Dive site news


Photos by David Caravias


What can visitors expect at your most popular dive sites over the next two months?


Aliwal Shoal


Te sardines have brought in many predators, such as the geel bek and yellow tail which are seen on the deeper wrecks and reefs or on ascents – do not forget that the dive is only over when back on the boat. Te raggies are a joy to see as usual, although they may be surpassed by sightings of pineconefish, shrimpfish and pipefish still to be identified. At 50m we have found such a beautiful reef with huge soſt corals, bryozoans and radiant ascidians, not to mention the fish! Te cold conditions this time of year keep the visibility around the 10m mark on Aliwal Shoal, and the damselfish, who are the most conspicuous inhabitants, have a rest from nesting in preparation for November/December when mating and nesting starts all over again. Te humpback whales grace us with their presence with spectacular shows of jumping and tail slapping – such a humbling sight. Finally, did you know that sea anemones are thought never to grow old and that they are overgrown coral polyps that lack a hard skeleton? Barry Coleman, Maridian Dive


Praia da Barra and surrounding areas


So… finally it is time to pack away the winter ‘woolies’, but out of experience I would not be too brave and pack away the chicken vest just yet! It is like late frost – it always catches you when least expect it and makes everything black (but in this case blue!) Te water is warming up to a more constant 25°C, occasionally higher,


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The humpback whales grace us with their presence with spectacular shows of jumping and tail slapping


and during the early mornings and nights long sleeves start to feel like overkill! Humpbacks are still migrating past our spot in Barra/ Tofo and at certain stages of the migration, from June to October, they are everywhere ‘like white on rice’, and then for some reason they disappear apart from the odd lonely splash or blow. For those staying on the beach, it is now that you start using ‘serious’ sun protection and ‘aſter sun’ lotions. Mantas and whale sharks get back to the numbers we are used to, and visibility remains the unpredictable science that it is! Dolla Crossley from Africa Bush & Dive


Guinjata Bay


Humpbacks with their calf ’s can still be seen in the Guinjata Bay area at this time of year. Te water temperature is around 25°C and is clear with visibility up to 20m. Weather conditions are perfect and many dolphins and devil rays can be seen on the dives. A new dive site has been discovered with sightings of Zambezi sharks. Te depth is 25-35m so this is ideal for any deep specialty courses. Tis time of year is also the beginning of summer and a lot of turtles can be seen during dives. Schools of kingfish, cutas and yellow fin tunas


are commonly found. Sailfish are also known to be seen on dives. Zelda Norden, Guinjata Bay Resort


Morrungulo


With the humpback whales making a late start north this year, we expect to see a few around. Te manta’s have surprised us though, as we have seen them throughout the year. Leopard sharks can be found regularly on our deeper reefs, such as Bench Mark, along with an assortment of big rays, garden eels, huge morays and schools of yellow snappers. Dolphins can be found on virtually every launch and we have noticed that they are geting more used to us divers and have been staying around to play. For the smaller fish lovers,


pipefish, tiger angels, Spanish dancers, lionfish and a fairly large selection of nudibranchs can be observed among the pristine corals on our reefs. Turtles start appearing in greater numbers at this time of the year. Water


September/October 2011


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