The south west blasted through yesterday and blew for the majority of the day. Always the doctor wind for this area, we woke up to a great ocean this morning with a light south westerly blowing. Viz phenomenal and the ocean very inviting.
Archive for February, 2010
Glassy ocean conditions today
Saturday, February 27th, 2010Today’s sightings – dolphins on scuba & sharks
Thursday, February 25th, 2010We had an awesome dive today from North Sands through to Chunnel, past South Sands and onto Eel Skin. Yes the current was flying but the viz was superb. 12 bottlenose dolphins on scuba at North Sands, 1 Raggie at Chunnel, a huge potato bass near south sands and 7 blacktip sharks near Eel Skin. Absolutely great sightings today.
Today’s diving
Thursday, February 25th, 2010Just recently back from diving today. Moderate North easterly wind, strong N – S current, 20m viz and 24 degrees C water temperature. Surface conditions choppy but great diving.
Blistering hot week at Aliwal Shoal
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010At the moment we are experiencing blistering hot days with slight winds that are not enough to cool us all down. Sea temperature of 24 degrees C. Visibility topping 30m yesterday with a very strong N – S current. February is always our hottest month but we seem to forget so easily all the time.
Tiger shark on the safety stop this weekend
Sunday, February 21st, 2010This weekend has been amazing on a sightings point of view. Scalloped hammerhead shark at Shark Alley, a tiger shark on the safety stop yesterday, size estimate 3.5m female and curious. Banded pipefish at Chunnel, along with a free swiming honeycomb moray eel, round ribbontail ray, 2 blue spot rays resting in a hole. Shark Alley & Raggie Cave produced paperfish, black cheek moray eels, plenty of nudibranchs, a large shoal of kingfish, fusiliers, potato bass, a massive trumpet fish, garfish, sole and much much more. Amazing sightings over an amazing weekend of diving with very hot weather to add to this.
Dive conditions this weekend
Sunday, February 21st, 2010Superb dive conditions this weekend. Saturday we had no wind, a moderate S – N current, water temperature of 24 deg C with viz at around 20m. A few thermoclines were around on the reef. Today we have a moderate NE blowing with no current. Viz at around 12m with water temperature of 23 deg C. Great diving and an easy launch here at Aliwal Shoal.
Mobile shark diving trip report back
Monday, February 15th, 2010We have just returned to our base from a hugely successful dive trip up north to southern Mozambique and Rocktail Bay. Action of all kinds was hugely exciting. In Ponta d’Ouro we did 3 dives to Pinnacles on each morning and 3 reef dives after breakfast. We had sightings of scalloped hammerhead sharks, numerous zambezi sharks and on 1 dive to Pinnacles we were circled 3 times by the same shark (we identified this shark easily as she had a chopped dorsal fin). Large green jobfish (carcob) on the Pinnacles, pickhandle barracuda, manta ray, spotted eagle ray and so much more. Aside from the large stuff, we got the small stuff too. Our accommodation was absolutely superb, above expectations and the overall service delivery in Mozambique was outstanding. At Rocktail Bay, we enjoyed a further 6 outstanding dives, sightings of paperfish, grey reef sharks, potato bass, harlequin shrimps, porcelain crabs, ghost pipefish, a purple jelly fish with the most amazing purple and white tentacles, whaleshark, barracuda, flounders, pineapple fish and so much to recall at this time. What a trip with fantastic clients who were totally blown away by the service, diving, sightings and weather.
Mobile shark diving trip
Friday, February 5th, 2010We are leaving tomorrow (Saturday 6th) February for a mobile shark diving trip with clients up to Mozambique. We will be back on 14th February so until then, happy diving from all of us at Africa Dive and we will chat when we are back.
Massive manta ray at Aliwal Shoal
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010This past weekend produced absolutely excellent sightings. Juvenile manta ray on a south -north drift from Raggie Cave up to the Pinnacles. 30m visibility on the Produce wreck. 8 raggies at Raggie Cave and a massive manta ray near Cathedral. What a sighting, much to the excitement of everyone.