Geo-Dive: Tailormade Scuba Diving Trips

Main attractions

The "Raggie Close Encounter" Dive
During the Raggie high season the Raggies that have followed the annual migration of the Sardines, move onto the shoal in there hundreds. It is speculated that they move in there to escape the fierce currents that are found off the Kwa Zulu Natal coast and the abundance of food. Although they have gouged themselves on sardines all the way to our relatively warmer waters as opposed to the Cape waters. They come here essentially to copulate. Although one of the fiercest looking sharks they are unusually calm and accommodating posing for the photographer at every opportunity.

The African Tiger
There are very few places in the world that one can view Tiger Sharks in their natural environment. Individuals who have been to all these places like Gerard Soury, have commented that nowhere else in the world can one have the quality & safe viewing as on the Aliwal Shoal. This dive takes place on a smallish reef about 1km south of the Aliwal Shoal known as Eelskin. At a depth of about 14.5m there is a natural cave from where safe viewing of the baiting station can take place.

 Guest House - Sea Scapes

Sea Scapes is a whole new category of hospitality - a boutique home/hotel for the African Watersports clients who want to escape, to be pampered and have the most pleasurable experience.

You can rent the entire house, individual rooms or have a function tailor made to suit your every whim... escape the stresses of your work . Services offer are: Airport pickup, baby and child care, car rental and others.

The house consists of the following:
Angels View Room: Queen bed en-suite with breathtaking views
The lighthouse Room: Double bed en-suite onto open area
Grannies Room: Double bed, separate bathroom
Family Room: Four single beds in adjoining rooms
High Rocks: King bed, separate bathroom onto open verandah with spectacular views.

The Diving

South Africa diving is very unique. Diving centres know safe and calm diving sites for beginners and students but generally the conditions can be quite hard. Experienced divers will have the opportunity to make a lot of unforgettable dives.

South Africa diving highlights are numerous. South Africa is the paradise for shark lovers! Starting with the Great white shark diving around Dyer Islands South East of the Cape of Good Hope. Diving with sand tiger sharks (Carcharias Taurus) in the region of Durban without forgetting the great hammerhead and whale shark.

Sodwana benefits from warm water coming down from Mozambique and thanks to this there is a great variety of sea life including bottle-nosed dolphins, sharks, whale sharks and turtles. More than 1200 species of fish are found in these waters.

We have chosen for you the area around Durban named Aliwal Shoal , Sardine Running and Great White shark diving, all our programmes are organized from a very experienced and professional diving centre.

Dive Centre

African Watersports was one of the first scuba diving companies to see the potential, and to establish itself at this premium dive site, the Aliwal Shoal. Initially African Watersports concerned itself with the exploration of the Aliwal Shoal, and found some of the top dive sites dived today. This exploration bore fruits, and although many of the sites are dived by other operators in the industry, there are still some sites that no other company dives except them. This philosophy of expanding their horizon continues today, with some exciting discoveries in the world of diving.

Their policy is give to the clients what they are looking for. Some divers want to see the pretty small fish, others want to hunt for the Giant Brindle Bass, others want to see "Tiger Sharks" up close and personal with no cages, some want to do wreck penetrations, and some like it deep. Whatever the demand they are pride to deliver in a reliable and safe manner.

Dive Centre

LENGTH OF STAY: 6 nights 5 days at sea. Leave on the 7 th day - GROUP SIZE Min 6 - max 8 people -DIVING PER DAY 7 – 8 hours - PACE relaxed but can be quite strenuous once on the action

EQUIPMENT: good mask snorkel and fins a must -Wetsuit 5mm ample - Splash jacket to keep the wind off a must. - Scuba equipment as usual.EQUIPMENTSUPPLIED Weightbelts and cylinder .

BOATS: 8m ribs, all safety gear and radio contact

1st Day Durban/Mboyti River Lodge
Arrival at Durban Airport and transfer to the Lodge. The drive is about 4 hours from Durban. Accommodation in to your reserved room. After dinner you will discuss the next days plan with your skipper and Micro Light Pilot. Usually they will have a good idea of where and what the action has been and will make a few recommendations to choose from.

2nd to 6th Day SARDINE RUN ACTIVITY
Early morning (06,30). The group can decide whether to have breakfast at the lodge first and take a packed lunch or leave early and take a packed breakfast and be back at the lodge for a late lunch. Whatever suits the group or the Sardine Action trend.

Approx 06H30 to 07H30 (depending on light and breakfast)
The boats, all 8m ribs, will be transported to the river mouth with your equipment waiting for the group to launch. The launch is a river launch and can be the most thrilling introduction to the action awaiting you in the deep.

Approx 07H30 to 14H30 (depending on petrol and weather)
The action can be so varied as to take in almost the entire scope of what you have seen on Blue Planet on Discovery . Usually the Micro Light, already in the air, will be advising us as to whets happening on the water within a 20km radius of Mboyti. Once the action has been found its alls stations to go. You may prefer to enter the water with mask and snorkel or with scuba. The action is usually fast and furious requiring you to jump in and out of the boat many times. You will welcome the exercise with all the food the lodge is feeding you. .

After an action filled day at sea, those more adventurous would want to enjoy the countryside by various means.

Dinners:
There are normally a 3 course meal with fresh oysters served at the bar once a week as appetizers and a full seafood extravaganza once a week as well.

After dinner the day’s activities and the next days plans are discussed with your skipper and the microlight pilot, plans are made and we all enjoy a cold beer.

7th Day Approx 07H00
Breakfast is served for the last time and the guests pack to leave, transfer to Durban airport after a memorable vacation.

Raggies and Tiger Sharks (SUMMER/WINTER TOUR PACKAGE ITINERARY)

Day 1: Arrival Durban Airport/Transfer to Seascapes Bed & Breakfast accommodation in to your reserved room – overnight.

Day 2 to Day 6: 7:30 Breakfast- 0830 first dive Tigers/Brindle Hunt/Reef

9:30 Snacks

10:30 Second Dive Tigers etc.

12:30 Return Home – Discuss dive relax.

Day 7: Full day safari to Tala Game Reserve, game drive, lunch, early dinner and night drive- Return and overnight at Seascapes Bed & Breakfast

Tala is a wildlife sanctuary. Spanning nearly 3000 hectares and incorporating a many diverse natural environments, the reserve features well over 300 bird species, with big game that includes buffalo, rhino, kudu, hippo, giraffe and the rare sable antelope. Several distinctive and remarkable plant species are found on Tala. The fiery aloe in full bloom, the imposing euphorbia and the smell of the fragrant wild sage on a dewy morning make every stay at the reserve unique and memorable.

Day 8: Full day safari to Tala Game Reserve- Early morning game walk, brunch
and Game drive. In the afternoon transfer to Durban Airport and flight to Cape Town on arrival pick-up and transfer to Gansbaai-accommodation and overnight in resort.

Day 9 to Day 11: Breakfast at resort, 3 full day (0900/1500) Great White diving experience (cage dives) – snacks on boat- overnight in resort.

Day 12
Transfer to Cape Town Airport and flight to London or others destinations.

NB ! THE WINTER PACKAGE WILL BE THE SAME EXCEPT YOU WOULD SUBSTITUTE RAGGIE DIVES FOR THE TIGERS.

Prices - November 2009 until December 2010

Notes

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: International flights -Airport taxes, meals where not indicated, beverages, and any extras.
Flights prices will be calculated at the best available air fare at the time of booking.

DAILY DEPARTURES AND RETURNS FROM THE UK

Prices are subject to change, and can at the time of booking therefore be lower or higher than those published, depending on the flights cost and exchange rate between British Pound and other currencies.

Our Opinion

An excellent ‘family-run’ organization – extensive experience and knowledge of the dive spots, very friendly and sociable.

There are some exciting dives which are really only suitable for experienced divers. Even the boat trips, called ‘launches’ are thrilling and can be fun, as they involve the boat being pushed by force from the beach against the arriving waves, for a sudden and fast departure.