Watching Barred-chin blenny Courtship Behavior in a Tide Pool
It was a windy day with strong easterly winds and some swell reaching the coast.
However, none of that mattered today because we were exploring one of Kushimoto’s hidden treasures — a tide pool.
Tide pools are shallow areas that remain filled with seawater during low tide.
They are protected from waves and are full of fascinating marine life.
As long as the tides are right, they provide a great opportunity to observe underwater creatures up close.
Our main goal today was to observe the courtship behavior of Barred-chin blenny.
This is currently their breeding season, and we were hoping to witness the males displaying their breeding colors and attracting females.
As soon as we arrived, we found several males with dark-colored faces, showing clear breeding coloration.
The males were actively poking their bodies out of their nesting holes, searching for females.
Their behavior was surprisingly charming to watch.
Males that had secured a good nest were busy trying to attract potential mates, while others were engaged in territorial disputes over nesting sites.
At first glance, some individuals looked as if they were peacefully sitting together, but they were actually staring each other down and defending their territory.
Unfortunately, we did not manage to capture the exact moment when a male and female entered a nest together. However, we were able to observe and photograph several males actively displaying to passing females.
Watching them stretch their bodies out of their nests as if saying, “Over here!” was one of the highlights of the day.
We waited for quite a while, hoping for more action, but around noon the fish seemed more interested in feeding than courtship.
Eventually, we decided to call it a day and leave the rest for another visit.
The Barred-chin blenny were not the only active animals in the tide pool.
Blennies and hermit crabs were also busy throughout the area.
We even observed a blenny displaying breeding colors while attempting to court a female.
One particularly memorable moment was watching a hermit crab move into a new shell.
While waiting for the Barred-chin blenny to continue their courtship displays, we looked down and discovered an entirely different drama unfolding on the seafloor.
One of the best things about tide pools is that you do not need scuba equipment to enjoy them. Even non-divers can join with basic snorkeling gear and experience a surprisingly rich underwater world.
Because tide pool tours are only possible around spring tides, opportunities are limited. Our next tide pool tours are expected to run between June 29 and July 3.
If you are interested in observing marine life behavior up close, this is a unique seasonal experience in Kushimoto that should not be missed.
We look forward to exploring Kushimoto’s fascinating tide pools again soon! 🌊😊
Today’s Conditions (Kushimoto Tide Pool)
- Weather: Cloudy with occasional rain
- Air Temperature: 20–23°C
- Visibility: Good
- Water Temperature: Not measured (tide pool)
- Recommended Exposure Protection: 5mm wetsuit
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Announcements
◾️Event Information
• Tide Pool Barred-chin blenny Photo Tour confirmed!
• Coral Spawning Observation Night Diving Confirmed!
◾️ Diving Tour
•Shiretoko Drift Ice Diving Tour 2027, Hokkaido | Join On-Site in Shiretoko
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◾️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.
