| South Africa were spent just south of Durban in the | | | | Rag-tooth Shark and a turtle eating some soft coral. |
| town of Umkomaas which is close to the famous | | | | All in all, it wasn’t a bad collection of pictures but |
| Aliwal Shoals. Diving is normally from RIBs (Rigid | | | | back on the surface, I was a lot less comfortable and |
| Inflatable Boats) so groups are small and it’s a | | | | was very glad when we got back on dry land. A |
| bit of fun getting to and from the dive sites. My final | | | | cooked breakfast and nice cup of tea soon sorted me |
| few days in South Africa were spent just south of | | | | out ready for an afternoon of laziness. |
| Durban in the town of Umkomaas which is close to | | | | My third and final days diving saw the best conditions |
| the famous Aliwal Shoals. Located about 30 miles | | | | so far. The sea was very flat and visibility under the |
| south of Durban, Umkomaas is a small town that | | | | surface was much improved. Just prior to jumping in, |
| seems to be there primarily for the diving industry and I | | | | we found a number of dolphins who predictably |
| stayed at the Aliwal Dive Centre which had | | | | disappear as soon as the cameras were ready. Never |
| accommodation on site. This suited me fine as diving in | | | | mind, we had 50 minutes underwater ahead of us and |
| KwaZulu Natal generally starts early and is finished by | | | | in we went. As the previous 2 days, there was a |
| lunchtime as by then the sea has started to get a bit | | | | surge and a current but there was also a variety of |
| too rough. | | | | marine life and I managed to get photos of Potato |
| Diving is normally from RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) so | | | | Cod, Clown Fish, Sea Snake (back half), Scorpion Fish, |
| groups are small and it’s a bit of fun getting to | | | | Moray Eel and a partly hidden Octopus. |
| and from the dive sites. I prebooked 3 days diving (2 | | | | Not bad and we were soon back on board heading |
| dives a day) and arrived around 6:30pm the night | | | | back to shore. However, June/July in KZN sees the |
| before where I met one of the Divemasters and a | | | | annual Sardine Run and there had been reports of a |
| couple of other lads who were staying at the centre. | | | | large shoal about 100km south of us. On the way back |
| After I put my luggage in my room, we went around | | | | we say some activity to the south and headed over |
| the corner for something to eat before crashing out as | | | | to investigate. There we found a small shoal of |
| it was an early start in the morning. | | | | sardines being attacked by a number of sharks. We |
| Aliwal Shoal has a reputation as one of the best dive | | | | also noticed that more and more fishermen were |
| sites in the world and is a hot spot for sharks so | | | | appearing on the coast. The arrival of the Sardines is a |
| having spent the previous week viewing land | | | | big event each winter and they are remorselessly |
| predators, it was the turn of the their marine | | | | attack by predators from land (humans), sea (dolphins, |
| counterparts. The briefing was straightforward and we | | | | tuna, sharks, whales) and the air (gannets and other |
| were soon off out to the first dive site. The marine life | | | | sea birds). |
| viewing started in spectacular fashion before we even | | | | I decided to abandon the 2nd dive of the morning as I |
| reached the dive site with 3 humpbacked whales | | | | wanted to see something of the Sardine Run before I |
| appearing close by so we took time to head over to | | | | left. I had my breakfast, showered, changed and |
| them and took a few pictures. Soon they disappeared | | | | headed back to the coast. Most of the parking places |
| from view leaving us with the classic whale | | | | and vantage points were busy by now and more |
| tale’ view so on we headed to the dive site. | | | | people were arriving all the time as word of the |
| Diving on Aliwal Shoal tends to always involve a | | | | sardines spread. After a while, I went back to the dive |
| current and is always affected by surge so overall, its | | | | centre and they suggested I head further south so off |
| not ideal for taking photos. However, its something I | | | | I went and all along the coast road were fishermen |
| always try to do and the area is particularly well | | | | parking up and I also saw people selling sardines from |
| known for rag-tooth and tiger sharks. My last dive had | | | | buckets that they had obviously caught earlier that |
| been in August last year so I started taking pictures of | | | | day. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any David |
| fairly mundane marine life just to get the camera | | | | Attenborough’ type action with regards to the |
| settings correct. By the end of the 2nd dive, I had | | | | Sardines but it was interesting nonetheless and I did |
| managed 6 pictures that I was happy with including a | | | | get to see a little bit more of KZN. |
| small scorpion fish that I nearly put my hand on, a | | | | The following morning, I enjoyed a bit of a lay in before |
| paper fish which I’d never seen before and a | | | | the mammoth task of trying to pack everything into |
| turtle. | | | | my suitcase. Over the last 2 weeks, I’d been |
| The following day, the sea was pretty rough with | | | | given so many things it was a real challenge to get the |
| swells of around 3m, not ideal for me as I suffer a bit | | | | suitcase closed, never mind under the 23kg limit. |
| in small boats. Given the surface conditions, I was a bit | | | | However, I eventually binned quite a lot of unwanted |
| surprised that underwater, it was better than the | | | | paper and the suitcase seemed quite light although the |
| previous day. I managed to get pictures of a Manta | | | | true test would come at check-in and the risk of |
| Shrimp, a couple of Ramoras (the long thing fish that | | | | excess baggage. |
| normally attach themselves to sharks), a video of a | | | | |