Two Dive Groups Enjoying a Beautiful Day in Kushimoto!
We had perfect weather and excellent sea conditions in Kushimoto today!
It was also quite warm from the morning, and wearing a drysuit almost made us sweat!
On such a beautiful diving day, we split into two groups. One group enjoyed a drysuit orientation dive, while the other joined a Japanese-exclusive specialty course called "ウミウシとの遊び方SP" (Learning How to Find and Enjoy Nudibranchs)!
First-Time Drysuit Diving in Kushimoto!
Our drysuit orientation program combines a beach dive to practice the basic skills of using a drysuit with a fun boat dive.
Even if you've never used a drysuit before, you can start by practicing in shallow water before heading out on the boat. It's a great way to feel comfortable and confident on your first drysuit dive!
Today's guest was using a drysuit for the first time, but look at that relaxed peace sign!!!
Drysuit diving has been very popular this year♪
We hope more divers will come and experience how comfortable drysuit diving can be!
Learning How to Find Nudibranchs with International Guests!
Meanwhile, I was in charge of the "ウミウシとの遊び方SP" specialty course!
Our guests were a diver who came all the way from South Korea specifically for diving and another guest from China who has been staying with us for an extended period.
We spent the day practicing how to find nudibranchs together!
Nudibranch diving is already fun when your guide finds them for you. But once you learn how to find them yourself, it becomes even more exciting!
During today's course, we learned about the food sources and habitats that nudibranchs prefer. Then, our guests practiced searching for them on their own.
Once you understand where to look and what to look for, even the rocks and seaweed you've passed by many times before start to look completely different!
It had been a while since I'd done a dive focused entirely on nudibranchs, so I got completely absorbed in searching for them too! (^^)
One of the nudibranchs we found was Tambja sagamiana .
I thought it was a fairly large juvenile, but our guests said, "TOO SMALL!" (^^;)
It seems my sense of what counts as a large nudibranch is still a little different from everyone else's! Haha!
During the first dive, I explained what different nudibranchs eat and where we might find them.
Then, on the second dive, it was time to put that knowledge into practice!
Both guests were carefully examining the rocks, almost as if they were licking every surface with their eyes!
They really seemed to enjoy searching for nudibranchs themselves♪
By the second dive, their eyes had become more accustomed to spotting these tiny creatures, and we managed to find a variety of nudibranchs!
Tiny Nudibranchs We Found in Kushimoto Today!
Let's take a look at some of the tiny creatures we found, starting with the smallest!
Stylocheilus striatusg
First up is Stylocheilus striatus.
We found this tiny juvenile sitting on Bugula neritina.
However, this species is supposed to feed on seaweed, so it was probably just passing through.
I think it was only about 2 mm long!
Just look at those tiny eyes. So cute!
Verconia simplex
Next is Verconia simplex.
Its cute, fluffy-looking body makes it a popular species among nudibranch lovers!
It looked as though it might have been feeding on something, but there didn't seem to be a large sponge nearby.
It might not stay in the same spot for very long...
Colpodaspis thompsoni
Next is Colpodaspis thompsoni.
This is one of the species we have a high chance of finding during our Nudibranch Safari dives!
Just like last year, we've been seeing them regularly this season.
Most of the individuals we find are around 1–4 mm in size.
Colpodaspis thompsoni
And finally, Colpodaspis thompsoni.
This species is gradually becoming a more common sight in Kushimoto this year!
Although we don't see them in large numbers, we have a pretty good chance of finding one when we focus on searching for nudibranchs.
During the period when the Kuroshio Current was meandering, this species was quite rare around here.
But we've been seeing it much more often this year, so maybe it's becoming a little less rare! (^^)
Join Our Nudibranch Safari or Specialty Course in Kushimoto!
If you'd like to spend your dives carefully observing and photographing nudibranchs, our Nudibranch Safari is a great option!
And if you want to learn how to find nudibranchs yourself, we also recommend our "ウミウシとの遊び方SP" specialty course!
By learning about the food sources and habitats that nudibranchs prefer, you can become more efficient at finding them.
It might even make your usual diving adventures more exciting!♪
It's also possible to combine the Nudibranch Safari with the specialty course, so please feel free to contact us if you're interested!
You can find more details in the announcements section below.
We look forward to hearing from you! (^^)
See you next time!
Today's Diving Conditions
Weather: Sunny
Air Temperature: 15-21°C
Water Temperature: 23.5°C (Kushimoto / Boat Diving)
Visibility: 10–15 m (Kushimoto / Boat Diving)
Diving Tips:
Mornings and evenings are getting chilly, so if you're diving in a wetsuit, make sure to bring warm clothing for your time on land!
We also recommend wearing an inner vest with your wetsuit.
If you get cold easily, a drysuit with lightweight undergarments is a good option!
Recommended Exposure Protection
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.
