Hi divers
The rain has started and with it should come winter weather, clean cold and crisp water – yet its not quite here. I launched the boat in Hout Bay today and looked at the BOS 400, Duiker Island and the area of the MV Aster, and saw very brown water. False Bay is not looking all that great but it will certainly be the better option for this weekend.
Last weekend was a pretty dry weekend (I stayed indoors) and we did not dive at all. We took the boat out on Friday and ran down to Cape Point and back, on the way passing a dive boat full of very cold and unhappy divers as the visibility was very poor everywhere and the wind was howling. Sadly using Facebook as a guide to dive conditions is a little hazardous as in many instances the reported visibility is in direct proportion to the number of bookings for the next day that the poster has.
I have done a lot of work on the boat, a fair amount of testing and today secured a SAMSA seaworthy certificate. This was celebrated with a launch in Hout Bay. I do not intend competing with the current regular dive charters for a finite amount of divers but will instead focus on the dives no one else wants to do. Some of the plans we have will include midweek launches, diving sites seldom if ever dived, longer dives for those with good air consumption and perhaps cameras, and some exploration of places that appeal. So if diving to the limits of your computer rather that the limits of the rest of the divers on the boat appeals to you then watch this space. The boat is certified for eight people but we will try and keep the number of divers to four and will primarily do double tank dives. The practice of hauling the boat in and out of the water between dives has never appealed to me and I will do my best to avoid this.
Mozambique
Mozambique is booked, and this being a quiet time of the year the camp and dive centre is not full so if you have a change of heart there is still time to add you on. Flights will start becoming more expensive but are currently available. Those of you who are confirmed will hear from me in the next day or two.
Cape Town Dive Festival
This is going to be quite an event and bookings are coming from all over the country. We are going to book the following dives so if you want to dive with us go to the dive festival website and book:
Friday 10 August
1150 SAS Pietermaritzburg
Saturday 11 August
0920 Fan Reef
1220 Seal Rock
For the Gerards, Cecils and Goots, book yourselves on the SAS Fleur post haste as it will soon be full. You can in fact choose any of the dives that interest you and we will arrange gear for anyone that needs.
Weekend plans
Our weekend plans are as follows, Saturday, Long Beach to finish a few Open Water students, Sunday boat dives (I think with Underwater Explorers) for those that need a boat. Where we launch from on Sunday will depend on water colour and wind conditions but this call we will only make later tomorrow or Saturday. Neither False Bay or the Atlantic are looking their best today so we will wait and see.
regards
Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/
Diving is addictive!
