1 Weeks Diving around Durban

[ajrbrown]

Hi

Currently planning our honeymoon around Southern Africa and would like a few peoples opinions on diving in the Durban area.

We’re going right at the end of August until late September and plan a week in the Cape Town area (where I’m hoping to persuade the soon-to-be Mrs to go for the Great White cage dive (Me: “…but it’s like a small cute whale with slightly more teeth!”), then up to Namibia for 12 days. After this we’ll be back at Jo’burg with 9 days to spare. Having done the cooler Cape and Namibia, the requirements are for a bit of beach and hot weather to chill out – but obviously I’d like to fit in some cool pelagic diving as well.

For those with experience of both – would you recommend spending the time at Aliwal and Protea or heading to Sodwana and possibly up to Ponta D’ouro (Mozambique)? Or would a combination of both be workable in that timespan? Is self-drive the best way to get about? Also any recommendations for ‘honeymoon’ accommodation in this neck of the woods?

Incidentally, we’ve been to Tofo, Mozambique a couple of years ago – absolutely fantastic diving (Mantas everywhere!) – Highly recommend it and I’d love to go back, but difficulty persuading the better half due to the fact we’ve been there before and the accommodation is a little on the basic side.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Andrew

 

[nikkig]

Hi Andrew,

I would say that it would depend on what type of holiday you want in the Durban area. Aliwal is about 45mins South of Durban by car, and is in a much more commercialised area than Sodwana/Mozambique, so if you are looking to do any activities apart from diving/beach you would probably find more to do in the area. Protea Banks is located in Shelley Beach about 1 hour further on than Aliwal.

Sodwana is about 3.5 hours north of Durban and is in a reasonably secluded area - so if you want to dive and then just chill on the beach and not do too much else, it is great! Ponta d'Oura is about 1-2 hours further than Sodwana, however is only accessible by 4x4 once you cross the border into Mozambique (there is a car park at the border and some of the dive camps offer border transfers).

I am quite a new diver, so the following observations are based on fairly limited experience! (Approx. 5 dives each at Sodwana & Ponta, and 10 at Aliwal). Aliwal is known for the ragged tooth sharks in season (June to Sept?) - I dived there last year July, and we saw about 25 raggies! I have not dived Protea yet, but it is where people generally go so see sharks and big game fish. In general, my impression of Aliwal has been that it is more "rugged diving" than Ponta/Sodwana, which seem to offer slightly more "tropical" conditions in terms of the underwater landscape. You could take a look at this link for more info on the type of diving to expect at each place : www.scuba-diving.co.za

Let me know if you need any other info - and hope you have a great holiday!

Nikki

 

[SA-Diver]

In the Durban area the best place to dive - especially the time of year you will be there - is Aliwal Shoal (Umkommas, appr 30minutes South of Durban).
The surf launches could be challenging but the diving on the Shoal is excellent.
You should see Raggies (Grey Nurse Sharks), Manta's, Dolphins, Hammerheads during that time of the year.
For a more challlenging dive in terms of depth and currents you can go and dive Protea Banks off Shelly Beach - appr 1 hours drive South of Durban (expect to see Zambezi Sharks, Raggies, lots of Rays, Hammerheads).
There is also an aquarium dive at Ushaka Marine world in Durban.

For more info look at:

www.seafever.co.za
www.aliwalshoal.com
www.thewhaler.co.za

or do a search for Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks on the web.

We dive with Seafever once a month (about five dives every time).
The Whaler is also highly recommended and if I am not mistaken is used extensively by "ShoalDiverSA" - a member on the board.

PM me if you need more info.

Kobus

 

[ajrbrown]

Thanks for the info. Surf entry/exit not a problem (Got quite into them at Tofo) and have 160ish dives and a fair amount of experience with currents. What would the land temp, water temp be like around Durban at that time of year?

Thanks

Andrew

 

[SA-Diver]

End August beginning September you should have great weather around Durban (spring).
Land temp (24-28 degrees C during the day - might cool off to high 10's at night)
Water temp (19-22 degrees C - this sometimes changes overnight depending on what the currents do).
It can become very windy that time of the year - sometimes to the point where the charters are unable to launch.

 

[scubaculture]

If you get the chance to dive at Aliwal you will not regret it. I go down there every second week on average and I have yet to get bored of the diving there. Try get a dive on the Produce while you are there, still one of my favourite dives

The diving at Protea Banks is fantastic if you looking for a challenging dive, big shark, big fish and big current.

Best wishes