ShakaZulu
Contributor
Date: 01/11/2006
Dive Location: Sodwana – South Africa
Buddy: Lisa Miller
Time:
Bottom Time:
Max Depth: 40ft
Vis: 80ft +
Wave height: Huge man
Temp at depth: 76F
Tide information: No idea
Gas mix: Air
Comments:
Images: http://www.scubapost.net/forums/shakazulu/Sodwana+-+South+Africa/
I’ve always wanted to dive Sodwana on the east coast of South Africa. Sodwana Bay is situated on the coast within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Andrew from Scubaboard recommended I give Digger and Michelle a call at “Da Blu Juice”. I’m happy I did this, as they run a family operation and is willing to go out of their way to make your stay the best. Thanks for everything guys, you guys rock!
http://www.sodwana-scuba-diving.za.net/
On our first dive, we opted to go to “2 Mile Reef”, since this would be Lisa’s first dive after being certified. The main dive sites are named in accordance with their distance from the launch area (Quartermile to Ninemile Reef). The ocean was crazy that day, with huge swells, and I didn’t think the visibility would be good, let alone Lisa handle the boat ride. After the local DAN representative told her that “ocean sickness” is all in the mind, we were off. Half way out, a big set came at us with walls of water, feathering at the top in anticipation of breaking. Adam spun the boat around, allowing the waves to break before reaching us, thereby expending most of their energy. The next attempt was successful. The boat ramped some steep swells and we were past the surf zone and soon we were at the dive site.
We dropped down in 40ft of water, and my breath was taken away. Being used to the cold dark waters of San Diego, it was a pleasure to see 80ft plus (dove with contacts, first time). The water was a warm toasty 76 degrees, and it looked like I was dropped in a fish tank. Hard coral structures with numerous overhangs and bright tropical fish everywhere. I took a lot of pictures, but in my hastiness, forgot to adjust the auto focus for underwater photography, never the less, still got some good shots.
The next day, we left early for “5 Mile Reef”. This site revealed similar structure as the first, and lots of fish. I may add that Digger and Adam find these sites in the middle of nowhere, without a GPS. This dive was dedicated to finding nudi’s but I only found one at the end of the dive, and my camera’s macro function sucks as clearly evident by the picture in the gallery.
The second dive of the day, Digger asked if I wanted to do a dive with the “raggies”, short for Ragged-Tooth sharks (also known as Sand Tiger Sharks). I asked if it’s a cage dive, and the answer was NO……hmmm. I’m not the kind of guy to show fear, but I must say, I had some feelings of anxiety. Lisa wasn’t ready for this dive, so she opted out. Digger ran us through the basics of shark diving, and we were off to the site. The intend was to drop a distance away from the reef were these guys was hanging out, drop to the bottom as fast as possible (no air in BC when you leave the boat), and then swim slowly towards the reef. We were told not the trap the sharks between us and the reef.
Well, I did a back roll off the boat, and dropped to the bottom. In the corner of my eye, I spotted what to me looked like an underwater airliner, geezuz, we weren’t supposed to see them already. I closed my eyes and tried to think happy thoughts, till I hit the bottom. The last thing I wanted to see was one of these guys coming to say hi to me. Slowly we swam closer and took cover between the coral. It was amazing, about 12 raggies were cruising the reef. They ranged in size from 10 to 15 ft, which is BIG by the way. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of fear and the appreciation for the majesty of these unique animals. These sharks are safe to divers if not provoked but look quite ferocious with their big, pointed, irregular teeth. The teeth of the ragged tooth shark are very different to those of the white shark. Raggies' teeth are sharp, round and curved and are designed to hold their prey while they swallow it whole. The white shark, on the other hand, has sharp, heavy, triangular teeth for cutting their prey, such as seals, firstly to kill them and then to reduce the carcass to manageable pieces.
A surprising calmness came over me as my camera finger started pushing the button profusely, ever so careful not to take pictures in the danger zone in front of the sharks (Note: Turn the flash off before you start taking pictures, they indicate irritation by slapping their tale fins). At one point, we were looking forward at a group of raggies, when for no reason, I was wondering what would be behind me. Geeezuz, a huge raggie was coming straight for me. I pushed my finger into a hole in the hard coral, trying to get myself closer to the sandy bottom. Something in the hole was trying to get out, but I was not letting go. The shark came so close to me that my camera could not focus properly. Thank god the wetsuits was rented………This was definitely the highlight of my trip, and I would recommend it. There is something about being in such close quarters with such huge animals and no cage.
Dive Location: Sodwana – South Africa
Buddy: Lisa Miller
Time:
Bottom Time:
Max Depth: 40ft
Vis: 80ft +
Wave height: Huge man
Temp at depth: 76F
Tide information: No idea
Gas mix: Air
Comments:
Images: http://www.scubapost.net/forums/shakazulu/Sodwana+-+South+Africa/
I’ve always wanted to dive Sodwana on the east coast of South Africa. Sodwana Bay is situated on the coast within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Andrew from Scubaboard recommended I give Digger and Michelle a call at “Da Blu Juice”. I’m happy I did this, as they run a family operation and is willing to go out of their way to make your stay the best. Thanks for everything guys, you guys rock!
http://www.sodwana-scuba-diving.za.net/
On our first dive, we opted to go to “2 Mile Reef”, since this would be Lisa’s first dive after being certified. The main dive sites are named in accordance with their distance from the launch area (Quartermile to Ninemile Reef). The ocean was crazy that day, with huge swells, and I didn’t think the visibility would be good, let alone Lisa handle the boat ride. After the local DAN representative told her that “ocean sickness” is all in the mind, we were off. Half way out, a big set came at us with walls of water, feathering at the top in anticipation of breaking. Adam spun the boat around, allowing the waves to break before reaching us, thereby expending most of their energy. The next attempt was successful. The boat ramped some steep swells and we were past the surf zone and soon we were at the dive site.
We dropped down in 40ft of water, and my breath was taken away. Being used to the cold dark waters of San Diego, it was a pleasure to see 80ft plus (dove with contacts, first time). The water was a warm toasty 76 degrees, and it looked like I was dropped in a fish tank. Hard coral structures with numerous overhangs and bright tropical fish everywhere. I took a lot of pictures, but in my hastiness, forgot to adjust the auto focus for underwater photography, never the less, still got some good shots.
The next day, we left early for “5 Mile Reef”. This site revealed similar structure as the first, and lots of fish. I may add that Digger and Adam find these sites in the middle of nowhere, without a GPS. This dive was dedicated to finding nudi’s but I only found one at the end of the dive, and my camera’s macro function sucks as clearly evident by the picture in the gallery.
The second dive of the day, Digger asked if I wanted to do a dive with the “raggies”, short for Ragged-Tooth sharks (also known as Sand Tiger Sharks). I asked if it’s a cage dive, and the answer was NO……hmmm. I’m not the kind of guy to show fear, but I must say, I had some feelings of anxiety. Lisa wasn’t ready for this dive, so she opted out. Digger ran us through the basics of shark diving, and we were off to the site. The intend was to drop a distance away from the reef were these guys was hanging out, drop to the bottom as fast as possible (no air in BC when you leave the boat), and then swim slowly towards the reef. We were told not the trap the sharks between us and the reef.
Well, I did a back roll off the boat, and dropped to the bottom. In the corner of my eye, I spotted what to me looked like an underwater airliner, geezuz, we weren’t supposed to see them already. I closed my eyes and tried to think happy thoughts, till I hit the bottom. The last thing I wanted to see was one of these guys coming to say hi to me. Slowly we swam closer and took cover between the coral. It was amazing, about 12 raggies were cruising the reef. They ranged in size from 10 to 15 ft, which is BIG by the way. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of fear and the appreciation for the majesty of these unique animals. These sharks are safe to divers if not provoked but look quite ferocious with their big, pointed, irregular teeth. The teeth of the ragged tooth shark are very different to those of the white shark. Raggies' teeth are sharp, round and curved and are designed to hold their prey while they swallow it whole. The white shark, on the other hand, has sharp, heavy, triangular teeth for cutting their prey, such as seals, firstly to kill them and then to reduce the carcass to manageable pieces.
A surprising calmness came over me as my camera finger started pushing the button profusely, ever so careful not to take pictures in the danger zone in front of the sharks (Note: Turn the flash off before you start taking pictures, they indicate irritation by slapping their tale fins). At one point, we were looking forward at a group of raggies, when for no reason, I was wondering what would be behind me. Geeezuz, a huge raggie was coming straight for me. I pushed my finger into a hole in the hard coral, trying to get myself closer to the sandy bottom. Something in the hole was trying to get out, but I was not letting go. The shark came so close to me that my camera could not focus properly. Thank god the wetsuits was rented………This was definitely the highlight of my trip, and I would recommend it. There is something about being in such close quarters with such huge animals and no cage.
