DIVE QUALIFICATION NEEDED

OW1 or equivalent.

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2018:

On arrival at King Shaka International Airport – Durban, own arrangements, you will be met by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 1-hour road transfer to the coastal town Umkomaas. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Agulhas House on a full board basis.

www.agulhashouse.com

Included:

Meet & greet at King Shaka International Airport – Durban

Road transfer from King Shaka International Airport – Durban to Agulhas House in Umkomaas

Accommodation

Excluded:

International and domestic airfare to King Shaka International Airport – Durban

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

2018:

After an early wakeup call, at about 06h30, you will have a light continental breakfast before being transferred to the Umkomaas River mouth lagoon to launch the "Duck" (Zodiac) for your combination “baited” shark dive which is followed by an Aliwal reef / “Raggie” / wreck dive, weather permitting. Remember Tiger Shark season is from

All diving in South Africa is best done early in the morning, at dawn, as this is when there is no wind, no swell, no currents, and definitely the best time to dive. As the morning wears on, the winds tend to pick up causing a chop on the water, large swells, which result in unpleasant diving conditions.

On a baited shark dive on Aliwal, you can also expect to encounter Duskies, Black Tip Reef Shark and, if you are really, lucky, a Zambezi (Bull) Shark and / or a Tiger Shark, depending on the time of the year, as all Shark Diving on Aliwal are seasonal. The modus operandi of a baited shark dive on Aliwal follows the same procedure as a “baited” shark dive that takes place anywhere in South Africa for that matter.

Please be advised that the above mentioned sharks have not read the following Shark Time Table and therefore do not know where they are supposed to be, and when.

Shark Time Table

Once we arrive at the dive site, we start chumming so as to attract the sharks and put out a buoy with the bait which is contained in a stainless steel “box” with holes in it so that the “smell” and oil for the sardines in the “box” permeate into the water. When the first sharks appear the DM assesses the situation and if he is of the opinion that the sharks are going to stay around awhile and that they are not aggressive the divers may enter the water. Either you can view the action from the “safety” of the boat, or for non-certified divers, on snorkel. Certified divers drop down to about 5 meters and follow the action from below. This is a drift dive as the boat, chum and bait is drifting with the wind and surface current, as are the divers at 5 meters. Should the sharks disappear, the snorkelers and divers climb back onto the boat and we move to another location and start the process all over again.

And the most asked question!!! Why do we use a cage when diving with Great White’s yet when diving with Tigers, Bull Sharks etc. we don’t use a cage?? Are these Sharks not as dangerous? All wild animals in their natural environment are dangerous, but unlike Great Whites who prey on live animals, Tiger and Bull Sharks are scavengers and prefer to eat something that’s already dead rather than to hunt live pray. Let’s hope the Tiger Shark and Bull Shark agrees!!!

After your “baited” shark dive you will spend the surface interval time out at sea before commencing with your 1 tank “Raggie” / reef / wreck dive on Aliwal Shoal. Water and light refreshments are provided on board the dive boat. Please remember “Raggie” season is from July to October. I think………..!

Aliwal Shoal itself is a reef created out of fossilised sandstone almost 80 000 years ago. The area around the shoal consisted of sand dunes and, with heavy rains, the sand and shale dissolved forming a compound of calcium carbonate, which today forms the main body of the shoal. These reefs are covered with both soft and hard corals and have an abundance of fish life that is normally associated with coral reef diving.

Aliwal is about 2½ km’s long with a width averaging 150 meters. Depths very from 6 to 27 meters (19 to 88 ft.) and the shoal offers a tapestry of diversity. The Cathedral area of the reef is one of the more spectacular dives. Its inhabitants include the Ragged Tooth Shark, Loggerhead Turtle, and Ribbon Tailed Rays.

In addition to the reef itself, there are also two good wrecks on which to dive. The Produce, an 18 000 ton Norwegian tanker that hit the Shoal and sank in 1974 and the second could be on the Nebo, which struck the shoal in May 1884 and sunk almost immediately with its cargo of railway material. Both wrecks lie at approximately 30 meters and are fairly intact which makes for great wreck diving.

Aliwal offers some of the best diving on the South African coastline. After the combination “baited” shark & Aliwal reef / wreck dive, depending on shark activity, you will return to Agulhas House at about 13h00 for a shower and a hot “brunch”/lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free. Brett, the owner of Agulhas House, will be more than happy to “point you in the right direction” of the many local places of interest in and around Umkomaas. Such as Croc World, Tala Game Reserve, a Durban City Tour, a visit to uShaka Aquarium, a visit to the Natal Sharks Board, a Zulu Village cultural Tour, or an Oribi George tour. The costs of these tours have not been included in the cost of this itinerary, and would be for your own account. Overnight at Agulhas House, on a full board basis (light continental breakfast, hot “brunch”/lunch & dinner).

Included:

Breakfast

2 x dives on Aliwal Shoal, weather permitting

full equipment hire

Services of a local Dive Master

MPA dive permit

Light snacks and refreshments on board

Accommodation

Excluded:

Lunch, dinner, bar

Local tours and excursions

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

2018:

Three more days doing combination “baited” shark dive’s followed by “Raggie” /  reef / wreck dives on Aliwal Shoal, weather permitting. Depending on shark activity, you will return to Agulhas House at about 13h00 for a shower and a hot “brunch”/lunch. After “brunch”/lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free. Overnight at Agulhas House, on a full board basis (light continental breakfast, hot “brunch”/lunch & dinner).

Included:

Breakfast

2 x dives on Aliwal Shoal, weather permitting

Services of a local dive master

Full equipment hire

Light snacks and refreshments on board

Accommodation

Excluded:

Lunch, dinner, bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

Local tours and excursions

2018:

After a leisurely breakfast you will be collected from Agulhas House by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 5 hour road transfer through the heart of “The Kingdom of the Zulu Nation” and onto the Mfolozi / Hluhluwe Game Reserve, the oldest game reserve in Africa and once the private hunting ground of past Zulu Kings. En route from Agulhas House to Hluhluwe you have the option of doing a short detour to Lake St Lucia to take the 2 hour boat cruise up the St Lucia Estuary to view the hundreds of hippo's and Nile Crocodiles that have made this estuary their natural 'home". The cost of this tour has not been included in the cost of this tour and would be for your own account. You would arrive at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe at 14h30 in time to check in and enjoy high tea at 15h00. Afterwards, you will report to reception to join the evening safari departing at 16h00. This safari is conducted in "open" Land Cruisers with professional guides. After the 3 hour safari, at 19h00, you will return to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge for dinner. Dinner will be in the restaurant or on the deck under the African stars. Overnight at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, in a Safari Room, on a fully inclusive basis.

www.isibindiafrica.co.za

Included:

Full English breakfast

Road transfer from Agulhas House, Umkomaas to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe

KwaZulu/Natal Conservation Levy

High tea

Evening safari

Dinner

Accommodation

Excluded:

Lunch, bar

Optional tour to Lake St. Lucia

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

Additional dives & touring

2018:

Full day on safari with Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe / Umfolozi. You will be woken up at 06h00 for early morning tea / coffee and rusks after which you will depart on your early morning safari at 07h00. Please check departure times with reception the night before as this changes month to month, depending on sunrise. All animal viewing is best done in the early morning and late afternoon when it’s cool. This is when the animals are more active and easier to spot. From about 10h00 till 15h00 when the day is at its hottest the animals tend to lie in the shade, not moving, which makes for difficult viewing. While on safari, you will stop somewhere in the bush for tea / coffee and snacks where after you will continue with the safari. Depending on animal activity you will return to the lodge at 10h00 where you will have “brunch”. Rest of the morning / afternoon free to laze by the pool, visit the Spa, spend time bird watching around camp or join a 3 hour guided bush walk. Please note that the cost of the guided bush walks and Spa treatments are not included and this will be for the client’s account. At about 15h00 you will again report for high tea before departing on the evening safari. After the evening safari you will have dinner and overnight at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, in a Safari Room, on a fully inclusive basis.

In between morning and evening game drives, the following activities are available: A visit Isimangaliso Wetland Park; a visit Lake St Lucia; a visit to the Border Caves, a visit to the Nongomo Market, a visit to the uMthayi Marula Festival held around mid-February each year and cultural tours. The costs of these activities are not included in the cost of this tour and will be for your own account.

Included:

Early morning safari

 Breakfast

 Brunch

High tea

Evening safari

Dinner

Accommodation

Excluded:

Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

Extra nature activities other than the morning and evening safari's

2018:

Another full day on safari with Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe which will include the early morning game drive (Safari), and the afternoon / evening game drive. Additional bush walks are available as an optional extra and have not been included in the cost of this tour. Overnight at with Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, in a Safari Room, on a fully inclusive basis.

Included:

Early morning safari

 Brunch

High tea

Evening safari

Dinner

Accommodation

Excluded:

Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

Extra nature activities other than the morning and evening safari's

2018:

After the early morning safari followed by brunch you will be collected from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 2½ hour road transfer to the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park and Sodwana Bay Lodge. On arrival at Sodwana Bay Lodge, you will have the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed, and breakfast basis.

www.sodwanabaylodge.com

Included:

Early morning safari

 Breakfast

Road transfer from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge to Sodwana Bay lodge

Dinner

Accommodation

Excluded:

Lunch, Bar

Duma Zulu village tour

Gratuities

Extra nature activities other than the morning and evening safari's

2018:

After an early wake up you will walk the short distance from your room to the dive centre where you will meet “the Crew”, sign the indemnity, kit-up and transfer to the beach. On arrival at the beach, you will assemble your scuba equipment, attend dive planning, and help launch the “duck.” For the two planned dives on the magnificent coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, weather permitting. The surf launches at “Soddies” are far tamer than the launches at both Aliwal and Protea. The reefs at Soddies are one of the southernmost coral reefs in the world and are even more south than Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has 1 800 species of fish, and Sodwana, which is 1/10 the size of the Great Barrier Reef, has 1 200 species of fish, six of which are endemic to the Sodwana area. Your chances of seeing more species of fish are greater at Sodwana, than on the Great Barrier Reef, due to the concentration of the fish in the area that you are diving on! Both your dives are scheduled for 2 Mile Reef, the largest of Sodwana’s Reefs. Should you wish to dive on either Five Mile Reef, Seven Mile Reef, or the fabulous and seldom dived, Nine Mile Reef, the far reef surcharge would be for your own account, and these far reef dives should be booked in advance, at the dive centre at the lodge. Sodwana’s reefs are all unromantically named by the distance they are from the launch site, Jesser Point. For a deep dive, Sponges is a must, and is best dived on Nitrox, which is available at Sodwana. Please be advised that all diving in South Africa is best done early in the morning, just after sunrise, because as the morning wears on, the wind tends to pick up, causing a chop on the water, which makes for unpleasant and even dangerous diving. This leaves the afternoons free to explore the Isimangaliso National Park. In addition to diving, and deep-sea fishing, the Lodge has a Spa, and offers microlight flights of between 10 and 45-minute durations, boat based snorkelling, and whale watching from June – November. None of these activities have been included in the cost below and would be for your own account. Overnight Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Included:

Road transfer from the Dive Centre at Sodwana Bay Lodge to the Beach

1 x 9 mile and 1 x 2 Mile reef dive (weather permitting)

 Tanks, Weights and Air

Services of a qualified dive master

Breakfast, Dinner, Accommodation

Excluded:

Government dive tax per person which must be paid in cash to the dive shop

Daily beach permit per person which must be paid in cash at the entrance to the beach

Dive equipment other than tanks weights and air

Additional dives

Lunch, Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

2018:

Another four 2-Mile Reef dives on the magnificent coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, weather permitting. The afternoon is free to explore Sodwana, which forms part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park (now the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site). This could include going on a guided walk on the Mgobozeleni Trail. This is a walk of about 5 km (3 miles), through coastal forest and grasslands, but beware of hippos and crocodiles! Or you could take a 4x4 ride to Lake Sybia, which is the largest in-land freshwater lake in South Africa. These activities have not been included in the cost of this itinerary and would be for your own account. At Sodwana there is just so much one can do! Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Included:

Road transfer from the Dive Centre to the Beach

1 x 9 mile and 1 x 2 Mile reef dive (weather permitting)

 Tanks, Weights and Air

Services of a qualified dive master

Breakfast, Dinner, Accommodation

Excluded:

DAN divers insurance

Daily beach permit per person which must be paid in cash at the entrance to the beach

Dive equipment other than tanks weights and air

Additional dives

Lunch, Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

2018:

Your last two dives on Sodwana's 2-Mile Reef, weather permitting, Having, hopefully, weather permitting, completed 8 dives on Sodwana’s reefs, you will now appreciate why Paul Spohr, owner of the Scuba Centers of Michigan, had this to say after diving Sodwana Bay:

The reef system in Sodwana Bay is the healthiest and most diverse system I have seen in my 23 years of doing tours. I have dove all over the world and our facility books 10-30 trips a year and I have never been so impressed by any reef system.

After the 2^nd dive you will have the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Included:

Road transfer from the Dive Centre to the Beach

1 x 9 mile and 1 x 2 Mile reef dive (weather permitting)

 Tanks, Weights and Air

Services of a qualified dive master

Breakfast, Dinner, Accommodation

Excluded:

DAN divers insurance

Daily beach permit per person which must be paid in cash at the entrance to the beach

Dive equipment other than tanks weights and air

Additional dives

Lunch, Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities

2018:

After a leisurely breakfast you will be collected from Sodwana Bay Lodge by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the return 5 hour road transfer to King Shaka International Airport – Durban where you will connect with your return flight home. Own arrangements. End of services.

Included:

Breakfast

Road transfer from Sodwana Bay Lodge to King Shaka International Airport – Durban

Excluded:

Additional touring

Domestic and international flights

Accommodation

Lunch, Dinner, Bar

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities