25 July 2015 | PROTEA BANKS

Current: medium, reverse
Viz: 30m, but reduced on the second dive
Sea Temp: 21 degrees Celsius

So of course when I hear that a BLACK MARLIN was seen on the dive the day before, while I was doing admin, of course it only makes sense that Michelle is going to get admin to do the next day, so that I can dive. So I braved the very cold wind but it was well worth it …

DIVE 1 – Northern Pinnacle: As we hit the water it was so WARM (not sure if it was that warm or the wind was just so cold … brrrrrrrrrrr), and top to bottom viz. As we got down we saw Ragged-tooth sharks leading to the first cave. The first cave was full of Ragged-tooth sharks. Managed to fine some sharks teeth. In mid water we had a few Oceanic Blacktip sharks come past. The sound of Whales was so loud we were spinning around for the rest of the dive trying to catch a glimpse of them … we did not see them, but the sound was incredible!!!

DIVE 2 – Southern Pinnacle: As we got down I saw a Ragged-tooth shark and Zambezi (Bull) shark swimming together side by side … had to look twice just to make sure … but then again, I have seen stranger (Michelle in her onesie at work). Also a Potato Bass. About a minute later I saw more Ragged-tooth sharks and then more and then more, leading to a stunning crevice. Must have seen more than 40+. I had a request to find a Nudibranch for a diver, but never found the Nudibranch as I got so absorbed in the ‘Raggies’ and reef … stunning!!!! If the dive had ended there it would have been considered a top dive, but of course on PROTEA BANKS we always have mid water and WOW, WOW, WOW … Zambezi (Bull) sharks and Oceanic Blacktip sharks popping in and out, till we got to the boat. Also shoaling Bonito and Rainbow Runners in and out. So many other fish seen as well. Viz just not so great on the safety stop, as full of Plankton and Jellyfish. And of course on the dive the sound of Whales and Dolphins … we missed the Dolphins … Jaco said about 100 passed about 20m from the buoy line and we could only see about 10m … sad face.

And with so many Humpback Whales seen from the boat today, all and all great to be out at sea … I just wished Jaco had remembered the ‘heater’ … brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.