A kaginomi is part of every ama diver's toolkit. One end is flat while the other forms a hook, allowing ama divers to pry or grab prey and pull it towards them.
Ama divers
Abalone fishing
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Kaginomi (chisel)
Kaginomi (chisel)
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Tanpo
Tanpo
Ama divers are tied to a very typical buoy called tanpo. The tanpo offers them a resting pad in between two dives.
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In between dives
In between dives
Between each dive, Ama divers cling to their tanpo to catch their breath.
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Abalone habitat
Abalone habitat
Abalone attach to rocks by its strong foot, gifted with great suction power. They usually prefer hollows or recesses. Abalone never venture too far from their shelter, which they leave at night, looking for food.
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abalone
Abalone
Perhaps the best known shellfish in Toba, three distinct species are found in Toba waters: the black abalone, the red abalone and the white abalone. Abalone is mainly caught by Ama divers (as oppose to net fishing) and during the spring/summer.