Frequently Asked Questions

Cancellation fees apply when you cancel at your convenience. 2 days before: 30% of the total charge, 1 day before: 50%, same day: 100%. No cancellation fee applies if diving is cancelled due to bad weather.

All courses, dives, and trial diving can be booked on any day, weekday or holiday, as long as an instructor and facility are available.

Fun diving in Sado is based on 2 dives per day, considering ferry travel times. If you'd like more, please let us know when booking.

First car ferry: Niigata dep. 6:00 → Sado arr. 8:30. First jetfoil: Niigata dep. 7:55 → Sado arr. 9:02. We generally recommend the first car ferry, but the jetfoil may work during winter or when schedules allow, especially for group bookings.

For fun dives and trial dives, payment is accepted on-site in cash or PayPay. If you prefer credit card, please let us know when booking. Equipment purchases at either shop can be paid by cash, credit card, or PayPay.

When wearing a wetsuit, natural buoyancy keeps you afloat, so you won't sink. Even those who aren't confident swimmers can participate with peace of mind.

Absolutely. About 70% of our course participants come alone. We operate in small groups, so solo participants are always welcome and well supported.

Trial diving is available for ages 10 and up. Parents/guardians must wait where they can see their child.

Yes, it's possible. A parent/guardian must accompany them on-site and be present from the briefing through the end. Please watch from a visible location while your child is diving.

Anyone aged 10 or older can participate. However, those aged 60 and above or with health concerns must submit a doctor's medical clearance certificate in advance.

Please review the medical history form for past and current conditions before applying. If any items apply, contact us at 025-250-0181 (Niigata Shop). A doctor's examination may be required.

You can dive while wearing soft contact lenses. Since there are skills that require opening your eyes underwater, we recommend bringing spare lenses. Prescription masks are also available for rent. 1-day disposable contacts are recommended.

Yes, we have prescription masks available. Please let us know when you sign up.

We "recommend" one computer per diver. In our experience, about 80% of divers from beginners to advanced wear one. Rental is available for ¥1,000 per day.

Mid-July to mid-October (about 3 months) with a 5mm wetsuit. Outside this period, a drysuit is required.

Please send to: 1211-3 Higashi-Odori, Sado City, Niigata 952-1307, TEL: 0259-52-5781, Attn: Freeway. Please also write your dive reservation date on the shipping label.

Both shops sell equipment. Items not in stock can be ordered (product cost + shipping from ¥880). We also sell underwater camera equipment and can take wetsuit measurements.

Yes. Please check our equipment maintenance page for pricing and estimated turnaround times.

In Sado, we return to port for a break after every dive. 90% of dive points are reached within 3 to 15 minutes from port. Even those prone to seasickness can feel at ease.

Please use the Niigata to Ryotsu ferry route. The jetfoil takes about 1 hour, and the regular ferry takes about 2.5 hours.

Travel time is longer and ferry schedules don't align well, so we recommend the Niigata–Ryotsu route. If you can meet/depart independently with a rental car, we can accommodate.

If we can visit the "Akaiwa" or "Shipwreck" points at Kitakoura, there's about a 90% chance of seeing them.

"Kitakoura," "Ogi," "Mushizaki," and "Katanoo" have warm-water shower rooms. "Himetsu," "Benten," "Suizu," "Futatsugame," and "Washizaki" do not have shower rooms (water hose available). No hair dryers on-site; please bring your own if needed.

Absolutely. The evening before your dive, the Sado shop will contact you with the meeting location and time.

Shuttle service is only available on diving days.

Yes. However, in some cases you may get a better deal booking directly using discount campaigns, etc.

Sado is very large and shuttle service may not reach some areas. The "Ryotsu–Kanai–Mano–Sawata" corridor has the most options and is within our shuttle range.

Ryotsu area: Lakeside Inn Yoshidaya, Hotel New Katsura, Yutakaya Ryokan, Hotel Shishiya, Minami Ryokan, Hotel Amanogawaso, Kanazawaya Ryokan
Kanai area: Tabi no Hotel Sado, Inn Fukurou
Mano area: Goen no Yado Itoya Ryokan, Nagahamaso, Hachimankaku
Sawata area: Ryokan Urashima, Iseya Ryokan, Guest House Third Place, Guest Villa on the Bi-ichi, HOSTEL perch, Sado Onsen Ryokan Irumi, Kinnaga Ryokan

Mid-July to mid-October is the busiest period. We recommend taking courses between April and June, so you can enjoy the peak season (July–September) while your skills are still fresh.

Guests arrange their own transportation. The pool is about a 10-minute walk from Niigata Station's south exit.

Reissue fee: ¥6,770 (tax included). Please visit the nearest shop for reissue procedures. Bring one 3cm x 4cm ID photo. Name changes due to marriage are also possible.

You can book the same way as fun diving. Just let us know about your break when booking. The most common option is 2 beach dives for a refresher.