Tony and I seized the opportunity to try out the offering of the Two Oceans Aquarium‘s joint venture with Ocean Adventurer on Valentine’s Day… For reasons of convenience rather than romance! The boat-based marine eco-tour runs three times a day during the day, taking up to 40 passengers out into Table Bay in search of macrofauna such as birds, seals and dolphins, and also microfauna such as diatoms – which are examined on the boat’s microscope and projected onto two screens on deck. Since I work every weekday (and Tony often does too), and Tony works every weekend, it’s hard to find a daytime slot when we’re both available… But fortunately on Valentine’s Day the vessel went out for a special sunset cruise at 6 p.m.
The vessel is very fetching – it’s got twin hulls, very light, powered by two 70 horsepower engines (yup, that’s all!) and has beautiful clean lines and a stunning bright blue octopus writhing along the water line. I don’t know anything about boats but Tony has years of experience fixing, modifying and assembling them and he was impressed!
The cruise we went on was for an hour (the daytime ones last 90 minutes) and because it was evening we didn’t see much in the way of wildlife… But we did pass near the site of the wreck of the SS SA Seafarer (nothing to see). There are some photos of that wreck when it occurred here and here. We also saw the remains of the engine block of the RMS Athens sticking out of the water near the promenade.
We are hoping that Tony has a non-diving day one weekend, or that I can get a morning off work sometime to try out the full eco-tour experience. My great wish is to meet a sunfish, and at certain times of year these giant, gentle creatures are abundant in Table Bay. The guide on the boat recommended the 11 a.m. trip (the first one of the day) as the one on which the most abundant marine life is spotted.
