DESTINATION FOCUS
DIVING IN By Michelle van Aardt
Charles Rowe
Charles Rowe
Charles Rowe
T
SUBMERGE • June/July 2007
Michelle v Aardt
ODI
he coral reefs in Port Elizabeth burst with colour – reds, oranges, yellows and purples as one meanders through the deep gullies, alongside drop-offs and over pinnacles. The marine life is characterised by colourful soft corals, and the concentration of species is unbelievable. One can often spend a whole dive covering only a very small area because there is so much diversity. Fish life is abundant and game fish are often seen. Algoa Bay is on the migration route of many large mammals, and sightings of Humpback and Southern Right whales, dolphins, seals and Jackass penguins often interrupt boat trips. Sometimes divers are lucky enough to see these species underwater together with turtles, rays and shark species. The gully formation of many of the reefs is an ideal habitat for the docile Ragged-tooth shark and various catsharks, such as the Pyjama and Leopard catshark. Port Elizabeth has a lot to offer all year round, and on a good day it is rated as one of the best diving areas in South Africa. There are two species of hard corals that are sited in Port Elizabeth, namely the Noble coral, which is usually seen at the Wild Side and Riy Banks in deeper water, and the Cup coral. Red and orange seafans are almost always part of the landscape, together with sponges, sea anemones and sea squirts. Because of the seasonal variation and eddy formations of the Agulhas current, numerous tropical fish species in their juvenile form are seen, particularly from January to March. The Batfish in its adult form has been seen at various times of the year on the Haerlem wreck that lies to the south of Bell Buoy Reef. Diving in Port Elizabeth is unique in that the reefs are
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widespread and are found both inside and outside Algoa Bay and at Cape Recife. Due to their distribution, the dive sites are affected differently by the weather pattern, resulting in variations in topography, marine life, bottom composition and water conditions (e.g. temperature and visibility). The general rule is that the westerly wind improves water clarity inside the Bay, and the easterly wind improves conditions at Cape Recife. This offers diversity and more opportunities to dive. Bell Buoy, Phillips, Haerlem Wreck and White Sands are the four main dive sites inside the Bay. They have depths ranging from pinnacles at 5m to depths of 20m. The topography comprises characteristic gully formation and the visibility averages between 3 and 6m. In winter, when westerly winds dominate, conditions are generally better and visibility can reach up to 10m. Bell Buoy, also known as Roman Rock, is the most commonly dived site inside the Bay as it covers a large area, is close to shore and is ideally suited for the novice diver. Riy Banks and Evans Peak are sites situated about 20km from Hobie Beach. Riy Banks is an expansive reef situated to the east and reaches depths of between 50 and 60m in places. Evans Peak is located to the south-east of St Croix Island and is unique in that it rises from 40m to a pinnacle at 15m. These sites always offer some exciting diving with their tremendous topography and depth; one is often treated to schools of fish, yellowtail, mussel cracker, turtles, sharks etc. The visibility is generally good at these sites, particularly Riy Banks where 20m visibility is common. Sites on the Wild Side include Thunderbolt, Avalanche,