"Azores again" - OR - "No Mako... again"

I'd like to share some highlight from my recent trip to the Azores.
This year I did not have much luck with my health and the weather.
Paranasal and frontal sinuses been blocked and I had no chance to
enjoy the pre booked boot trips as I would have loved to.
And additionally the weather was not the best for that that time 
of the year. 

We did two trips for seeing the Mobula's and two for the Blue shark's / Mako's 

1. Mobula = 3 Mobulas
2. Mobula = 41 Mobula's and a small Whale shark

1. Blue shark = 2 Blue, one around the boat for over 3h!
2. Blue shark = stayed nearly 8h on the boat and not even one. 

This year is by fare the worst year the local operators saying.
3 Mobulas on one trip is one of the lowest rates they ever had
for a very long time and the dropping number of sharks...

For sure we all know why the number of sharks is decreasing.
If not, there are plenty of papers and articles to find online.
Just one which is related to the Azores and which will help to find the right
busswords to dig deeper into this wil be this one.
http://www.sharkproject.org/
But after hearing different opinions from local fisherman, I guess
it could be a mixture of some more factors, all coming together 

1. El Niño / North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

• We know 2015 could be one or the worst El Niño's as recorded till now. And we also know that El Nino can effect NAO.

• Water temperature is warmer around the Azores as normal the locals say.

• Fisherman say sad this year is a low for Tuna fishing. Especially The Number of Bluefin Tuna catches around the Islands was very low this year. 

2. Shark Fishing 

• We know the portuguese fisherman are catching more sharks then ever.

3. Birth cycle of Blue sharks? 

• I heard a couple of story from spearfisher's that they encountered many baby/juvenile Blue Sharks around the Islands this year 

At least all of this points make sence and are very interesting from a
science perspective. I would love to get some insight into some science data
about this points and hopefully someone is releasing some papers about this soon. 

But now enjoy

(Thanks to Rike for the first Picture)

Lake Zuerich Bottom Cam

I started recently dropping my GoPro before my Freediving Sessions on the bottom of the Lake of Zuerich.

Was able to capture some nice shots.

- Great crested grebe hunting European perch
- Eurasian coot diving and searching for food
- schools of European perch
- schools of Tench's

I will try to do this the whole summer. Let's have a look on what remains mostly hidden.

Follow my YouTube Channel

Bottom Cam in Lake Zuerich - 20150619

Bottom Cam in Lake Zuerich - 20150623

Bottom Cam in Lake Zuerich - 20150626

Bottom Cam in Lake Zuerich - 20150630

Sakura Zurich

Having my own Sakura right now in Zurich

Tokio Narita Airport Oberservation Deck

Waiting for my flight in the evening...foggy and slightly raining but 

having Udon Restaurant direct behind your back
makes it easy to warm up.
I guess after spotting for two weeks in Japan, it will start to get boring 
Some impressions...

Sakura Sakura

I've been very lucky beeing nearly at the exact time in Tokyo (couple of days late, but still nice)

Catched up a friend and amde some new ones

We had some nice chats and a lot of fun that night. Hope we will meet again.

Maybe next time Zurich?

Thanks!

Tokio Haneda Airport Observation Deck

Picked up my baggage and went to the Observation Deck. 

Spotting in Japan seems to be very common as I noticed.
The reason I guess is simple. Nice Observation Decks ,lots of air traffic, 

many wide-body's and a 
huge amount of different airlines from all over.

Some impressions... 

Naha Airport

Small but nice Airport...

Okinawa

I booked a room via AirBNB at Aki's place. She picked me up at the
Station and showed me the apartment.

 She asked me what me plan are and I told her I'd like to eat some Goya (typical Okinawa food) and
also wanted to go to the Churaumi Aquarium. She decided to join for lunch and helped me finding out the 

fastest way, which was by public bus transport. The way to the Churaumi Aquarium via Bus is over 2,5hours 

and you  have to change bus at least two times.

Finally there, the clock was already ticking  As I don't wanted to miss the
last bus or be around my apartment later then 11pm.
The Aquarium is impressive and way better than the Kaiyukan in Osaka
mostly because of widely corridor

 

 

 After visited my second Aquarium in Japan, I know that the lack of Information's is on purpose, which I think is really sad and
shows exactly how our society is interested in stuff like this. Superficial, extremely superficial!
If it would be my Aquarium in a technologically very advanced country as Japan, I would add for example a QR Code and behind this,
you would get all Information's about the Animal in Japanese, Chinese and
English. Thats not a big deal, but will at least satisfy the few who wanna know.
But sure, it a minority, why do anything when there is no big demand...

 I'm not starting any discussion if this is good or not, keeping Whale sharks,
Mantas, Tiger Sharks in captivity, but I have to admit
it is impressive and like a hypnosis session, just sitting in front and
watch.

Beside the huge tank my highlights been the shark-jaws and the shark-skin
which you are allowed to touch.

Impressive, specially feeling the different grade of sharpness