The Sardine Run 2013

Sardine Run 2013

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The Sardine Run is one of the few trips we organise for groups and not for private or couple divers. South Africa is a great place to experience with a small but selected group of divers and friends. Not being a close up destination for most of our clients, we wanted the trip to be worthwhile at its best and the two-weeks program waiting for them was just amazing. As you probably know, South Africa’s sea has much more to offer then the solo Sardine Run; in South Africa you can dive with a numerous different species of sharks and you can even cage diving with the great white shark. First part: Baited dives in Umkomaas We landed in Durban in the middle of the South African winter on the 26th of June, but was not really what you would expect finding on classic winter season: sunny days were welcoming us with average of 22º temperature. A nice lodge with pool and BBQ facility, in the centre of Umkomaas is where we spent the first five nights. We did two dives in the morning and had the afternoons free to browse around and relax. Aliwal Shoal, the diving spot in…

A great white shark

Cage Diving with the Great White Shark in South Africa

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South Africa is one of the few places in the world where cage diving with great white sharks has a high rate of success. The weather conditions and the abundance of food is just perfect for spotting this majestic creature. The Great White Shark The great white shark is the well known King of the ocean, a big shark that can reach up to 6 mt in length, 3,300 kg in weight and live up to 30 years. Prefers water temperature between 12 and 24. An amazing creature that you can watch from the safety of an underwater cage. Best places to cage diving Great white sharks have been spotted in United States (Atlantic Northeast and California), Japan, Oceania, Chile, and the Mediterranean, but by far the best location of all to cage diving with them is in South Africa and more precisely Seal Island in False Bay and Dyer Island in Gansbaai. The most active period to have better chances is between February and September. How does it work You rather go around the Seal Island in False Bay because is less touristy and in the right season you have very good chances to see the great white. The…

Whale shark of the Maldives

Whale Sharks of the Maldives

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Whale sharks are the biggest fish of the ocean and the south of Ari Atoll, in the Maldives, is a great place to dive and snorkel with this breathtaking creature. About whale sharks Whale sharks are filter feeding sharks that can reach up to 12 meters in length and 20 tons in weight. Whale sharks live mainly in tropical and warm seas, and have been spotted all around the world. They are pelagic fish that can dive deeper than 1.000 meters. Whale shark diet As one of only three known filter feeding shark species, whale sharks feed mainly on plankton but there are also records of them eating schools of small fish, clouds of eggs, small squid and vertebrates. Whale shark reproduction Whale sharks are ovoviviparous, which means that the eggs remain in the body of the female sharks. The young sharks are born between 40 to 60 centimetres in length. Whale sharks reach sexual maturity at around 30 years old, and their lifespan is estimated to be between 70 and 100 years. Whale sharks in the Maldives The whale sharks that you can find in the Maldives are rather small ones, measuring on average between 4 and 8 meters….

Scuba diving in Malta

Dive Malta

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Situated just underneath Sicily, Malta is composed of three small islands that hosts some of the most beautiful diving spots of the Mediterranean sea. Malta offers a beautiful sea, a rich history, good food and if you live in Europe is just a couple of hours away from your town. Best time to dive in Malta Divers here dive all year round but the best time to dive is in summer, between June and September, when the water reaches even 28 degrees and the days are sunny without the fall of a single drop of rain. In summer you can dive with a 5mm but there are divers that enjoy even a shorty in July and August. Where to dive in Malta There are beautiful spots in all three islands of the archipelago: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Dive sites in Malta In the main island of Malta the dive spots are spread mainly around the western part of the Island. The wrecks of Cirkewwa Cirkewwa is probably the most famous diving spot, it’s where you go at least once in your diving holiday. Situated to the most north point of Malta, just next to the jetty of the ferry that…

Sardine Run: the greatest shoal on earth

Sardine Run – The Greatest Shoal on Earth

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What is it? The Sardine Run is an epic wildlife event. Billion of sardines migrate northward along the South African coast following a current of cold water coming from the Agulhas Bank. The run begins when the water temperature drops below 21° C. The huge migration attracts thousands of dolphins, sharks, game fish, seagulls, and different species of whales. During the Sardine Run the shoals can be more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 meters deep and it is visible from ultralight planes. Where is it? The Sardine Run starts in the waters of Agulhas Bank, shallow part of the southern African continental shelf, situated south of Cape Agulhas. The best place to dive with the shoals is in the Wild Coast, in the waters in front of Port St. Johns. When is it? The whole migrations happens every year, depending of many factors, one of this is the water temperature, from May through July. The best time, where you have more chances to live the Sardine Run is between the end of June and the beginning of July. Why it is so special Amazing sea life The shoals of sardines along the coast attracts many different…