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~SHARK SAFARI~
ALIWAL SHOAL / SODWANA BAY / ROCKTAIL BAY & SOUTHERN MOZAMBIQUE ~ 2 - 5+ shark species
'January - April'
DAY 1
- Arrive Durban International airport where the Zulu kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal awaits you
- Meet your transfer to Fontana Farm, Aliwal Shoal, with it’s tranquil farm setting, complete with horses in the paddock and magnificent Indian Ocean & Umkomazi River views
- Commence with the SharkLife / PADI Project Aware ocean conservation course (optional on this day) or spend the day at rest, taking a casual stroll around the 100 hectare farm
- Dinner at a local restaurant
DAY 2
OPTION 1
- 08h00 Breakfast
- 09h00 Project Aware ocean conservation course
- 11h00 Tiger shark specialty course
- 13h00 Lunch
- 14h00 Blacktip shark specialty course
- 19h00 Dinner at a local restaurant
OPTION 2
Get yourself ready to dive Aliwal Shoal, one of the most diverse dive sites in the world, where the locals say “the dive is never over until you are back on the boat”
- 06h30 Breakfast
- 08h00 Dive 1 Aliwal Shoal
- 11h00 Light lunch
- 12h30 Dive 2 Aliwal Shoal
- 15h00 Afternoon free
- 18h00 Sundowners overlooking the Indian Ocean
- 19h00 Dinner at a local restaurant
DAY 3
- 06h00 Breakfast
- 07h00 Depart for tiger shark & blacktip shark dive
- 13h00 Lunch
- 14h00 Afternoon free - horse riding an option
- 17h00 Dinner at a Durban restaurant
DAY 4
- 08h00 Breakfast
- 09h00 Ragged tooth shark specialty course
- 12h00 Light lunch
- 14h00 Whale shark specialty course
- 19h00 Traditional South African Braai / barbecue Al Fiume
DAY 5
- 07h00 Breakfast
- 08h30 Depart Fontana Farm – Aliwal Shoal
Transfer to Sodwana Bay – approximate travel time 5 hours. Head up the North coast of KwaZulu-Natal with scenic views.
Stop and shop at Zamimpilo (time dependant) – a traditional Zulu cultural shopping experience.
With its tropical diving, Sodwana Bay, rated alongside Aliwal Shoal as a top international dive site and certainly South Africa’s most popular dive destination. The reefs are exquisite, with warm waters, great visibility and biodiversity said to rival that of the Great Barrier Reef.
DAY 6
- 07h00 Breakfast
- Launch 1 Look for whale sharks & whale shark interaction
- Dive 1 Sodwana Bay
- Lunch
- Launch 2 Dive 2 Sodwana Bay
- Afternoon free
- Dinner
DAY 7
- 06h00 Breakfast
- Launch 3 Dive 3 interact with Spotted Ragged tooth shark
- Lunch
- Launch 4 2nd dive Spotted Ragged tooth shark or
- Dive 4 Sodwana Bay
- Afternoon free
- Dinner
DAY 8
- 07h00 Breakfast
- Launch 5 Dive 5 Sodwana Bay
- Lunch
- 13h00 Depart Sodwana Bay
- 14h30 Arrive Rocktail Bay - 1½ hours north of Sodwana Bay
Few places along the South African coastline are as unspoiled and secluded as this “secret spot” and during our time here you will be spoiled rotten with extraordinary diving, intimate service and pristine sandy beaches.
These are some of the southernmost coral reefs in the world, sporting more hard coral species than the Caribbean and more than half the world’s soft coral species.
DAY 9
- Breakfast
- Dive 1 Rocktail Bay – head out to Island Rock to dive with the pregnant Spotted Ragged tooth sharks
- Lunch
- Dive 2 Rocktail Bay
- Afternoon / late afternoon free
- Dinner
DAY 10
- Dive 3 Rocktail Bay
- After breakfast or the dive, depart Rocktail Bay (optional) for Ponta d’ Ouro, southern Mozambique
- For those on this itinerary, the Bull (Zambezi) Shark specialty course will be done whilst at Rocktail Bay (optional)
- The trip is 1 hour north from Rocktail Bay and the border gate closes at 5pm SHARP!!
- Collection time from the border depends on departure time from Rocktail Bay after the morning dive
- Afternoon free to explore the beaches and small town of Ponta d’ Ouro
Just a hop across the South African border will find you in a remote place where time has stood still, a place that offers the most amazing coral reef diving, summer time shark diving and a place that still remains the best kept secret. This place is Ponta d’ Ouro, southern Mozambique.
DAY 11
- 06h00 Breakfast
- 08h00 Dive 1 – Pinnacles / Lego land / Ponta ledge – interact with Bull (Zambezi) sharks with the possibility of sightings of Hammerhead, Oceanic White Tip, Tiger & Great White sharks
- 12h00 Dive 2 – southern Mozambique
- 14h30 Late lunch
- Afternoon free to explore an endless beach to the north and to the south
- Dinner
DAY 12
- 06h00 Breakfast
- 08h00 Dive 3 – Pinnacles / Lego land / Ponta ledge – Bull (Zambezi) shark dive
- 12h00 Dive 4 – southern Mozambique
- 14h30 Late lunch
- Afternoon free
- Dinner
DAY 13
- 06h00 Breakfast
- 08h00 Dive 5 - Pinnacles or coral reef dive
- 13h00 Depart Ponta d’ Ouro
An additional add-on can be to depart to Kwabhekithunga (Stewarts Farm) for a Zulu cultural visit or to continue with additional extensions to the itinerary. It can also be designed to include a spectacular trip to one of the main South African game reserves in Hluhluwe or Umfolozi.
NOTE:
The shark & ocean awareness courses are optional but are recommended prior to all shark diving taking place. All courses are SharkLife & PADI accredited.
Rocktail Bay is a tide dependant launch and breakfast may take place prior to or after the 1st dive of the day. Lunch may follow after the 2nd dive or it may take place in-between dives.
Turtle nesting & hatchling season at Rocktail Bay is from October to March each year and turtle drives are undertaken on the low tide.
For the Ponta d’ Ouro southern Mozambique extension, please note the following:
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Malaria:
Ponta d’ Ouro does fall within the endemic area for malaria. Prophylaxis is a personal choice. Although no malaria has been experienced in the last 10 years we recommend you take other precautions: the use of mosquito repellents such as Peaceful Sleep, Tabard & mosquito coils. Peaceful Sleep is provided in all rooms! LARIUM is not recommended for scuba divers.
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Currency exchange:
There is no need to exchange rands for the local currency, the meticas, as rands are freely used in Ponta d Ouro. There are a number of shops, where you can buy basics, beverages etc. However, items are expensive. There is also a local Crafts market where you can buy wooden carvings, batiks, & paintings and there are a number of bars & restaurants in the small town.
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Electricity:
220V Supply. Each room has a South African plug point.
NOTE: Guests must please bring their own towels for diving/swimming, torches & snack items. Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages and ice are available from the roof bar at very reasonable prices
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