It’s been a few months, hey! I hope you are all well, and getting outdoors and that you’ve been making the most of what we’re permitted to do at each point in the (confusing!) lockdown regulations. We’ve made the most of the break from normal life, and among other things we’ve used the downtime to spruce up our formerly tired boat trailer.
Seahorse reclining in the driveway awaiting the return of her improved trailer
The good news (and the reason I’m in your inbox) is that dive boat operators have been given the go ahead to resume charters, at 50% capacity with all the standard Covid-19 distancing and masking precautions, as from today. The bad news is that we don’t think it’s safe for us to open for business just yet, so we won’t be launching in the immediate future. I’ll keep you posted as things develop.
In the last few weeks, shore divers have been taking advantage of beautiful False Bay winter conditions. I encourage you to get outside and get wet – it’s one of the safest places you can be, provided you follow some simple precautions.
Greetings to you from this altered reality. There’s nothing to report on the diving front, but I did want to draw your attention to an important biodiversity project that might help to lift the lockdown blues this weekend, after you bake a loaf of sourdough.
The rocky shore near Gifkommetjie
City Nature Challenge – Lockdown Edition
It’s the City Nature Challenge this weekend, from tomorrow until Monday (24-27 April). This year it’s a bit different than usual (like everything, unfortunately) – we’d love to be doing this on the beach or underwater. But it’s not to be. Spot plants, birds and animals in your garden, and log the sightings using the iNaturalist app.
You don’t have to know what you’re spotting; experts will assist with identification after the fact. Get outside, learn some more about your surroundings, and blow away those video conferencing cobwebs. There’s a facebook page here, with some fun challenges (Bioblitz bingo, anyone?) and a facebook event here.
Stay at home, stay safe, and we hope to see you again when this has passed.
This is a strange time to be alive, and we are all (hopefully) adjusting to being confined to our homes for the next 21 and perhaps more days. This is a challenge, as I don’t need to tell you. Thankfully there are ways to pass the time, whilst not forgetting about the ocean and scuba diving, and I thought I’d share a few of them with you.
Interesting gaps between the rocks and in the kelp are fun for divers!
Free online first aid courses from DAN
DAN Southern Africa has generously made their catalogue of online first aid courses free of charge for the next one month. Pick from the list below:
(Rocking back and forth on your couch contemplating existence and eating popcorn is also ok – don’t feel obliged to try to transform yourself into an intellectual and physical hulk during lockdown.)
Marine Life Identification with Georgina Jones
The City iNaturalist Challenge is rolling around again at the end of April. Georgina’s planned fish ID workshops probably aren’t going to happen in the originally planned face to face format, so she’s preparing daily online posts with information (and photos) on common marine life around Cape Town. You can find these in the Underwater Cape Town facebook group, which you should join if you’re not already a member. Georgina knows what she’s talking about.
The Sea-Change book
We reviewed the incredible Sea Change book a while ago. During the lockdown period, the Sea Change team is making the e-book available free of charge to South Africans. All you need to do is send an email to get a special download code for the Sea Change website. Details here (facebook – may be slow to load thanks to a broken undersea cable).
This is a beautiful offer; you’ll be able to explore the kelp forests from the comfort of your couch, as long as this goes on.
For the kids
Audible is allowing free streaming of a large catalogue of kids’, teens’ and classic books read by awesome narrators: check out stories.audible.com.
Local illustrator Patrick Latimer has created Halfsies, a free print-it-yourself pdf of pictures for kids (or you) to complete, and then colour. Find it here.
Virus information
Much less wonderfully, we’re sure you already know about several of these, but here’s a list of reputable sources for coronavirus updates:
Finally, to all of you and your families, please do your utmost to stay well, stay at home, and see you on the other side. To the healthcare workers – we cannot thank you enough.
It is a tough situation we find ourselves in, and it has been hard to watch other countries go through a meltdown that I hope we can avoid here in South Africa.
Diving is safe providing you know who you are diving with, use all your own equipment and give your dive buddies a wide berth. In diver training this is not an option, and practicing social distancing on a dive boat is equally difficult.
Sadly in the interest of safety, for both you and I, we will take a break from diving for a short time. We will continue the newsletter weekly and return to training, diving and boat launches as soon as it is safe.
DAN Europe and DAN Southern Africa have issued statements about dive gear and dive travel – worth a read.
Baden Powell drive from the air
During these unusual times, remember that the outdoors, enjoyed at a safe distance from anyone you don’t share a home with, can provide both enjoyment and some mental health rejuvenation. Snorkeling in a tidal pool, or a walk on the beach, can help with that cabin fever.
I again have students in the pool on Friday, and we will shore dive on Saturday. No boat dives planned. Sunday sadly looks a little on the windy side.
Sunset over Langebaan lagoon
Yoshi the turtle has made landfall in Australia. She was probably hoping to watch the Formula One. Read all about her incredible journey here. What a girl!
Do you live in a city? Worried about keeping yourself and those you care about healthy? Here’s a helpful article. Look after yourselves and stay safe!
We have south easterly winds of between 30 and 60 km/h spread out over the next few days, and as a result I am not planning any dives for this weekend.
SAS Somerset at the V&A Waterfront
Diver24
Join UCT Underwater Club and the Two Oceans Aquarium for their annual Diver24 event. This year you can enjoy diving-related talks, snacks, and the vibe of the aquarium at night. More info here (facebook).
On your way, you can check out SAS Somerset, pictured above, as she lists slightly in her berth behind the aquarium. She’s the sister ship of SAS Fleur, a deep dive not too far from Seal Island in False Bay.
I’ve got students in the pool on Saturday, and Sunday looks too windy for dives, so we’ll have to wait to get in some salt water until conditions improve.
Turtle time
It’s the start of that time of year when turtles strand on the beaches of the Western Cape. What to do if you find one? Don’t throw it back into the sea. The Two Oceans Aquarium explains how you should proceed. Read more here.
Sunday: Shore dives from Long Beach in Simons Town
The Kakapo on Long Beach, Kommetjie
Thanks to the south easter, the Atlantic is getting cleaner. Hout Bay is still a little grubby, but there are two days of strong south easterly wind to fix it before Sunday. The temperature is already down to 12 degrees.
Sunday will most likely be the best bet for dives, out of Hout Bay or Granger Bay. The swell, however, is bigger that my boat likes, so we will shore dive in Simons Town on Sunday instead. Let me know if you’re keen.
I’m shore diving students on Saturday morning at Long Beach, starting crisply with the dawn (ok, close enough). There’s a good gap in the wind, but to take advantage we need to be up with the birds.
Olifantsbos at Cape Point
Beach clean and Trash Bash
Two for your diaries:
The Beach Co-Op’s first new moon clean at Surfers Corner is this Saturday at 9.00am – details here
The Two Oceans Aquarium’s first Trash Bash of the year is at Rondevlei Nature Reserve the following Saturday, 1 February – details here. Maybe we’ll see a hippo…
