Category: Diving

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Travel

Diving @ Kushimoto, Wakayama

Posted on by sonokotchi

Kushimoto is located at the southeast point of Japan’s Honshu (main island).

The dive shop, Coral Queen, owns a boat and takes us to off shore points if the condition permits.



I’m lucky and went to all off shore points, 5 dives in two days.

On Saturday, I went to Shimamawari, Ichinone and Ninone; on Sunday, Ninone and Ichinone.

These diving spots are with interesting landscape, fish (tropical fish, too) and creatures (including edible ones such as Ise Lobsters, Slipper Lobster and shells) and corals (hard and soft).

Rockfish with a group of Silver-Stripe Round Herring


Crack


I named it, Half Dome, or is it more like Shark Fin?


Boxfish


Many fish


Corals



You can see that ocean is beautiful; therefore, seafood is so fresh and delicious!!

Lunch at Coral Queen is nice: Shirasu-don (Baby Sardine Bowl)


And dinner at town, Matsu-zushi.



It’s a bit far from Tokyo, 7 hours to reach there, but I would love to go back Kushimoto, Wakayama again to enjoy diving and food!

Posted in Diving, Feelings, Nature, Place, Travel

Escape from Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s been very hot in Tokyo.

I decide to escape from Tokyo; hopped on a plane after office.


Arrived at Kansai Airport.


And here I am….at Kushimoto Royal Hotel.

I stayed at this hotel in last February and introduced this hotel.

At that time, I visited here for different purpose, visiting temples, then I spotted few dive shops in this area, wondering how beautiful it could be being at the tip of Kii Peninsula.

Good night.

Posted in Books & Magazines, Diving, Experience, Feelings, Food, Movie, Place, Surprise, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 6)

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s time to go back.

Sayonara & Arigatoooooooo!!!



Since it’s a last day of Japanese Golden Week holiday, a plane back to Japan is full.

I had to divert to Singapore: Tawau – Kauala Lumpur – Singapore – Haneda/Tokyo.

On the way to Singapore, I already started feeling sentimental by looking at movies and photos.

I arrived Singapore happily and saw a disturbing word on a signboard – Delayed.


Soon I found that my flight delayed for a half day – I missed going back to office on Monday. Ahhhhh
We get a free accommodation in Singapore, but this is unexpected.


It is a nice hotel, but didn’t have much time to enjoy my stay.

We arrived midnight and left hotel at 5:15 am to catch 7:45 am flight.
Luckily, I’ve been waking up at Kapalai/Sipadan early.


Hotel quickly prepared supper for us.

At the Changi Airport, I found a wine tasting server – interesting!


As usual, I enjoyed food and movies on the crowded plane.

Breakfast


Passengers


Collateral Beauty


I read a manga on the screen: Tokyo Tarareba Musume (Tokyo What If Girls).

My first time to read a manga on the airline screen!


Finally, I reached Haneda/Tokyo.

What a trip!

This trip become a memorable one for sure!

Would I do it again?

Absolutely!

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Experience, Feelings, Place, Surprise, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 5)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Last day to dive…I’m lucky, I am going to dive at Sipadan again!

When we dive at Sipadan, we leave the pier at 5:30 am to catch early risers, bump fish.

It’s still dark.

I’m not good at waking up early, but for diving, I can wake up. hahaha

It was worth waking up early.

I swam with many Bump Fish!


There are many sharks!

A stream of horse mackerels.


My friend took a photo of me dive into bourse makerels.

Wahhhh her photo is so sharp!

Shall I consider getting a proper camera…?


We were looking for a barracuda.

We swam and swam looking for baraccudas at Barracuda Point, twice.

At last dive (4th dive), we decided to enjoy diving with beautiful coral scenery. 

But we are lucky!!!

There are baraccudas…

I got closer to them, then they started making a Barracuda Tornado!!!

Breath taking.

I’m so so lucky!

First Sipadan Trip, I witnessed a Barracuda Tornado!!!

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I appreciate whatever I see there.

This is a long living shell.

It grew too large unabling to close now.


I watched so many things: various tropical fish, sea slugs, turtles, sharks, Bump Fish, hourse mackerels…and…Baraccuda Tornado!

I had so much fun diving here! 

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Experience, Feelings, Food, Place, Surprise, Tokyo, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, we are going to dive at SIPADAN!


I was nervous.

So many what if crossed my mind.

But soon I know I’m going to have good time here.

Many wild dolphins greeted me!!


And this is SIPADAN!

We rest between dives at station in Sipadan.

Under water, I met a family of bump fish.

They have scars on their heads because they fight and bump their heads to each other.


Wahhhh there are many horse mackerels – so beautiful!

They are always in group.

They look yammy!

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Sharks – handsome!


Cute turtle

I’ve been seen him, but don’t know his name.

What’s his name…?

I want to buy a fish illustrated book to check its name.


Dolphins surely brought me good luck.

I managed to catch a school of barracuda!

Yeahhhhhhhhh


We departed Kapalai at 5:30 am for Sipadan.

We dived at four points: Coral Garden, Barracuda Point, South Point and Barracuda Point.

After dinner, I went to bed early. Zzzzzzz

hahahaha

Posted in Diving, Feelings, Food, Movie, Place, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I took a midnight flight so it is technically day 2 even though I didn’t have a proper sleep.

I finished watching the movie, Silent.

I’m lucky that I could continue watching before I forget a story.


Breakfast was served on the plane.


In addition, I watched Miss Sloane, a story about a lobbyist.

I’m amazed how she reads people’s mind and plan a plot.

This movie is a must-watch-movie on a plane.

I arrived at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for transfering to a domestic flight.


I’ve been to Malaysia many times, but I don’t remember walkingn through here.

Could it be my first time?  hummmmm


Oh, I’m nervous, getting closer to Sipadan!


I asked for a typical Malaysian breakfast – Nasi Lemak on the plane; however, I couldn’t enjoy much because I was still full from a breakfast served on ANA.


We are approaching Tawau, Sabah soon…


This is Tawau Airport: a gateway to a diving heaven…


It takes 1.5 hrs to Semporna Port to take a jetty to reach Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort.


There is no land; it’s a water cottage village.


Absolute quietness.

I say ABSOLUTE because there is no TV in a room and hotel WiFi was broken during my stay!

Resort serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in buffet style.


There is no AC, fan only.

Don’t worry, this is sufficient.

I love relaxing at the balcony overlooking emerald green ocean.

Isn’t this gorgeous? 



Bath room is spacious with a toilet, sink, bath tub and shower booth.



After unpacking and getting ready, we went for a check dive.

First, we dived with a Dive Master to learn the House Reef so that we can dive on our own with a buddy.

A beauty about this resort is unlimited dive at the house reef is inclusive in a diver’s package.


I spotted a colourful sea slug.


And hello Nimos!


I wanted to share what I see under the water; therefore, I bought a small camera and housing for iPhone 5S for this trip.

I also bought a mask!

I’m glad that I bought these because these enriched my diving.

I will share many beautiful photos with you! 

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Mt. Fuji, Place, Tokyo, Travel

Birthday Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

Woke up early for diving.


Enjoyed typical Japanese breakfast, dried fish is local speciality.


Thank you Minshuku Otsuka, we might come back again.


Took a ferry to reach Hatsushima.


Today, we could see a great view of Mt. Fuji from a diving shop: Sea Front Hatsushima.


After diving at Futatsune, we took a bath, ocean water hot spring at Hatsushima Island Resort.

Nice salty hot spring bath.


I found Iseebi (Japanese Lobster, local specialty) designed manhole.

Cute, isn’t it?


Time to go back…


Sayonara Atami, Shizuoka!


I was caught in a traffic jam, but safely arrived home.


I had a craving for Kohien’s torisoba (chicken noodle).


I tkink I celebrated my birthday 10 times better to compensate my lost birthday celebration.

I’m happy!

By the way, curry is a hidden menu of Kohien.

It’s not listed on a menu, but it’s their popular dish!

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Hatsushima, then Usami Onsen (Hot Spring)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I came to Hatsushima for diving.

It’s about two hours away from Tokyo by car.



We dived at Futatsune.

It’s cold today (15C in water), but it was fun.

I saw a Japanese angel shark twice; both of them are female.

She is flat and got many freckles.

I also saw a Hatsushima’s idol, Jaw Fish.

He is cute in pink!

Then I saw a group of kibomago (silver-stripe round herring). 

It was nice.

I haven’t started taking photos so you need to find out how these looks by yourself…Sorry…

This was my lunch at Hatsushima.


Hatsushima is a small island.


It is my first trip to Hatsushima and I like it!

I would like to visit again.

Tonight, staying at minshuku (Japanese casual inn) Otsuka, Usami Onsen.

It’s nice and cozy.


It has a nice ocean view from a room.


But be careful; their bath is hot.


After dipping to their onsen (hot spring).

I enjoyed delicious food; I had fugu (blow fish) course dinner.

It’s worth visiting from Tokyo.


There are many dishes; these are some of close up photos that I enjoyed very much.


It’s still 9 o’clock, but ready to sleep on futon.

Good night.

I’m sure I won’t dream tonight. hahaha