South Izu beaches, part 3: rocky coves for confident swimmers
Hirizo, Kumomi and the rocky west: snorkelling spots with few or no facilities, where you need to plan and take care.
The last part of our series is for confident swimmers and snorkellers. These coves have rocks instead of sand, few or no facilities, and in return some of the clearest water and richest sea life in Izu.
Hirizo (Minami-Izu)
Reached only by a short summer boat from Nakagi. No facilities at all. See our Hirizo guide.
Kumomi (Matsuzaki)
A small pebble beach on the west coast at the foot of Mount Eboshi, a steep little hill with a shrine at the top and a view along the coast. The rocks around the bay are good for snorkelling on calm days, and the west coast faces the sunset.
Safety first
- Never snorkel alone; tell someone where you are going.
- Wear water shoes or fins with booties: rocks are sharp and sea urchins are common.
- Check the forecast and the swell: the open coast can change quickly, especially when a typhoon is passing far away.
- A life jacket or a snorkel vest makes long swims much safer.
Back to part 1, easy family beaches.
