Trip Report "South Africa - Protea Banks"

[Manuel]

Just came back from South Africa:
One week of great diving with Tigersharks, Sandtigers, Bullsharks, Blacktipsharks, Guitarshark, Hammerheads and Blue Marlins. Also saw some humpback whales and dolphin from boat.
Best dive was a baited shark dive in Aliwal Shoals with 50 Blacktips and 5 Tigers!
Unfortunately the visibility was not perfect due to heavy winds and waves.
"Power diving" in massive current: 4 km in 35 min
Also very nice country above surface, one week is much to short.
Photos will follow later.
Cheers,
Manuel

 

[island_sands]

Just came back from South Africa:
One week of great diving with Tigersharks, Sandtigers, Bullsharks, Blacktipsharks, Guitarshark, Hammerheads and Blue Marlins. Also saw some humpback whales and dolphin from boat.
Best dive was a baited shark dive in Aliwal Shoals with 50 Blacktips and 5 Tigers!
Unfortunately the visibility was not perfect due to heavy winds and waves.
"Power diving" in massive current: 4 km in 35 min
Also very nice country above surface, one week is much to short.
Photos will follow later.
Cheers,
Manuel

Nice!!!!!! We have plans to do that next year, did you see the sardine run? Photo Photo Photo...!!! Please send, cant wait to see them.

 

[bluecape]

Glad you enjoyed Manuel. For all those interested in following sardine run progress, my friend Roger Horrocks is in the action, and updating his website daily, see

Pelagic Drifting - Freediving, Photography, Tiger Sharks, Zambezi Sharks, Bull Sharks, Underwater Photography

best

Jeff

 

[Manuel]

@ Sarah:
We didn't travel the South Africa especially for the Sardine Run, but it was in our mind as the non-plus-ultra. On our arrival day I heard about activities 800 km more south. On our last day they were only 100 km away. So one week too late...
Unfortunately it's unpredictable to say when it happens exactly between May and July.
But the Sardine Run is definitly one of the things to see in my diving-life!

MANUEL

 

[island_sands]

Me too! Cant wait for next year.. not that i really want to wish my life and age away so soon rofl

Looking forward to your trip report, why dont you send it to me, and I'll post it on the front page of Deeperblue?

 

[Manuel]

As promised, some photos...

MANUEL

 

[Manuel]

And again...

MANUEL

 

[island_sands]

As promised, some photos...

MANUEL

man... bronze whalers.. always wanted to see those up close! fantastic photos Manuel!

 

[Manuel]

Small correction: That are (oceanic - not reef) blacktip sharks, not bronze whalers. The last ones are only seen frequently during the sardine run. But in fact they look very similar.

MANUEL

 

[fcallagy]

Great pics manuel well done and thanks for the post

 

[island_sands]

Small correction: That are (oceanic - not reef) blacktip sharks, not bronze whalers. The last ones are only seen frequently during the sardine run. But in fact they look very similar.

MANUEL

i did wonder Admittedly, i have never dived the east coast, only in Cape Town. i lived close to Aliwal Shoal for five years and only ever boogie boarded that area. MUST make an effort to go back and do that dive... thanks for posting Manuel.

 

[JacquesB]

WOW! Cool Manuel! I only saw your thread now! I am doing the same this coming December! Hope to see some sharks! I already did the Protea Banks dive last year December, but I was not lucky enough to see ANY sharks!
Have been diving here in Cape Town - but no luck in seeing any sharks in nature, yet!

 

[deep thinker]

Your diving with the wrong crowd mate rofl
Try Cape Point side or by Franskraal area for possibility of shark spottings this time of the year. The GWS come in close to the shore, take your gun but dont shoot anything, theyre normally quite docile but the blood makes em wild. Or so Ive read :martial