Some IOP pictures from last weekend

[deeper thoughts]

Beautiful

 

[Geoff_H]

Heading to IOP this weekend...7/21--22. At first I thought that was a leopard shark but the fins were different. Where is the kelp? I don't recall seeing kelp there.

My bad, it's just seaweed actually. Lots of seaweed!

Thanks for the nice words, I almost didn't put the pictures up since they most at not sharp, not exposed correctly or have the focus somewhere off the focal point.

I wonder if they do night dives at IOP any nights of the year. I think the rocks in front of the entry/exit point would be fantastic for a night dive.

 

[TJO]

Sodaine and Bitagane in Atami are wonderful nightdives!

 

[Geoff_H]

I'll try and make one in September, sadly August looks like a no-dive month for me which absolutely sucks.

 

[TJO]

Hammers spotted this week in Mikomoto!!!

 

[Geoff_H]

Grrrrrr!!

 

[jagfish]

I wonder if they do night dives at IOP any nights of the year. I think the rocks in front of the entry/exit point would be fantastic for a night dive.

Unfortunately no night diving that I know of...another example of a kick-butt site that is limited to death. On saying that, things have been active there recently. The last weekend I was there, I think there were about 3 or 4 rescues on the weekend, and the water was not all that rough...

 

[Henryville]

Geoff, do you recall how long that nudibranch was?

 

[Geoff_H]

Around a couple of inches long....

 

[Henryville]

Based on the general body configuration, the size, the Izu location, and in particular the pattern of barring on the oral tentacles, the closest I can come to your nudibranch is a Pteraeolidia ianthina. This in no. 591 on page 268 of the book Opisthobranchs of Japan Islands by Nakano Rie, and ISBN4-89977-076-6. I got mine from Amazon.jp The color in the book is more violet-blue on the body, but the examples make me think it may darken with maturity.