Winter sea

Hello.

A free diver from Okinawa.Like thisis.

This time, we will tell you about the winter sea and how to protect yourself from the cold.

When winter comes, I think there are many people who don't like the cold and don't go diving in the ocean until the next summer.

,,, it's actually cold😂

However, there are times when I feel that the winter ocean is a wonderful place, so I would encourage anyone who has taken the trouble to try skin diving or free diving to also try diving in the winter ocean.🙌

The sea unique to each season

Those who have recently started snorkeling or skin diving may not understand this, but when we say playing in the ocean, we don't mean going to the same place every time.

Depending on the weather on the day, the places you can enter may change. It is not uncommon to find that you cannot enter a place that you entered yesterday today. The direction from which the wind is blowing is one of the most important factors to consider.

And, very roughly speaking, the wind is divided into those that tend to blow from the south and those that tend to blow from the north depending on the season. (I'm just saying this roughly in Okinawa as an example.)

In winter in Okinawa, the wind often blows from the north, allowing you to access places that are difficult to access during the summer. This is one of the joys of diving in the winter.👍

An experience that can only be had in winter

There is one pleasure that can only be experienced in the winter season in Okinawa. That is, listening to the sounds of whales while diving. During the winter, many humpback whales come to the sea around Okinawa to breed and raise their young.

Whale watching and whale swimming tours are also popular during this time.

Sometimes you can hear a faint singing voice in the distance, or a voice so close that you feel like you could see it if you looked around. This may be because when scuba diving, you and the divers around you make constant breathing noises, so when skin diving or free diving, you can hear the whales more clearly because there is no breathing noise underwater.

Listening to the whalesJust floating in the water can be very relaxing.🤤

Protection from the cold (wetsuit)

In order to enjoy the sea in winter, it is essential to take measures against the cold.

This is what I most highly recommend, or rather, the winter beach is not complete without it!MyA wetsuit that fits your bodyis!

FitsThis is very important. A wetsuit that is too big is no good! It is better than nothing in terms of protection against the cold.🙅‍♂️

Even if the size is small, it's no good! It's simply too painful. To put it dramatically, I've seen many people who are so struggling to put on and take off their clothes that it feels like their life is at risk.😅

Even if you've decided you want to try diving in the ocean in winter, if you use a wetsuit that doesn't fit your body, you might end up thinking, "After all, the ocean in winter is too hard."

When you wear a wetsuit that fits you well, the water between your skin and the suit is warmed by your body heat, keeping you warm to a certain extent. If the suit is too big, the water inside the suit will keep moving and won't stay still, so you won't get that effect.

In addition, wetsuits protect you from jellyfish, coral, rocks, and UV rays, and their buoyancy makes it easier to keep your body on the surface.👍

Measures against the cold (warm items)

Hot GelIf you apply it to your body before putting on a wetsuit, it will warm your body and reduce the coldness when you enter the cold water.

Hot packThese are not ordinary hot packs, but hot packs that can be used in water. There are also homemade ones and reusable ones.

hot waterPut hot water in a water bottle and pour it into your wetsuit when you get cold.

Gloves and fin socksLike a wetsuit, it keeps you warm and protects you from constant exposure to cold water.

Not completely cold-resistant

The above items do not completely block the cold.Something to reduce the coldThink of it that way!

Although it depends on the weather on the day, even people who are sensitive to the cold should be able to dive in the winter ocean for about an hour or two if they take the above precautions.🧜‍♀️

Although there are individual differences, skin divers and free divers who have survived the cold of winter will be freed from the cold and strain caused by the cold when the warm season comes, and will surely be able to hold their breath longer and more relaxed than before.☺️