Humpback Whales Swimming in Okinawa waters
February brings the giants of the Pacific into Okinawan waters. Humpback whale season is in full swing with mothers and calves frolicking in the waters of the Keramas and surrounding islands of Okinawa. These gentle giants will be gracing our waters for the next 2 months at least as the mothers come to the warm waters of the Keramas to give birth and have the calves fatten up before heading back to the cooler waters north of mainland Japan and beyond. Night diving is also a special treat this time of year as the singing of the male humpback whales can be heard resonating throughout the dive sites in Okinawa. The purpose of these songs is not known, but it is believed that they may be used to attract a mate or maybe just like many people they just have to sing! Although songs can be heard during the day, the best time to hear these distinct haunting melodies is on calm nights at dive sites such as Zampa Misaki and Maeda Misaki, where they can be clearly heard.
In other exciting dive news, Reef Encounters shop is receiving a full makeover and will be totally outfitted with all your diving needs, from regulators to wetsuits. Reef Encounters will be stocking the full line up of Dive Rite gear, Shearwater computers, selected fins and masks from Gull, wetsuits, booties, Fantasea cameras and housing, and for those wanting a little bit more out of their underwater shooting, the full line of Nauticam housings and ports. We will be supporting both the tech and recreational diver and also have a full line of sidemount gear to complete your gear lineup. Please stop in and see our gear lineup and talk to our professional staff to get you outfitted with the best gear available.
Also coming this month are training classes for decompression techniques, divemaster, and instructor courses. For those wanting to teach diving this summer, now is the time to get your professional level training completed. For those divers looking to increase their training specials on classes and training, packages are available.
