& Ocean
&Ocean Schedule (2026)
1st Tour
June 15 (Mon) – June 19 (Fri)
DAY1 (Jun 15): Arrival & Northern Amami Diving
DAY2 (Jun 16): Southern Amami Diving
DAY3 (Jun 17): Whale Swim
DAY4 (Jun 18): Whale Swim
DAY5 (Jun 19): Departure
2nd Tour
June 19 (Fri) – June 23 (Tue)
DAY1 (Jun 19): Arrival & Northern Amami Diving
DAY2 (Jun 20): Southern Amami Diving
DAY3 (Jun 21): Whale Swim
DAY4 (Jun 22): Whale Swim
DAY5 (Jun 23): Departure
3rd Tour
June 23 (Tue) – June 27 (Sat)
DAY1 (Jun 23): Arrival & Northern Amami Diving
DAY2 (Jun 24): Southern Amami Diving
DAY3 (Jun 25): Whale Swim
DAY4 (Jun 26): Whale Swim
DAY5 (Jun 27): Departure by rental car or other means (no transfer service)
4th Tour(★FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING GUESTS★）
June 26 (Fri) – June 29 (Mon)
DAY1 (Jun 26): Arrival & Drive to Koniya (Rent a car on your own)
DAY2 (Jun 27): Whale Swim
DAY3 (Jun 28): Whale Swim
DAY4 (Jun 29): Departure
👉 You may join the full tour or participate on a day-by-day basis.
Pricing
① &Ocean Sperm Whale Challenge
¥34,000 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
Set (mask, fins, snorkel) ¥2,200
Individual items (mask, fins, snorkel) ¥1,100 each
Wetsuit ¥2,200
Additional Costs
① Airfare
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To be arranged individually by participants
② Accommodation
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Day 1: Gori Marine House (with breakfast) – ¥9,900
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Day 2: Gori Marine House (with 2 meals) – ¥13,200
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Day 3: Gori Marine House (with 2 meals) – ¥13,200
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Day 4: Gori Marine House (with dinner) – ¥12,100
Single room supplement: +¥1,100 per night
For tour participants, &Ocean will arrange reservations at Gori Marine House, located in Suri-hama, Kakeroma Island.
Alternatively, you may book your own hotel around Koniya.
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Guests staying in Koniya will finish the activity at the port (tour ends there).
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A rental car is required for transfers between the port and hotels.
Recommended accommodations in Koniya area:
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Livest Inn Koniya
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Sunflower City Hotel Koniya
③ North Amami Diving Fee (on arrival day)
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1 boat dive: ¥12,500
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2 boat dives: ¥19,500 (including lunch)
④ Kakeroma Diving Fee(Day2)
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3 boat dives: ¥27,500 (including lunch)
⑤ Rental Diving Equipment (per day)
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Full set: ¥9,900
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BCD + Regulator set: ¥5,500
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Wetsuit: ¥2,200
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Mask, Fins: ¥1,100 each
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Dive Computer: ¥2,200
⑥ Dinner on day1 and Drink
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At own expense (individual payment or shared cost)
⑦ Rental Car
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If necessary, at own expense
🗓️ 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: 70% of whale swim fee charged
After December 31 2025: 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 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.
🌬️ 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.