Japan – Izu - Arari Diving

Back in Japan we realized how we going to miss the nice temperature in Hawaii. We got a cold, rainy welcome at Narita with just few degrees above 10 … brrr!

But it is May and normally the summer start here in Japan, so I risk to make our first dive here in Japan – just next to Tokyo.
Tokyo & Diving?! Yes there is great diving too! Not many people associate Japan with Diving, but where you think they get the sushi from ;-)

Close to Tokyo (2 hrs drive to the south) you find the peninsula of IZU – that’s THE place for diving.
It offers around 15 + dive spots with each 3-5 dive sites and all are somehow different.

May & Diving – you are right – it is not yet as warm on Hawaii, but we were lucky to have a nice sunny Sunday with about 23degC.
We (Izumi, Franz & me) went to Arari which is on the more quiet west side of Izu and booked for a 3 tank – boat dive. You can even find us on the internet:
http://www.arari.co.jp/gestphoto.html




The dive team is really nice and offers a good service – specially that day we were just 5 people so the entire base was all ours!
Now to the water temperature – it was chilling 19 deg – but fine for wet suit of 5mm + a hood jacket. If you put on everything correctly you might look little bit like that:

What is really nice in Japan, are they hot tubes & water they provide before & after the dive. They are quiet simple but lovely to soak in 42+ water after an exhausting dive. And you really enjoy it with a wet suit – the dry suit owner have just half the fun.

So what can you see there – first this spot is a must for nudibranch lovers – they are everywhere … in all kind of shapes & colors:

Second for all kind of other small stuff like frog fish, real weired jelly fish, moray, scorpion fish, stone fish etc. I haven’t seen any dive spot yet where you found them so concentrated. You had to be quick in taking the picture and follow the group.

Here you also find groups of ray’s, but more later the summer when the visibility is getting better. We were lucky as we saw one from the distance.
After the 3 dives and so many fish we got real hungry, so we decided to stop by the famous fish market of Numasu town on the way back home. It is really delicious there and you can find a lot of rare specialities … like stone fish:
As poisoned and hard to see him in the water (pic1) more delicious he is deep fried ;-)

It was a real great diving day and I can recommend ARAI divers to everyone how want to see things he haven’t seen before.
So the DIVING SEASON is OPEN!!!

Good Air

Big Island – Were the nature rules

Our last stop is Hawaii – also called big island, as when you count all other islands together, Big is still twice the size of it.
It is completely different to the other islands we saw so far. This you feel when you already arrive – you will be surrounded by lava!

But first of all, back to the flight – it was an experience itself. We were picked up by the pilot alone and had to carry our bags to the plane which was just big enough for us 7 guests. Everything was taken care by the pilot – a real slim organization ;-)

We were lucky to meet a real nice guy – Wade – who gave us a ride to the car rental, as there was nothing were we arrived. Later we met again a bubba shrimps which is known from Tom Hanks movie – Forrest Gump.



This island we dedicated to the nature highlights – what it is famous for:

We visited the ancient sites – Pu’uhonau o Honaunau

Tasted the world famous Kona Coffee @ Greenwell farms

Hiked the spiritual Valley’s of Pololu & Waipi’o

Drive up to the summit of Mauna Kea (4000m) for sunset & stargazing

Watched the biggest waterfalls - up to 500m free fall

Stayed 2 days in the volcano national park, where the world most active volcano can be watched – Kilauea
You can watch from several places how the lava is still flowing.



The best view you can get from top – thus we took a ride with the blue Hawaiian helicopter – awesome!



And finally I jumped from the southest point of Amerika – Ka Lae

Big Island is really spectacular and you find the superlative everywere, thus I also found the biggest burger around: The ½ pound Kona Splasher burger – enough for 3 men!

Time for us to say good bye to Hawaii – it showed itself from the best sides and we are really impressed. There are not many places on earth were you can find so many different things gathered around such small area.
FAZIT: We have to come again!

AAALLOOOOOOOOOOOHHAA!!!!

Hawaii Diving Special

As Hawaii is known as one of the worlds top diving spots – I like to dedicate one spot just for my favorite hobby.
Here you can find the summary of my dives I did - 2 on Maui, 2 on Lanai’i & 2 on Big Island.

Maui is famous for the half open Crater Molokini with great visibility of 30-40m




and several wrecks which becomes home of many green sea tutles




Lanai’i is close to Maui and known for it’s UW cathedrals





Big Island has the best rated night dive – Manta Dive. I was lucky we had more than 7 of them just all around us :-)




This dive was just perfect for my 100. anniversary!



Of course there is nice snorkeling too, just on Oahu you have to search the upper north for good spots.
Big Island was the best at the end, especially the “2 steps” just next to historical site where you have a beautiful riff with dozen of fish and even diving with dolphins!

All in all there something for everybody’s taste here in Hawaii, just the time is too short … as usual!

Out-of-air

Maui – the sunshine Island

We arrived in the morning and took the north road which is famous for its spectacular shore lines. You find small winding roads and great outlooks remembering you more to be somewhere in the highlands of Scotland (except the nice temperature). The north is also known for its huge waves were the best surfer tests their brave.

Coming from the north to the east or south you will find endless beaches – one nicer then the other:

We decided to stay on the west coast – village called Kaanapalli. Wherever you look you will find only the most exclusive names like Sheraton, Ritz Carlton etc, which makes Maui really no cheap place to stay. But if you search the internet in advance you also can find some good deals around.
From here we started everyday to explore the island like going up to the highest mountain – the Haleakala volcano for sunrise:

Or to the tropical east – the famous road to Hana with its nice waterfalls, endless bridges & green coastlines:

Maui is also THE spot to see humpback whales from November to April. At its peak (feb.) they counted up to 1500whales a day!
So we booked one trip even we are already late in the season, but where lucky to see 5 to 6 of them:

Of course I went for diving – once to Molokini, an previous crater barely reaching the surface and once to Lanai’i, the neighbor island famous for its underwater cathedrals:

After so many activities we got really hungry and what is the most concentrated calory food you can get in the US?
Burgers of course :-)



Our 5 days trip now comes to an end and we are sitting on the airport to wait for our air taxi going to Big Island – the youngest one of all.
All in all we can understand why so many people always come back to Maui – it is a beautiful island.

Mahalo for reading