Pearl Divers at Mikimoto Island

Watch white-costumed Ama diving from a small boat

Cathy Cawood May 01, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>The divers putting on their masks</p>

<p>The divers used wooden tubs to hold their catch</p>

<p>The Ama diver throws the wooden tub overboard...  </p>

<p>She disappeared beneath the surface</p>

<p>The white of the Ama's costume looked almost ghostly under the water</p>

<p>This diver came up with a small sea urchin</p>

<p>Waving goodbye to the watching tourists</p>

<p>Comfortable room for watching the diving display</p>

<p>There are 8 dives scheduled throughout the day</p>

I loved Mikimoto Pearl Island! One of the things I really enjoyed was the diving display by the white-costumed Ama. Ise-Shima's female free divers played an important role in the birth of the cultured pearl industry. When I was there they collected shellfish and seaweed from the sea. The water was shallow because the tide was out, so we could see the divers moving beneath the water surface, and we were close enough to hear the distinctive whistling sound they make to control their breathing. There was a special room with English commentary and explanation available for a small fee.

More info

Find out more about Mikimoto Pearl Island.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...