& Ocean
【&Ocean Tour Schedule 2027】
Join a full tour or take part on individual days.
① Tour 1 | June 26–30
June 26 (Sat) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
June 27 (Sun) DAY 2 — Diving in southern Amami (Mystery Circle under construction)
June 28 (Mon) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
June 29 (Tue) DAY 4 — Sperm whale swim
June 30 (Wed) DAY 5 — Departure
② Tour 2 | June 30–July 5
June 30 (Wed) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 1 (Thu) DAY 2 — Diving in southern Amami (Mystery Circle after spawning)
July 2 (Fri) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 3 (Sat) DAY 4 — Sperm whale swim
July 4 (Sun) DAY 5 — Sperm whale swim
July 5 (Mon) DAY 6 — Departure
③ Tour 3 | July 5–9
July 5 (Mon) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 6 (Tue) DAY 2 — Diving in southern Amami
July 7 (Wed) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 8 (Thu) DAY 4 — Sperm whale swim
July 9 (Fri) DAY 5 — Departure
④ Tour 4 | July 9–13
July 9 (Fri) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 10 (Sat) DAY 2 — Sperm whale swim
July 11 (Sun) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 12 (Mon) DAY 4 — Diving in southern Amami (Mystery Circle construction beginning)
July 13 (Tue) DAY 5 — Departure
⑤ Tour 5 | July 14–19
July 14 (Wed) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 15 (Thu) DAY 2 — Diving in southern Amami (Mystery Circle expected to be complete)
July 16 (Fri) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 17 (Sat) DAY 4 — Sperm whale swim
July 18 (Sun) DAY 5 — Sperm whale swim
July 19 (Mon) DAY 6 — Departure
⑥ Tour 6 | July 19–23
July 19 (Mon) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 20 (Tue) DAY 2 — Diving in southern Amami
July 21 (Wed) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 22 (Thu) DAY 4 — Sperm whale swim
July 23 (Fri) DAY 5 — Departure
⑦ Tour 7 | July 23–27
July 23 (Fri) DAY 1 — Arrival followed by diving in northern Amami (mandarin fish spawning)
July 24 (Sat) DAY 2 — Sperm whale swim
July 25 (Sun) DAY 3 — Sperm whale swim
July 26 (Mon) DAY 4 — Diving in southern Amami (Mystery Circle construction beginning)
July 27 (Tue) DAY 5 — Departure
Pricing
Full Tour:
5days From JPY 142,600
6days from JPY 186,500
Price Details
① Diving on Arrival Day (Northern Area)
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1 boat dive: JPY 12,500
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2 boat dives: JPY 20,000
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Additional Night dive (Mandarin fish):JPY 15,000
② Diving in the Southern Area
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3 boat dives: JPY 27,500
③ Scuba Equipment Rental (per day)
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Full set: JPY 11,000
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BCD & regulator set: JPY 6,600
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Wetsuit: JPY 2,200
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Mask / Fins: JPY 1,100 each
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Dive computer: JPY 2,200
④ &Ocean Sperm Whale Challenge Fee
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Sperm whale swim: JPY 34,000 per day
(Charter tour: minimum 5 people, maximum 8 people)
⑤ Whale Swim Equipment Rental(per day)
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Full set (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit): JPY 4,400
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Light set (mask, fins, snorkel): JPY 2,200
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Single item (mask, fins, snorkel): JPY 1,100 each
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Wetsuit only: JPY 2,200
⑥ Accommodation
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Day 1: Hotel Caretta JPY 9,900/pp
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Day 2: Gori Marine House JPY 9,900/pp
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Day 3: Gori Marine House JPY 9,900/pp
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Day 4: Gori Marine House JPY 9,900/pp
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:
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Raivest Inn
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Sunflower City Hotel
⑦ Transfers
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Day 1: Airport → Southern area: JPY 3,000/pp
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Final day: Southern area → Airport: JPY 3,000/pp
Additional Costs
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Flights (to be arranged individually)
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Meals not included in the itinerary
(actual cost, paid individually or shared) -
Rental car fees, if required
【Detailed Tour Itinerary】
DAY 1【Diving in Northern Amami】
The following daytime diving options are available:
Arrive at Kise Fishing Port by 8:40 am: 3 dives, including lunch.*
Arrive at Amami Airport by 11:00 am: 2 dives, including lunch.*
Arrive at Amami Airport by 1:30 pm: 1 dive, without lunch.*
An additional dive may be available, depending on the day’s schedule and conditions.
5:00 pm — Check in at Hotel Caretta in Tatsugo.
6:30 pm — Dusk dive to look for spawning mandarin fish.
8:30 pm — Dinner in Tatsugo.
Overnight at Hotel Caretta.
Please travel to Kise Fishing Port by arranged transfer or rental car. For airport pickups, a Neverland staff member may collect you.
DAY 2【Diving in Southern Amami】
7:00 am — Check out, followed by breakfast at the hotel.
7:40 am — Depart from the hotel.
9:30 am — Arrive in Koniya.
9:30 am–3:00 pm — 3 boat dives, including lunch.
3:00 pm — Disembark at the Suri Beach jetty in front of Gori Marine House, or in Koniya. The day’s diving activities finish here.
6:30 pm — Dinner.
Overnight at Gori Marine House.
DAY 3【Sperm Whale Swim in Southern Amami】
7:30 am — Breakfast at Gori Marine House.
8:30 am — Depart from the Suri Beach jetty for the sperm whale swim.
3:00 pm — Return to the Suri Beach jetty, followed by free time.
6:30 pm — Dinner.
Overnight at Gori Marine House.
DAY 4/5【Sperm Whale Swim in Southern Amami】
7:30 am — Breakfast at Gori Marine House.
8:30 am–3:00 pm — Sperm whale swim.
6:30 pm — Beach barbecue at Suri Beach.
Overnight at Gori Marine House.
DAY 5/6【Departure: Southern Amami → Airport】
6:00 am — Take a water taxi to Koniya, followed by a vehicle transfer to the airport, arriving at approximately 8:00 am.
Alternatively, you may arrange your own transport to the airport.
【Whale Swim Schedule for Day Participants】
8:50 am — Meet at the Gori Marine boarding point in Koniya and board the boat.
Takuma’s mobile: +81 80 6006 4630
9:00 am — Depart to search for sperm whales and swim with them.
There is no scheduled lunch break. Please bring your own lunch and eat whenever convenient.
3:00 pm — Return to port. A hot shower and changing facilities are available on board. The day’s activities finish here.
The return and finish times may vary depending on sea conditions and the whales’ behaviour. If you need to be back by 3:00 pm or another specific time, please discuss this with us in advance.
【Transfers, Rental Cars and Buses】
Transfers
Transfers between the airport and southern Amami can be arranged when available, at ¥3,000 per person per day.
Rental cars
Please arrange a rental car if our transfer times do not suit you, if you are staying at a hotel in Koniya, or if you would like to explore independently.
The following options are available:
Pick up a car at the airport on your first day and return it there on your final day.
Pick up a car at the airport on your first day and return it in Koniya. On your final day, rent another car in Koniya and return it at the airport.
Please note that Amami Nankoku Rent-a-Car is the only company offering one-way rentals between the airport and southern Amami (Koniya). Early booking is recommended.
Website: https://hd-amami.com/
Shima Bus
Since June 2024, there has been no direct Shima Bus service between Koniya and the airport. A change of buses in Naze is required. Please check your connections carefully when planning your journey.
🎒 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.