only) JPY 12,100
Single room: +JPY 1,100
For tour participants, &Ocean will arrange accommodation at Gori Marine House in Surihama, Kakeroma Island.
You may also arrange your own hotel around Koniya.
Guests staying in Koniya will be dismissed at the port after activities.
A rental car is required for transportation between the hotel and port.
Recommended hotels around Koniya:
-
Raivest Inn
-
Sunflower City Hotel
⑦ Transfers
-
Day 1: Airport → Southern area: JPY 3,000
-
Final day: Southern area → Airport: JPY 3,000
Additional Costs
-
Flights (to be arranged individually)
-
Meals not included in the itinerary
(actual cost, paid individually or shared) -
Rental car fees, if required
🗓️ 5DAY Tour Schedule Details
DAY 1 – North to South Amami
🕗 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 Naze area
🚢 20:00 - Water taxi to Kakeroma island or Check-in at your accomodation in Koniya
🛏️ 21:00 – Check-in at accommodation "Gorimarine house"
DAY 2 – South Amami
🚗 08:30 – Depart hotel
🤿 09:00–15:00 – 3 boat dives (includes lunch)
🏠 15:00 – Return to accomodation
🍽️ 19:00 – Dinner
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 3 – South Amami
🐋 08:00–14:30 – Sperm whale swim
🍽️ 19:00 – Dinner
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 4 – South Amami
🐋 08:00–14:30 – Sperm whale swim
🍖 19:00 – BBQ at Satahama Beach
🛏️ Overnight at Gori Marine House
DAY 5 – South to North Amami
🚐 6:00 - Departure from Kakeroma island
🛫 8:00 - Airport
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🐋 Time table of the day of "Whale Swim"
🕣 08:30- Departure from Gorimarine House (Kakeroma Island)
🕘 08:50 – Meet at Gori Marine Pier in Koniya
(Contact: Takuma Sato 📞080-6006-4630)
🛥️ 08:50 – Board the boat
🌊 09:00 – Depart for whale search & swim
Note: No set lunch break – please bring your own light meal or snacks.
🕝 15:00 – 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 ↔ 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.
🎒 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 30 days of swim date: 100% of whale swim fee charged
After March 31 2026: 50% of whale swim fee charged
After December 31 2025: 20% of whale swim fee charged
Before December 31 2025：No cancellation 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 scuba 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 November.
Please complete bank transfer payment by December 31.
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.
📸Sharing Photos and Videos
All photos and videos taken during the tour will be shared among all participants afterward.
This policy is to ensure that no one moves in front of other guests to take pictures.
Please respect others’ positions and avoid stepping ahead of them during shooting.
If another guest happens to be in a better position, kindly let them take the shot and enjoy observing from behind.
🌬️ 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.