This is Koide from Sado!
In the eelgrass bed at Umezu Beach,
we observed himeika (Japanese pygmy squid) laying eggs for the first time this year.
Depth 5 m, water temp 14°C, visibility about 8 m.
In soft, springlike scenery,
we got to witness a moment of tiny life.
This time, the one laying eggs was a single himeika.
It was about 3 cm long,
gently pressing its body against the eelgrass
as it carefully laid its transparent eggs one by one.
About 3 others were swimming around it,
and it felt like the spawning season was about to begin in earnest.
Every year we often see the eggs,
but this was the first time we actually saw “the moment of laying eggs.”
It happened on the second dive, right around 12 noon.
Watching the tiny himeika quietly passing life on,
I couldn't help but be captivated.
And the photos this time
were taken by one of our guests with a Canon interchangeable lens camera.
They came out so beautifully
that I really wanted to share them with all of you.
For a while from now,
you may be able to see freshly laid eggs or egg laying scenes.
Even the eggs alone are really beautiful!
Photographer: Kenichi Yoshida