International Diving Team in Kushimoto
Today, we enjoyed boat fun diving in Kushimoto with guests from Canada and Malaysia.
The water temperature dropped slightly compared to yesterday, but it remains stable at around 21–22°C. Conditions are still comfortable for diving.
Although today was not a dedicated nudibranch dive, the experience from the past few days really helped. After spending time focusing on nudibranchs, they started to stand out more naturally underwater. It’s interesting how your “eyes” improve with practice.
Nudibranchs Are Increasing
Since the end of last month, we’ve been seeing more Goniobranchus collingwoodi .
They come in a wide range of sizes, from less than 1 cm to over 1 cm. Smaller individuals sometimes don’t show their full coloration yet, but as they grow to around 1 cm, their colors become more visible—just like in the photos.
Observing these changes over time makes diving even more interesting. Just like fish, nudibranchs have different stages of growth, and noticing these differences adds another layer of enjoyment.
A Rare Encounter Continues
One of the highlights recently has been Cyerce kikutarobabai.
It has now stayed in the exact same spot for multiple days—an unusually long time. It barely moves, which makes us wonder what’s going on, but it also gives us a rare chance to observe it closely.
We’ve been introducing this individual for three consecutive days now. It’s not something you see often, so we hope you don’t mind!
Unfortunately, we won’t be able to check on it for the next two days due to Open Water courses. Hopefully, it will still be there by the weekend.
More Variety Underwater
As the water temperature reaches the 22°C range, it feels like the number of nudibranch species is increasing rapidly.
Could this be the return of nudibranch season in Kushimoto?
Even on the last dive of the day, we encountered several species. Just before ascending, we found a Doto Japonica. It might be a sign that our ability to spot them is improving!
Changes in Fish Life
For fish lovers, we are also seeing more Chromis chrysura.
Since the water temperature didn’t drop much this winter, it seems that more juvenile tropical species have successfully overwintered compared to last year.
This could mean we might start seeing more of these species grow into adults in Kushimoto.
The Ocean is Changing
With the Kuroshio Current approaching the coast this year, Kushimoto’s underwater environment is showing noticeable changes compared to last year.
Experiencing these differences year by year is one of the unique joys of diving here.
Join Us in Kushimoto
We welcome inquiries for:
- Nudibranch-focused dives
- Slow-paced photo diving
There are still some available dates during Golden Week, so feel free to contact us for schedule inquiries.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Kushimoto’s underwater world and create unforgettable memories during your visit to Japan.
-
Today’s Ocean Conditions
Weather: Sunny
Air Temperature: 12-22°C
Water Temperature: 20.0-21.4°C
Visibility :10m
Recommended Suit:
Shell drysuit (inner layer ;Thin undergarment + inner shirts& pants)
or
Neoprene drysuit (inner layer; Thin undergarment + inner shirts& pants )
or
6.5mm Wetsuit
Announcements
◾️Event Information
• Tide Pool Barred-chin blenny Photo Tour confirmed!
◾️Media
• We are one of the guide shops responsible for posting seasonal ocean updates from Kushimoto on “海旬”.
• Instagram is regularly updated!
• Our YouTube channel is now available!
• A video of Japanese Giant Salamander was featured by diving_partner on their platform.
