Blogs from Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Asia

Nakijin Castle Today I met up with a longtime college friend who just recently came to Okinawa. We drove northwest to Nakijin Castle to see the site and catch up on what each other was doing. The drive proved to be very pleasant as it wound through forested area and along the ocean. Nakijin Castle didn't have many English signs describing the area so we didn't really know much about what we were looking at while there. Once I got back to my room, I found the below information online to learn a little more about what I had seen. By: http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/summit/gusuku/gusuku_1a/index.htm In the outer reaches of Motobu Peninsula, the remaining walls of Nakijin Gusuku (Castle) stand like stone ghosts amidst the surrounding wild mountains. After having survived the ravages of war, countless typhoons, and the ... read more

Scuba Diving - Onna ToiletBowl The fishermen were out in mass today at Onna ToiletBowl! Instead of floating south to Horseshoe Beach, my dive buddy and I changed our plans and decided to stay in the same spot. We didn't really see an interest in getting tied up in the fishing lines and wrecking a perfectly good day of diving. The water was extremely calm and it was a beautiful day outside so it didn't surprise me when I saw all the fishing poles sticking out of the rocks when we arrived. Onna ToiletBowl proved to be a solid dive site once again. Visibility was probably aroudn 50 ft. and the temperature was about 78/79. I ended up putting on my new 3mm dive suit because I knew the water would be chilly (it's been slowly ... read more

Scuba Diving - Horseshoe Beach I got out to a new dive site this weekend and it was really great! Just south of Onna ToiletBowl there is another site called Horseshoe Beach. Our first dive here proved to be very entertaining as there were lots of fish, an yellowmargin moray eel, scorpionfish and shrimp. Getting out to where the coral dropped down took a bit of effort but once underwater it was easy to move around. Spotting the yellowmargin moray eel was by far the most exciting part of this dive. It had it's head sticking out only a few inches past the coral and it let me takes lots of photos. I thought my flash would annoy it, but it didn't seem to be bothered by it one bit. The second dive was another first. ... read more

The Most Beautiful Fish in the Sea? - http://www.dive-the-world.com/creatures-clown-triggerfish.php Clown triggerfish are one of the most colourful fish to encounter when diving and make for an excellent photo opportunity. Unfortunately they are quite camera shy and are exceptionally good at turning their backs or moving away just as you are about to press the shutter! It's worth persevering though as their colours and impossible-patterned markings really do illustrate just how creative nature can be. These marine creatures are very aptly named the 'Clowns' of the triggerfish family. Clown Trigger fish Fact Sheet Family name: Balistidae Order name: Tetraodontiformes Common name: Clown Triggerfish Scientific name: Balistoides conspicillum Trigger fish belong to the order Tetradontiformes 'four-tooth bearing', and the family Balistidae, and are closely re... read more

Scuba Diving - Onna ToiletBowl and Maeda Point The dives I did today at Onna ToiletBowl and Maeda Point were very good. Since it was a holiday, there weren't many people around. This contributed to seeing lots of fish (they hide when lots of people are out). The water was a bit rough today as well which probably discouraged some people from entering. While heading out to the entry point at Onna ToiletBowl, I saw two gentlemen watching my dive buddy and I...we never saw them enter the water. Later at Maeda Point I saw the same two fellows, and they mentioned to me that the water was too rough for them at Onna...Pansies. Several notable encounters at Onna ToiletBowl included a sea turtle, a cuddlefish, a hermit crab, and several sea snakes. The cuddlefish I ... read more