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Japan PacificSCUBA diving in Izu Oshima is somewhat unique from other dive sites at similar range of latitude world wide. Since the island is about 40km remote from mainland, and partially affected by warm Black Current from Philippine Sea, water is clear and extremely wide variety of marine lives are seen. Different creatures and different habits are observed at every time of dive even though you dive the same point repetitively.
Guided dives by extremely knowledgeable staffs are another great advantage in this island. Since those staffs dive the same place almost everyday, sometimes more than once a day, they know almost every pieces of creatures living in every holes and cracks of rocks. They not only just give you names of those creatures but also brief you how they lives, such as holding and protecting eggs, and how they grows.
The island is surrounded mostly by rocky coast, but sandy beaches are limited. There are no coral reefs along the coast, but some hard corals can be seen in limited places. Warm water current, so called Black Current, from Philippine Sea is flowing off southern end of the island, and partially reaches west coast of the island. This current brings many kinds of sea lives from tropic ocean, and those are often seen during September to December. However, as water is cooled down by strong cold wind from North in winter season, those tropical creatures die and disappears.
Another current with cold and nutrition rich water is flowing from deep see floor to east coast surface of the island. Therefore many fishes from small to big are gathering to these area. Huge school of sardines, snappers are often seen, especially during the autumn season. Jack fishes, tunas, sharks and even whales are also found chasing those schools quite often.
Water temperature rises to 24C at highest during September-October, but drops down to 14C at lowest during March-April.
I have prepared a detailed guide to Izu Oshima for foreign divers convenience at the following URL.
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Denmark Baltic Sea
Along Langeland’s coast, we find one of history’s busiest shipping lanes and an impressive ship graveyard.
The naturalist and macro photographer will find many exciting visual and ecological discoveriesbelow and above the sea, from the subtle hues of the Danish white nights and landscapes to the magnificent underwater stone reefs.
Divecenter Langeland is situated in an old picturesque farm house from 1777 on the Danish island of Langeland in Southern Denmark.
There is immediate access to this plethora of wrecks from various eras including many well preserved WWII wrecks as well as subsea Stone Age and viking settlements.
This is the wreck of Dr. Eichelbaum - a german WW2 armoured trawler, sunk in the Great Belt in 26meters, and just 15 min from the beach. On this wreck some sportsdivers found a lot of interesting artifacts. For example these:
These are the code wheels from the top-secret German code machine Enigma
To supplement the wreck diving we usually go reef diving as dive number two
This is from a German Motortorpedoboat. This one is a shallow dive - only 12meters. How about that for accessibility?
Common plaice - this one had confidence in his camouflage. Could have ended him up on my frying pan if I hadn't had my hands full of camera.
The Great Belt - the most important shipping lane between the Baltic and the Atlantic. This narrow strait is littered with exciting wrecks and reefs, just a few mins away with the RIB.
Theis the wreck of "Tromp" - blown up by a mine. Now it is covered by a a fur of sealillies.
The water is real close - walking distance from the dive centre. In this bay there are both remains from viking and stone age settlements
These flint scrapers from early stone age may have been produced 13,000 years ago. Want to find one yourself?
These tunicates are photographed right there too
A goby watching his territory - night dives are really easy. Though in mid summer the sunset is really late.
The chalets of the Dive centre have direct view over a protected nature reserve and the sunset! A perfect place for a good barbeque.
The reefs in the currents are teeming with life.
You don't need a boat to get to the reefs. Here they end on the beach. Grab your camera and hop in.
This is the wreck of Island - another German warship and WW2 casualty. At 25 meters you get ample bottom time.
"Stentrans" is a big wreck - and a fairly modern one. It lies on its port side in 24meters of water. This is the crane boom in front of the first cargo hold. We are looking aft, so the silhouet to the left of the diver is the starboard rail and behind the diver is the brigde with "up" pointing right
This is my curiosity shot: A seaspider - about 1½ cms, or ½ inch long - I had only seen them in textbooks, when this one came dancing past me when I was photographing the plaice above. This is in 2 meters of water.
And that is what I like about this place. I always see something new.
And so will you.
Peter Symes - 2004
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