Nine scuba divers were rescued after being carried away by strong currents during a cold-water dive off Wakkanai in northern Hokkaido, Japan.
The group, which included seven divers and two instructors from Wakkanai Diving Service, entered the water at around 9.30 am for a Steller’s sea lion watching tour off Bentenjima, a small rocky islet off the coast of Wakkanai.
They were due to surface at approximately 10.00 am but failed to return to the boat at the planned time and location.
The dive operator contacted the Japan Coast Guard’s 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters at around 11.00 am. A search operation was launched involving Coast Guard patrol boats and aircraft, a Hokkaido Police helicopter and local fishing vessels.
The nine divers were located at approximately 1.30 pm, floating together around 5.4km southeast of their intended exit point. They were recovered by the police helicopter and nearby fishing boats and taken to Wakkanai port.
All nine were conscious and uninjured. Three of the divers – two men in their 50s and one woman in her 70s – were taken to hospital as a precaution for possible hypothermia but were later released with no serious issues.
In a statement following the rescue, Yabe Hiroshi, owner of Wakkanai Diving Service and the instructor who was guiding the divers on the day, said:
‘The direction the captain was watching and the direction we surfaced were opposite, so we drifted without being noticed. Communication wasn’t smooth enough. We are very sorry for the worry and inconvenience caused.’
Bentenjima is situated at the northern tip of Hokkaido, the most northerly of Japan’s four main islands, where the Sea of Japan meets the Sea of Okhotsk, driving nutrient-rich waters to the region.
Sea temperatures typically range from around 2-6°C in early spring to approximately 15-20°C in late summer, with strong, variable currents developing around exposed coastal features.
The area is known for kelp-dominated reefs and marine life, including Steller’s sea lions and seals, but conditions can change rapidly during a dive.
The company said operations have been temporarily suspended while it reviews procedures following the incident.
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