UMI NO HI – The Oceans Day @ Ita <21.7.2008>

Today was the last day of our 3 days diving trip around Izu peninsula and it was the Japanese public holiday dedicated to the Ocean.

We checked out at Ugusu and went up the north coast of Izu on the 17 heading for Ita. No one of us had been there yet so we were pretty excited what the place would be.

When you come down the winding roads, you will pass first a quiet residential area following a very narrow road down to the harbor. It is amazing that any cars can actual fit on this road – in Europe you use such for bicycles ;-)

All dives start from the port, where you have to climb over stones as kind of beach entry:

The visibility here is rather good compared to the previous day with 5-12m, but this place doesn’t real feature any big stuff.
It is more famous for the real small ones like the cute blennies

… or a rare seahorses, frog fish & crabs.

After long search Franz found the only remaing nudibranch which saved the day of Izumi (there is no dive without one ;-)

So for people interested in Macro photography this is a nice place to go. Also the people from the MOC Maritime Officer Club were very helpful and good guides – I can recommend them again!

Now it is time to say goodbye to Izu and heading back from a long weekend to Tokyo … with million others on the highway X-)

Jammed

ARARI – In the Miso Soup <20.7.2008>

From Mikomoto (south of Izu) we went on to west coast, where we stayed close to Arari/Koganezaki dive spots at Ugusu (Maruka Ryokan).
We started the day with a beach dive at Kogenazaki – which is picturesque bay also famous to snorklers & sunbathers.

The view was really bad just up to 3-4m so it made it hard to spot anything from a distance. The highlight was a small couple of yellow neon eye blennies.

Next 2 dives we moved to boat dives from Arari, where we had been in May already.
http://www.arari.co.jp/gestphoto.html (scroll down to spot us)

But this time the visibility was terrible – sometimes less than 3m … you felt like swimming in miso soup.

Still we could find some nice moray’s


… a tiny “clear shrimp”

and a huge frog fish of a size of 25cm

Finally I’d like to present the actors:
Father / son & IZU


& the whole clan:

Gojisosama deshita

HAMMA !!! - Mikomoto <19.7.2008>

That’s the short version in Japanese of hammer head sharks (HHS) – and that’s what it will be all about in my next story…

As Monday the 21st of July is public holiday in Japan – “umi no hi” … the “Ocean day”, we followed the spirit and dedicated this weekend to the ocean (or “let’s do something different … let’s go diving ;-)

Flo was going to finish his open water exam on Friday to be ready to enjoy diving together on this weekend.
Our tour will take us starting from the east of Izu - in Kawana were we stayed overnight at Izumi’s place - to leave next day early morning to the most famous spot to see hammerhead sharks … Mikomoto.

We arrived there already at 8:00 in the morning and got prepared for our first dive. We were full expectations as last weekend there were several spotting of HHS. But it is always a matter of luck – so you’ll never know.

The water was warmer than expected with 22~26deg and the visibility still fine about 10-15m.
Beside the thrill of the HHS you also can enjoy colorful soft coral reef along the dive.

Now we came to the spot where the current hits speed and is ideal for the sharks to drift by.
It just took seconds until we already spot the first shark – not yet a HHS but a bigger grey shark. Than suddenly the first hammer head!
But it wasn’t one … suddenly a group of HHS - about 20 -30 – showed up from the milky water and passed by:

It was just AMAZING!
The show didn’t last long, but this moment I will treasure forever!
We were really lucky that day … but there was one person I have to thank most:
AKI san – our guide! She knows this place as the back of her hand!

You can find my pics also on the homepage of the diveshop, but the page is only in Japanese … no I am famous in Japan ;-)
http://nakagimc.sakura.ne.jp/ymc/ymc/diarypro/diary.cgi?no=82

Today a dream came true for me and my divers heart.
One of my dream destinations is the Galapagos Islands which are famous for HHS & other big fish spotting. Today I got a little feeling of it…

Goodbye little Galapagos

FUTO Diving – Escape to Nature <13.7.2008>

The next day we went to the bay next to Kawana in the south - so called Futo. This also belongs the diving areas of Oasis diving.
It was my first time and I didn’t know what expects me … so I was looking forward to it.
Already from the first sight you can see – Futo is different!
It lies within a quiet bay surrounded by mountains and just a small naturally harbor. You can do beach dives from two sides and also go out by boat to other famous dive sites (Macro-fans)

Our guide during these days was our beloved Hitomi san. She really took all efforts to show us everything possible – and believe it was a lot!

Starting from nudibranches all types (we won’t miss those ;-)

… to a ray which gives 60V electro-shocks

… a little cat shark (really just as small as 20 cm)

… a guitar ray, which was really hard to find

… and finally a grinning moray – I loved that one!
Who said that fishes has no sense of humor ;-)

My personal highlight of the facility is definitely the hot bath in form of 2 ships. You can soak there in 38 deg warm water with a view over the bay and relax after a nice dive …

HANG LOOSE

OASIS – BBQ Time!!! <12.7.2008>

Every year our dive shop “Oasis” in Kawana, Izu – is preparing a great BBQ at their shop. This has become a must event for all members so we went there too.

This time we were 6 of us Franz ,Izu & me and Lea, Florian (Franz’s son) & Takako (friend from the company) who going to make their diving license during this weekend.

We started early in the morning and had our first dive with the boat from Kawana. The sight wasn’t that well – about 5-10m – but this is normal during those warm summer months.
Actually the water was pretty cold too with just about 20 deg! For god sake we had a real nice sunny day with temperatures reaching first time above 30ies.

Today the dives highlights belong to small ones – of course nudi-branches, a nice colorful shrimp, a yellow frog fish & a “umitengou” or in German “Fluegelrossfish”. This little fellow looks like a wired mood of nature – a mix of a beetle, bird & fish.

After the dive we started to long awaited BBQ event. In total we were about 40 person (!) that night, which gave Sato san team a real challenge – but they handled with experience & excellence – no one stayed hungry!


Our youngest and smallest guest this night was definitely “Mirku san” or just Milk!
She was sooo cute – did I ever mention I love cats?!

Typical for that season we made our own hanabi (fireworks), which ranges from large rockets to tiny tiny little glow worm simulation … the most typical Japanese firework *ggg

The only thing left to say for this perfect day is:

THANK YOU – OASIS TEAM – DOMO ARIGATO!!!

Party time - My 30th Birthday <10.7.2008>

Time is getting bye and I am getting old! So I turned 30 on the 10th of July.
And as if this wouldn’t be enough for a party we add 3 more events:
- Lea’s home warming (Moved in April08)
- Tom’s farewell (I stayed for a week ;-)
- Mirko’s baby boom (Congratulation, where he got the time :-)

So we put all together and celebrated at Lea’s new home in Roppongi.
She prepared great finger food in the typical Austrian way where black bread can’t be missed and of course wine from Styria is a must.

Followed by my favorite Sacher Torte & Champagne to round up the dinner

The party is on:

watch out for the cool ones:

& of course the drunk ones ;-)



We 8 of us - Lea, Izu, Ratchanee, Thomas, Franz, Florin, Mirko & Marco – celebrated until the late evening making it an unforgettable party.
For all who couldn’t join that night: We were thinking on you & those also send me lovely greetings I would like to say

THANKS MY FRIENDS