Dive with Japan Diving

Guest Dive with Japan Dive Club
13 January 2008
by Rob Christie
I have to admit that before I went diving with the Japan Dive Club, I had some funny notions about them.

First, I had heard that everyone dives together in a single wave. The picture I had in my head was of the entire club jumping simultaneously into the water, only to leave an empty boat floating silently and possibly drifting away.

Second, I had heard that the club provides all of the basic support items for the day, including transport, tanks, food, beer, and foot rubs.

Before I address these myths and attempt to set the record straight, let me tell you about the day and how delightful it was.

We embarked from the Sai Kung public pier on a junk no too dissimilar from Mr Chan’s. Onboard were 20 divers plus an additional 10 non-divers. The sky was overcast with a slight southerly breeze, and only a hint of winter chill was in the air. Our destination was the northwest side Sharp Island, a short 20 minute journey from the pier.

Being the first dive of the year for the JDC, a ceremonial blessing of the ocean was performed to initiate the diving season. I didn’t understand a word of the blessing (as it was in Japanese… not because I’m American, Mr Hambleton), but I can confirm that it was a respectful way to treat our natural environment.

Then it was time to kit up and get diving. I was paired up with Paul Takafuji (nee Bayne), and after a precision buddy check we were in the water without delay. As we happened to be one of the first pairs in the water, I didn’t see preparation for the ‘communal leap’ that I had envisioned. No matter; we were diving our own plan and I was more interested in what was below.

Having been diving the previous week (Basalt Island, ‘One of my top 3 dives in Hong Kong’ – Mike Belshaw), I was excited for a replay of the 10m visibility and an abundance of sea-life (and hopefully another large tuna, as reported by Mark Kelly). Upon touch down on sandy seafloor at 11m, I reset my expectations and instead proceeded to enjoy another indistinct Hong Kong dive that would certainly fade away in the memory bank.

That’s not to say it was a bad dive. In fact, it was quite the opposite. We saw plenty of fish including gobies, cardinalfish, clownfish, two camouflaged rockfish, plus a single nudibranch, numerous shrimp, and countless crabs poking out from under the rocks. After 1 hour of relaxing observation and gentle drifting with the current, we called it a day and headed for the surface.

Upon boarding the boat, I realized that we were the last buddy pair up. So, I really wasn’t sure if there was any diving at all by the JDC. Then it dawned on me that the highlight of the day was not the dive itself (which was more of a ceremony), but rather the beach bar-b-q.

Then I was handed my first glass of warm sake (before I was out of my wet-suit!), and I realized that this would be not only one of the most unique bar-b-q’s I had ever attended, but probably one of the tastiest. I was not disappointed.

From the moment we landed on the beach, the fire-starting and food preparation processes kicked-off in high gear. I could see that this was a well-rehearsed routine to which I could add no value, so I stood out of the way to observe the chefs-in-action and nurse my glass of sweet sake.

Four separate fires had been lit, each builder outdoing the next with pyrotechnic techniques. Over the first fire; onion, bacon and mushrooms were being gently sautéed for a traditional Japanese pickle salad. Over a second fire; a large squid was being char grilled with spicy salt. Over a third fire; a whole fish was being fried for mixing in a special dish of sticky rice and shrimp. And lastly, a ‘holiday’ miso soup was simmering away with veggies and grilled rice cakes. And somehow, teriyaki beef strips, pork dumplings, steamed crab and hot-dogs magically made their rounds on platters for finger picking. I was convinced that as long as the sake flowed, I would be in heaven.


The parade of platters lasted nearly two hours. The sake did eventually run dry, but it was replaced by a seductively lethal concoction that was similar in taste to vodka and made especially for those seeking early retirement. Soon after taking my first swig, I began to feel my mind and body being drawn towards a soft patch of grass where I might possibly take a quick nap.

And I wasn’t alone in my somnolence; Paul was actively scanning for soft ground. It became clear that it was time to move this party before everyone either succumbed to sleep or (worse) we dropped an SCDC ‘beach bomb’ that would scatter empty beer cans like shrapnel and leave the injured laying half naked and face-down in the sand.

With the same rehearsed efficiency as our arrival, the camp was packed and we were back on the boat and headed for home. And it was not a minute too soon, as I shut my eyes and let my head sway with the rocking of the boat.

And now, my friend, you have read this far. Are you still wondering if the rumors are true? Well, I do admit that the part about the foot-rubs is a figment of my wild imagination. But let me leave you with this; a day of diving with the JDC is a delightful way to let the sensual side of your imagination run free. Who needs a foot rub after that? Not I, said the little piggie who slept all the way home.