How to dive the non-Japanese way?

[moose_grunt]

After a couple of diving trips outside of Japan, I was reminded what its like to dive the non-Japanese way (i.e. buddy pairs). Coming back, I am greatly discouraged by the way my local shops dive. Only 3 or so dive points, and its the same thing, every time--you're in a guided group, with the instructor trying to hold your hand the whole time, no such thing as a buddy, and you're required to stay with the group, which usually means spending the entire 45 minutes in a 10 square meter area while everyone else takes pictures of umiushi (i dont really know what they are called in English...nudibranch? sea slug?). There seems to also be complete dependence upon the instructor/leader.

I asked about renting tanks--all of the dive shops say no, because the fishermen will get angry. (I also read a couple of old threads about this, seems to be the same stuff everywhere). So, short of buying a portable compressor, and some tanks, and going where the fishermen dont, does anyone have any sort of creative suggestions?


This isnt about criticizing the way they do things, or trying to draw deep social commentary. I merely wonder, has anyone found a way to get around this group mentality/Japanese way of diving?

Besides going to Okinawa or Tokyo (or leaving the country), that is..

 

[japan-diver]

We are lucky in Okinawa that renting tanks is easy and diving wherever you want is acceptable. We also allow buddy diving off our boat when requested. We have a few friends from up north that have found there way around the Japanese way of doing things by forming a dive club and registering the DMs with the shops to rent tanks and dive on their own as the club renting tanks and not an individual.

 

[fdog]

<snip>
We also allow buddy diving off our boat when requested. <snip>

Wow.

Not attempting to be a social comment or disrespectful in any way. I'm well aware that different countries have different values and respect those values (I place about 8 different countries in my passport every year). And I'm glad that the folks in Okinawa are so nice.

Just placing Japan on my list of countries with...issues... when it comes to diving, like France. Thanks for the heads up.


All the best, James

 

[mongodives]

fdog, you quoted an American

 

[moose_grunt]

These friends who made their own club--did they do this to avoid the problem with fishermen, or a problem with the dive shop itself? Just trying to figure out how one would best pitch it to the shop....I'm still not entirely sure if the whole fishermen getting angry thing is the truth, or a load of BS so i haaaaave to pay them 14000 yen every time I want to go diving, instead of just whatever exorbitant amount they will charge me for tank rental....

 

[Geoff_H]

There are many places in Izu at least that allow you to dive without guides. As long as you have someone with a divemaster/instructror card in your dive group the shops are happy to rent tanks out to you.

That is the key part of "forming your own dive group/club" - getting a bunch of regular divers qualified up to DM and most of your problems with go away.

 

[HakoFugu]

There are also a number of places in Izu that will rent tanks to those holding OW cards, with no need for a DM. Futo, IOP, Mera (but Mera may require AOW. Not sure), & Osezaki, for example.

Maybe we should try to compile a comprehensive list of such places? Can anyone else offer up some more?

 

[Mar Scuba]

You need to be "qualified" at IOP, otherwise, they will refer you to a shop.

For the DMs/Instructors at the sites that we use, they must be registered, i.e. copies of professional level certification card and proof of insurance.

Ping me off the board and I can give you more info. But it would help to know your location.

On our tours, we allow buddy diving IF you can demonstrate navigation skills...up to the discretion of the leading DM/Instructor.

All the best,

 

[bill22]

We always take our own tanks (we have our own compressor), so we don't run into those issues. I doubt I would dive much here otherwise since most shops charge too much money for me to dive very often. I would save my money for trips instead (as many Japanese I've met do)

We dive Hayama frequently (almost every weekend), Tokyo Bay regularly (doesn't count it's from the base), and have been making a monthly trip to Izu recently and have had no issues.

As has been mentioned though, I have heard that there are many places in Izu that will rent you tanks. I've heard 1500-2000 yen for tank rental. Maybe someone knows a place that is cheaper?

Of course the dive shops charge what they do because they are "holding" your hand through the whole dive

I've got close to 400 dives now... I agree that mindset on the part of the dive shops that they need to hold my hand, would be a little irritating to me if I was forced to deal with it

Fortunately I don't

Diving Hayama this weekend and planning a trip to Okinawa next month

 

[japan-diver]

Here in Okinawa tank rental goes for from Y500- Y1500 a tank on the main island with Y2000 + on some of the outer islands if you can rent at all on some of them. We rent for Y500 a tank.