Fun Diving with a Returning Guest After One Year
Today, we enjoyed fun diving in the Kushimoto area.
We had strong easterly winds throughout the day, but easterly winds usually do not have a major impact on the Kushimoto area, so we were able to enjoy all three dives without any problems.
We were starting to feel a little swell from the typhoon, but the visibility was around 20m and the water was incredibly clear♪
It was bright underwater, making for a very pleasant day of diving (^^)
Today’s guest was a returning diver from China who comes to visit us every year.
It really makes me happy that he travels all the way to Kushimoto to dive with us every year♪
Diving gives us the chance to build connections like this with people from overseas. Moments like this make me really glad that I learned to speak English!!
On our first dive of the day, we were welcomed by a huge school of Striped barracuda!!
It was like Kushimoto’s own school of barracuda!!! Seeing so many together was an amazing sight!
And of course, this was exactly when my action camera ran out of battery.....
I did my best with my compact camera, but the only way I could show the size of the school was to fill the entire frame with fish...
So frustrating (><)
After that, the two of us took our time and enjoyed some relaxed macro photo diving.
We had another little camera problem when the battery ran out on the second dive, but our guest still had plenty of time to enjoy underwater photography over all three dives (^^)
Hypselodoris bullockii can often be seen at dive sites on the northern side of Kushimoto Bay.
Today, we found two of them mating. Thinking about it, I don't remember seeing Hypselodoris bullockii mating very often.
It was a lucky encounter!!
Because of the high water temperatures this year, we have started to see some bleached anemones.
They can look beautiful in photos, but unfortunately, bleaching is not a good sign for the anemones...
It gives us mixed feelings, but documenting these conditions through photography is also important as a record of what the ocean looks like this year.
You can capture the white color of the anemone even with a compact camera!!!
Why not enter a photo of juvenile anemone fish with a bleached anemone in this year’s photo contest?
Entries for the Kushimoto Underwater Photo Contest will open on November 1!!!
We are also gradually starting to see marine life that shows the changing season underwater.
It had been a while since I last found Phycocaris simulans. We found a female carrying eggs, so there may be males nearby as well.
We found her just before exiting the water, so we didn't have enough time to search today. I’d like to look again on our next dive.
This is also a great time of year to see plenty of cute juvenile fish.
Today, we found the popular Mayer's dragonet. It was a tiny individual, around 1cm in size!!
I love this fish because of the adorable way it moves along the bottom, almost as if it is taking little steps.
When they are small, their eyes look especially big compared with their bodies, which makes them even cuter (^^)
Today was a great day of diving, with everything from wide-angle scenes in the morning to tiny macro subjects.
Visibility is great right now, so both wide-angle and macro photography are a lot of fun♪
The wind is forecast to become a little calmer tomorrow, and the weather should improve as well.
If we get some sunshine with this visibility, the conditions should be fantastic!!!
I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s dives♪
October Diving in Kushimoto
We are now into October, but the ocean is still warm this year, with water temperatures staying around 25°C!!
When warmer offshore water comes into the area, the temperature can sometimes rise above 26°C. With good protection from the cold while on the boat, diving in a wetsuit can still be comfortable.
We also have boat coats available for rent, so please feel free to use them and come enjoy Kushimoto’s marine life with us!
Please feel free to contact us to check availability for fun diving in Kushimoto!!
See you underwater!
Today’s Diving Conditions
Weather: Sunny
Air Temperature: 17–22°C
Water Temperature: 24.5–25.0°C (Kushimoto)
Visibility: 20m (Kushimoto)
Recommended Exposure Protection
5 mm wetsuit (for ocean diving)
Announcements
◾️ Diving Tour
• Shiretoko Drift Ice Diving Tour 2027, Hokkaido | Join On-Site in Shiretoko
◾️ Event Information
• Drysuit Diving in Kushimoto | Free Drysuit Rental Campaign 2026
• Nudibranch Safari in Kushimoto | Seasonal Macro Diving Event
◾️ 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.
