Paternoster in September

[pauldeclercq]

I will be coming to CT for a week at the beginning of September("for a medical congress")
I will spend my first weekend up in paternoster and was wondering if anyone knew anything about spearing up there, and if september sucks or not? Is it worth dragging my gear with me?

[chris the vis]

Howzit Paul
I was at Paternoster last weekend. The sea looked pretty decent.I've never dived there before so can't say what you can expect, but I must say it looked promising! Especially if you wanna dive for lobster I guess. My parents bought a piece of land at St Helena bay, which is just a bit further up the coast and holy crap it looked good there on this particular day - Flat as a pancake with pretty damn good viz for the west coast. I wish I had my though? As to September being good, I have no idea? Who knows with the west coast, but I can promise you it'll be cold..Let me know if you get to dive there. My little visit to the area really intrigued me, If i get the opportunity to dive there before september I'll let you know.
Cheers vir eers

[pauldeclercq]

I have 7mm custom made one piece suit, I get too hot when diving in the cape waters and regularly have to let cold water in to cool me down. So the cold ain't a problem, I know the kreef is out of season in September(unless things have changed). I was wondering about shooting some fish, although a flat day in September is probably wishful thinking.

[Capespearo]

Hi Paul,
Unfortunately Paternoster is not the best area for fish,and like you said the cray season will be closed.
The species are very limited and you can mainly expect to only see Hottentot (Cape Bream),but they do get to a fair size (2+ kg).
It is nice diving though if you haven't dived in kelp forests before,and trust me you will be needing all 7mm of that suit (a tip : if the water is clear,you can bet it will be freezing).

[Swedish Jim]

Hi all been in Scandinavia for a while hence the silence. Paternoster = great kelp diving year round. No cray taking until November. Nice hotties. Alikreukel are also good here. mail me I'll go with you. Its a great place to get wet! I have 8mm on my chest then with 5mm on legs and arms etc normally fine. THe flowers are worth seeing at that time too! Regards

[Lenny]

Hey don´t forget about me , I keen (maybe this time Iĺl be better prepared*)

I went there 3 years ago when I had just started crayfish diving - froze my nuts off! 30cm viz looking for crays with a 3mm wetsuit, hehehe (bad idea!)

[pauldeclercq]

3mm on the west coast, I am sure you won't do that again.
Thanks for the replies, I might just have to take a small gun and my suit.

[Swedish Jim]

A small gun will be fine. I normally take a couple along..youre welcome to borrow if something longer is needed. At high tide the kelp lifts and its not difficult with a bigger one. There are also lots of open areas between the rocks and kelp. I travel a lot. let me know when in good time.

[Lenny]

Yeah I learnt to dive in Scarborough in a 3mm surf wetsuit, no booties, no hoodie. So I´m kinda used to getting cold, but ysterfontein was a whole new type of cold! definately won´t do that again

[pauldeclercq]

Thx Swedish, I will message you when we are nearer the date.
Cheers,
Paul