Bubbling sea

As we got closer to the volcano there was a small area of the water that was bubbling (pic. 1). Apparently there are no swimming beaches anywhere around the island because the water is too hot.

We were told that the water we were seeing was boiling (pic. 2) but it was hard to tell if that was the case or if it was steam or air coming up through the water. No one stuck their hand in to find out or got close enough to fall in since the ash was pretty wet in that area.

The entire area looked like black sand beaches but were in fact volcanic ash (pic. 3).

It was amazing to be standing there with a spewing growling volcano so close by. It was constantly spewing the ash and making noise. Every now and then a larger plum of ash would shoot up and it would get a little louder so one would turn and look to see if there was anything to be concerned about.