Checking on a Juvenile Warty frogfish During a Research Dive!
Unfortunately, we didn't have any guests today, so I decided to go on a research dive in Kushimoto!
Today's main goals were to search for nudibranchs and check on the juvenile Warty frogfish that we recently discovered.
As soon as I entered the water, I headed straight to see the little Warty frogfish.
It was taking a walk along the rocky surface!
This little one seems to move around quite a lot. By the end of the dive, it appeared to have moved much farther down.
Next time, I'll need to search a wider area to find it again!
We haven't seen many frogfish in Kushimoto this year, so this is a particularly precious little individual.
I really hope it stays around for a long time!
Searching for Tiny Nudibranchs in Kushimoto!
After that, it was time to search for nudibranchs!
November marks the beginning of our Nudibranch Safari season. However, with different requests from our guests, I haven't had many opportunities to focus on nudibranch hunting recently.
So today was a good chance to get back into practice!
Once I started looking carefully, I found quite a variety of nudibranchs.
Most of them are still very small, so it's easy to overlook them unless you search closely.
One example was a tiny Verconia purpurea, measuring only about 1 mm!
When nudibranchs this small start appearing, nudibranch diving becomes even more exciting!
And there were plenty more tiny nudibranchs to discover! (^^)
I also spent some time checking on the Purple firegoby that I've been observing for a while.
Because of that, I couldn't spend the entire dive searching for nudibranchs.
Still, I think I've started to get a better idea of the depth range where many of them can currently be found.
I also spotted several nudibranchs belonging to the Thecacera group around Ectoprocta on the sandy bottom.
It looks like the season for Thecacera nudibranch is just around the corner!
Not Just Macro Life – Enjoying Schools of Fish in Kushimoto!
Before finishing the dive, I spent some time observing the schools of fish as well.
I recently replaced the underwater housing for my Ace Pro camera.
With the new, clear housing, the image quality has improved dramatically!
I realized that my old housing had been making the footage look slightly hazy.
It's amazing how much difference a simple underwater housing can make!
Enjoy Fun Diving in Kushimoto This November and December!
Starting tomorrow, we'll be welcoming guests again for more fun diving!
I'm really happy that so many guests are visiting us in November and December this year.
We've also been welcoming more international divers recently, and I can really feel that Kushimoto's underwater world is gradually becoming better known overseas.
From tiny macro creatures to beautiful schools of fish, there's so much to enjoy in Kushimoto!
The water temperature is still in the upper 24°C range, and some of our guests are still diving in wetsuits!
It can feel chilly on the boat, so warm clothing is important. However, current conditions still allow for wetsuit diving.
As we move further into the season, Kushimoto is becoming a great place to enjoy macro diving and search carefully for tiny creatures such as nudibranchs!
At Aqua Vista Kushimoto, we offer relaxed, small-group diving, so divers who enjoy taking their time observing macro life are always welcome.
For those who are trying a drysuit for the first time, we can also provide guidance on basic drysuit use and buoyancy control.
There's still plenty of great diving to enjoy in Kushimoto throughout November and December!
We hope you'll come and dive with us! (^^)
See you underwater!
Today's Diving Conditions
Weather: Sunny
Air Temperature: 14–21°C
Water Temperature: 24.4°C (Kushimoto / Boat Diving)
Visibility: 15 m (Kushimoto / Boat Diving)
It can be chilly in the early morning and evening, so warm clothing is essential for wetsuit divers when out of the water!
We also recommend wearing a thermal vest under your wetsuit.
If you get cold easily, a drysuit with lightweight thermal undergarments is recommended.
Recommended Exposure Protection
5 mm wetsuit + inner vest or Drysuit (for ocean diving in Kushimoto )
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.
