Fukuda san, from Diving Shop Umisuki in Yawatano on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula, informed us that a red batfish had appeared. “In late January, a red batfish, which is ranked highly as a creature that divers dream of seeing at least once, appeared on the beach dive site in Yawatano. I myself have only encountered one three times in Yawatano. It’s red, round, cute and quite touching. It’s not a creature that stays in the same place for long, but you might still be able to see one,” says Fukuda.

The red batfish is a type of anglerfish. It is not a good swimmer and often stays motionless on the seabed, but it occasionally uses its pectoral and pelvic fins like limbs to walk along the seabed. It is said to live at depths of 50 to 400 meters, so it would be extremely lucky to encounter one at a diving depth!

Yawatano is easily accessible from Tokyo, about two and a half hours by car or two hours by train! The calm sea conditions make it a popular spot for beginners, and the nearby boat spots are popular with veterans as well, as schools of fish can be seen. Why not go diving in Yawatano, which boasts one of the richest biomes in Japan?

☆Images and information provided by: Diving Shop Umi-suki

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