http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/ ja Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:33:53 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-15 Log Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:33:53 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-15 Location: Na'a,Tarawa,Kiribati
Type: Drift

Conditions: Salt, Boat, Current, Surge
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 32 degrees C
Water temperatures: 29 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 20m

[Entry]
Surf ini: 53mins
Time in: 14:03
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 22mins
Avg: 14.3m
Max: 20.7m
Safty: 3mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 100bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Napoleon fish, Big, 3

[Comment]

We met big Napoleon fishes!!
But the current was fast, so i couldn't take a picture...
Maybe next time!





]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-14 Log Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:19:57 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-14 Location: Na'a,Tarawa,Kiribati
Type: Photo

Conditions: Salt, Boat
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 32 degrees C
Water temperatures: 29 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 15m

[Entry]
Surf ini: -mins
Time in: 12:23
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 45mins
Avg: 11.2m
Max: 20.1m
Safty: -mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 100bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Moorish idol, middle, some
Humphed banner fish, middle, some
Meyer's butterfly fish, middle, some
Bennett's butterfly fish, middle, some
False clown anemone fish, small, some

[Comment]
We start out to research North Tarawa area around Buariki and Na'a.
We expect a good diving point this area.
On the way to North Tarawa, we encountered a group of dolphins in the lagoon

This point is good for taking photos.
There are beautiful healthy corals and so many small tropical fishes.
And there is very few current.












]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-06 Log Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:28:12 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-06 Location: Betio,Tarawa,Kiribati
Type: Wreck

Conditions: Salt Boat
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 33 degrees C
Water temperatures: 30 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 5m

[Entry]
Surf ini: -mins
Time in: 16:41
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 28mins
Avg: 6.4m
Max: 7.9m
Safty: -mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 120bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 10littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
many small fishes.

[Comment]
We've found an U.S Tank still on its Landing Craft under water.
Those are relics of WWⅡ.
The ramp of the Landing Craft has been opened.
So the Tank looks like one could come alive at any moment.


Front view


Gun


Ramp of the landing craft


Left side view


Right side view
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-02 Log Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:49:44 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-02 Location: Ouba,Abaiang,Kiribati
Type: Drift

Conditions: Salt Boat Current
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 32 degrees C
Water temperatures: 28 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 20m

[Entry]
Surf ini: -mins
Time in: 10:32
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 45mins
Avg: 7.0m
Max: 14.3m
Safty: -mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 80bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 3kg(BCD)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Barracuda,big,1
Octopus,big,1
Moorish idol,middle,some

[Comment]
We went on dive into other place of West channel.
We also could meet many beautiful corals and fishes










At this trip, we go on dive with a local guide.
He is also a good fisherman.
And he gently go on dive wearing polo shirt.


The current was very fast and strong.
So we had to hold a rock with both arms while we stopped.
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-01 Log Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:39:44 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-06-01 Location: Ouba,Abaiang,Kiribati
Type: Drift

Conditions: Salt Boat Current
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 32degrees C
Water temperatures: 29degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 18m

[Entry]
Surf ini: 3h44mins
Time in: 14:58
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 57mins
Avg: 8.5m
Max: 15.5m
Safty: 3mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 50bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 3kg(BCD)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Bluefin trevally, big, 1
Barracuda, big,1
Emperor angelfish, middle, some
Moorish idol, small, some
Octopus, big,1
Anemonefish, small, some
　
[Comment]
We went dive on a huge wild beautiful coral garden








After that the Bluefin trevally unfortunately would be ...


You were lucky.


Would you meet your baby?





]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-05-31 Log Tue, 31 May 2011 18:27:32 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-05-31 Location: Ouba, Abaiang, Kiribati
Type: Drift

Conditions: Salt, Boat, Current
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 32 degrees C
Water temperatures: 29 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 20m

[Entry]
Surf ini: -mins
Time in: 10:18
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 52mins
Avg: 5.4m
Max: 7.6m
Safty: -mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: -mins
Air: 80bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 3kg(BCD)
Wetsuit: -

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Coris gaimard, small, some
Centropyge bicolor, small, some
Flame angel, small, some
Octopus, big, 4

[Comment]
We saw many great healthy corals and many tropical fishes swimming around there
How beautiful...












]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-05-08 Set up Sun, 08 May 2011 07:33:45 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-05-08 We discussed about a name of our diving service.

Emil(our manager) suggested to use Japanese,
but I suggested that it should be a Kiribati language name.

There are a lot of diving services around the world.
Some of them are in developed countries like Hawaii.
But many of them are in developing countries like Maldives, Palau or Thailand.
And almost all of them are managed and operated by foreigner like European or Japanese.
They employ local people in low salary...

I think the ocean is its local people's, not foreigner's.

Our diving service in Kiribati is all managed and operated by Kiribati people.
That’s a great point of us.
I think that is a kind of "Fare Trade" .

So I strongly suggested a Kiribati name to impress that point.

Then we pointed out some Kiribati words as the name.
-Mauri
-Te ke roi
But these were not the greatest.

That's where an idea came about from Mimi.
"Kukurei!!"

Kukurei?
Kukurei Diving....

Oh, That sounds great!!
"Kukurei" means "happy".
Kiribati people often use the word in their conversations and songs.
It has a good meaning.
It also has a good feeling to hear and easy pronunciation for English speaker and Japanese speaker.

Kukurei Diving!!

All of us perfectly agreed with her idea!!

We still at the first stage of full diving service,
but we are going ahead step by step, day by day.
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-16 Log Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:45:50 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-16 Location: West Betio,Tarawa,kiribati
Type: Drift,Photo

Conditions: Salt,Boat,Wave
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shaine

Air temperatures: 32 degrees C
Water temperatures: 28 degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 15m

[Entry]
Surf ini: --mins
Time in: 10:55
Air: 200bar

[Bottom]
time: 36mins
Avg: 9.4m
Max: 13.7m
Safety: 3mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: --mins
Air: 120bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: 3mm shorty

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]
Trigger fish(Tenuonuo),50cm,some,slow
Flame Angel,5-10cm,some,nervous
Eel(Terapono),big,1,static
And so many beautiful tropical fishes!

[Comment]
We went out of the reef today for the first time
This point is about 30m off reef edge.


There are so many beautiful healthy corals


We watched colorful fishes which were dancing on a table coral.
I'm not sure that they were fall in love or not after dance.


Suddenly, We encountered a big eel
It was very big and had very sharp teethes.
We looked at each other for a while, but he didn't come out of his hole.
Maybe he was shy.

On the way back, the surf was up because of strong wind.
So we could enjoy real splash mountain
It was more fun than that of TDL.

Ti rangi ni kukurei
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-08_2 Log Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:13:00 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-08_2 Location: Betio,Tarawa,kiribati
Type: Wreck

Conditions: Salt,Boat
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 33degrees C
Water temperatures: 29degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 5m

[Entry]
Surf ini: 109mins
Time in: 13:13
Air: 140bar

[Bottom]
time: 24mins
Avg: 7.3m
Max: 9.1m
Safty: 0mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: ?mins
Air: 70bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: 3mm shorty

[Marine Life Sighting]
[Species,Size,Number,Activity]

Some school of middle size fishes.

[Comment]

This sank ship is easy to find because the top of the ship comes up water.
And it has fallen into decay.
If we had a flash light, We could enjoy an exciting exploration inside it.


Butterfly fishes


Some school of fishes


I kukurei!!
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-08_1 Log Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:48:00 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-08_1 Location: Bikeman,Tarawa,kiribati
Type: Wreck

Conditions: Salt,Boat
Day/Night: Day
Weather: Shine

Air temperatures: 33degrees C
Water temperatures: 29degrees C
I was: Warm
Water visibility: 10m

[Entry]
Surf ini: --mins
Time in: 10:48
Air: 220bar

[Bottom]
time: 34mins
Avg: 8.5m
Max: 11.8m
Safty: 0mins

[Exit]
No dec time left: ?mins
Air: 140bar

[Equipment]
Tank: 12littres(alum)
Weights: 4kg(belt)
Wetsuit: 3mm shorty

[Marine Life Sighting]
Species,Size,Number,Activity

So many colorful tropical fishes!

[Comment]
We enjoyed the 1st dive in Kiribati!!


The sank ship is quite big.(over 50m long)
And it's in its original shape.
We could see many kinds of small fishes around there.
If we had a flash light, We could explore inside the ship.


This point is very near Bikeman islet (sand bank).
We also enjoyed snorkeling around there.
Our guide said that there were 2 Japanese bombs of WWⅡ around there.
But we couldn't find it because he was bound with catching an octopus...

]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-05 Set up Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-05
We introduced ourselves,
and talked about diving over a beer.

They kiribati have been trying to set up a full operation commercial diving service in Tarawa!
We Japanese are looking forward to go diving in Tarawa!
So we will share the same dream.

We realized that there were some problems.
-A big boat need repair.
-Some of Tanks need repair.
-We need more weights.
But we will be able to resolve the problems.

Anyway it was a great meeting for us!
We are sailing out!!
]]> ume http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-03 Set up Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0900 http://coconuts-diving.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-04-03
I'm Takashi.
I'm staying in Tarawa, The Republic of Kiribati,
from January 2011 to January 2012,
working as a Japanese international cooperation volunteer.

And I love scuba diving.
When I knew my new working place,
I thought "I'm lucky, I can enjoy diving many times in Kiribati!!"
Then I started to search diving services in Tarawa,kiribati,
But I couldn't find it out at all.....
Oh my god!!
There is no diving in Tarawa Island.
No diving, No Ocean countries....

But finally,I could encounter a person who is planning to open diving shop.
I had been contact with him by e-mail.
And we decided to cooperate each other to set up a diving service in Tarawa.

This blog will be a story of our challenge,
and the other side of my life in Kiribati.

I kukurei!

Kam raba!
Ti a bo!!
]]> ume