Tsunami Advisory Issued in Kushimoto
The weather was absolutely perfect today, and it looked like it was going to be a fantastic day for diving.
Just as we were getting ready, however, emergency sirens suddenly started sounding.
Due to an earthquake that occurred near the Philippines, a tsunami advisory was issued for the Pacific coast of Japan.
Unfortunately, we had to cancel all diving activities for the day, including dives for guests who had traveled all the way from Thailand and Osaka to visit us.
We sincerely apologize to everyone who came to dive with us today.
In Kushimoto, local diving operators follow a safety policy that requires all diving activities to be suspended whenever a tsunami advisory or warning is issued. Safety always comes first, and we appreciate your understanding should a similar situation ever occur during your visit.
Since we were unable to go diving today, I would like to take this opportunity to share a recent trip I made to Shakotan, Hokkaido.
Exploring the Underwater World of Shakotan
Earlier this month, I made a quick trip to Shakotan, Hokkaido, to scout locations for a future dive tour.
One of Shakotan’s most famous underwater attractions is its spectacular columnar rock formations. Although the water was not at its clearest due to the seasonal spring plankton bloom, the dramatic underwater landscape was truly impressive.
But the scenery isn’t the only highlight.
One of the local underwater celebrities is Fringed blenny. While taking photos, this curious fish suddenly appeared and repeatedly swam straight toward my camera lens. It was incredibly friendly and entertaining to watch.
It kept swimming closer and closer, making photography surprisingly challenging!
If you’re a fan of unique fish behavior, this is definitely a species you’ll want to meet in person.
Kelp Forests and Northern Seascapes
Shakotan also offers many underwater scenes that are unique to Hokkaido.
One of my favorites was a vast area covered with スダレコンブ（kelp).
Large kelp plants stretched down the rocky slopes, creating beautiful underwater landscapes that are rarely seen in southern Japan.
Along the way, we also visited an area with colorful coral communities, proving that even northern waters can offer surprisingly vibrant underwater scenery.
Between the kelp forests, 
Sargassum piluliferum was growing abundantly, and we found eggs of Hypoptychus dybowskii attached to the seaweed.
Shakotan is not only great for wide-angle photography but also offers plenty of fascinating macro subjects. During autumn, divers can even observe spawning and parental care behaviors of Hexagrammos otakii and Pleurogrammus azonus.
I would love to organize a tour there in the future.
Incredible Macro Life
During this trip, I was also lucky enough to see Liparis punctulatus.
And finally, here’s something truly fascinating.
The photo below shows fish eggs belonging to a member of the ガジ group.
The image was captured through a microscope, revealing an incredible level of detail.
It’s hard to believe these are actually fish eggs!
A Destination Worth Visiting
From dramatic underwater topography to fascinating macro life, Shakotan offers an incredible variety of diving experiences.
There are also opportunities to dive in Lake Shikotsu, another famous dive destination in Hokkaido. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the lake this time, but I hope to explore it on my next trip.
A huge thank you to Nishimura-san from Robinson Diving Service for hosting me during this visit.
I truly appreciate the warm welcome and excellent guidance.
We would love to organize a Shakotan diving tour in the future. If you’re interested in joining, please feel free to contact us.
We are also planning a Hokkaido drift ice diving expedition from late February next year.
More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!
Thank you for reading, and see you underwater!
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Announcements
◾️Event Information
• Tide Pool Barred-chin blenny Photo Tour confirmed!
• Coral Spawning Observation Night Diving 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.
