About Us

Meet the Team

Our Shops

Our Sado and Niigata shops

Prices, staff, access and FAQs for each shop are on its own page.

Sado Shop

Higashi-odori, Sado City. Trial dives, fun dives and the open water dives of our PADI course. About 25 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port.

Visit the Sado Shop page →

Niigata Shop

Meike, Niigata City. Classroom and pool sessions for PADI courses, plus dive gear sales and maintenance.

Visit the Niigata Shop page →

Staff

The people who make Freeway feel like home

Our team has watched the seas of Sado for many years, and we guide you according to the season and the conditions of the day.

Hitoshi Sakuma

Freeway Owner

Guiding for 48 years

SpecialtyDraws on decades of experience to run safe, reassuring courses. Try dives and license courses are in good hands.

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer / Diving Technician (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) / Aqualung Equipment Maintenance / Mares Equipment Maintenance (Advanced)

Buoyancy AWARE Coral Conservation Project AWARE DEEP Drysuit Night Boat Navigation Kobudai

Favorite Dive PointsUnderwater Hot Spring, Negai, Mushizaki Benten Beach

Favorite Marine LifeChagara, Giant Trevally

HobbiesSurfing, Portuguese

"For 48 years, I've called these waters home. Dive here through all four seasons and you'll feel the ocean transform before your eyes. This is the authentic Japanese sea. Come in summer, and come back when the snow falls."

Akira Yabiki

Niigata Shop Manager

Guiding for 28 years

SpecialtyCan lead every course we offer. Dives full of smiles, and many guests come back again and again.

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer / EFR Instructor / Diving Technician (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) / ScubaPro Technical Maintenance / Aqualung Equipment Maintenance / Mares Equipment Maintenance (Expert)

Buoyancy AWARE Coral Conservation Project AWARE DEEP Drysuit Digital Photographer Boat Kobudai

Favorite Dive PointsHimezu Arch, Toragase

Favorite Marine LifeAsian Sheepshead Wrasse (Kobudai)

HobbiesSnowboarding, doing a very convincing No-Face impression (Spirited Away)

"Diving opens up a world you just can't get on land. Watching fish up close, snapping photos, floating weightless; everyone finds their own way to love it. Give it one try. Trust me, you'll be hooked."

Hiroyuki Koide

Sado Shop Manager

Guiding for 15 years

SpecialtyDives the seas of Sado all year round and knows the highlights of every season.

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer / EFR Instructor / Diving Technician (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) / Mares Equipment Maintenance (Expert)

Deep Drysuit Night Buoyancy Compass Navigation Project AWARE Naturalist AWARE Coral Conservation Kobudai Digital Camera

Favorite Dive PointsKatanoo, Himezu, Washizaki

Favorite Marine LifeLumpfish, Smooth Lumpsucker, Chagara, Nudibranchs, Seaweed colonies

HobbiesKyudo (4th Dan), Swimming

"I trained in the seas of Okinawa before coming to Sado, and I'm still not over this island. The quiet countryside above, the ever-changing underwater world below; every season brings something new. I'm here to share all of it with you. I mainly lead fun dives."

Hiroto Ando

Niigata Shop Staff

Guiding for 8 years

SpecialtyGreat with courses and first-time divers. Also knows cameras and dive equipment well.

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor / Diving Technician (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Buoyancy AWARE Coral Conservation Project AWARE Kobudai

Favorite Dive PointsMushizaki Beach

Favorite Marine LifeSchools of horse mackerel and sardines

HobbiesDiving, Cameras, Underwater photography

"I run most of our trial dives and certification courses. There's nothing better than watching someone see Sado's underwater world for the first time."

Masaharu Tsunoda

Sado Shop Support Staff

Guiding for 18 years

SpecialtyLoves leading fun dives and can guide you to areas all around the island.

PADI Divemaster / Diving Technician (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Favorite Dive PointsAkaiwa, Negai, Futatsugame

Favorite Marine LifeSchools of sardines, pelagic fish

HobbiesDrives with no destination, ramen shop hopping

"Come find me at the Sado shop in summer, and enjoy Sado's beautiful sea. For your milestone dives, I'll have all sorts of surprises ready, so look forward to that too!"