Category: Shore diving

Newsletter: Sitting tight

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

No diving yet

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
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.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Landfall

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Saturday: Shore dives at Long Beach

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
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!

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Washed up

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Sunday: Shore dives from Long Beach in Simons Town

The Kakapo on Long Beach, Kommetjie
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.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Wakey wakey

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Saturday: Shore dives at Long Beach at 7.30 am

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
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…

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Force 12

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

No diving

Long Beach, Kommetjie
Long Beach, Kommetjie

Ok, so it’s not quite a hurricane, but the weather man has dipped heavily into the pink and purple hues in his box of crayons for this week and weekend’s forecasts. Things calm down on Tuesday, but in the mean time, hold onto your hats.

It’s far too rough for diving, unfortunately, so we’ll sit this weekend out. If you’re free for weekday dives, let me know, because I’ll be going out next week.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: A touch of winter

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

No dives planned

Wallpaper at the Two Oceans Aquarium

Student dives over the last week have been reasonably good, with 5-6 metre visibility inshore. The visibility remains good, and in fact has improved with the unseasonal north westerly wind. The downside is a 5 metre, 16 second period swell. We won’t plan dives in this as the surge is often  harsh.

Keep an eye out for weekday dives during the next week or two – we’ll publicise in this newsletter, on facebook, and via whatsapp. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. 

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Time and tide

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Sunday and/or Monday: Shore dives in False Bay

We had a good day’s diving on Wednesday with windless conditions and good visibility. The weekend has some wind in the forecast, at times a little too strong and at times a lot less.

I think it best to do shore dives this weekend on either Sunday or Monday, or both. Sites decided on the day depending on when/if the forecast winds are as they say.

Sunrise at Long Beach
Sunrise at Long Beach

All about False Bay

This weekend (Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December) features an exhibition of photos and paintings, and two morning talks, one by False Bay’s pre-eminent shark scientist, and another by the lead author of a recent multi-disciplinary study of the bay. All the information you need is here.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Rolling on

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Sunday: Boat or shore dives in False Bay

The weather has certainly started warming up a little as we roll towards summer. A few days of north west winds will have helped improve the visibility this side of False Bay, however there is some swell heading our way. The swell doesn’t always arrive as big as it is forecast, so I am going to plan dives for Sunday (the better day swell-wise at this point). Depending on what False Bay looks like late on Saturday, I will then decide whether we launch the boat or do shore dives. Let me know if you want to join.

See through fish at the Dubai Aquarium
See through fish at the Dubai Aquarium

Dates to diarise

  • Don’t forget about Shark Night at the aquarium this coming Tuesday – details here.
  • Diversnight this year is on Saturday 2 November, and the dive clubs are hosting. It’s a super fun evening of night diving, and I suggest you put it in your planner. Facebook event details here.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Looks like spring

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Sunday: False Bay dives, conditions permitting

The tree in our driveway has a tiny green bud containing a new leaf. Despite the cold this week, I declare spring.

False Bay is quite surgy after some large swell this week, but I hope it’ll have settled down enough by Sunday for some reasonable diving. I’ll only make the call on Saturday afternoon; please let me know if you’d like to be notified of any developing plans.

Table Mountain from Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Table Mountain from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Beach cleanups

There are at least two happening this weekend:

Sharks in False Bay

There’s a fascinating update this week from Shark Spotters on False Bay’s white sharks (spoiler: they’re awol but we’re not quite certain why yet) – read more here.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!

Newsletter: Still wintry!

Hi divers

Weekend dive plans

Sunday: Shore dives at Long Beach The water remains cold… But then it is winter. Both Saturday and Sunday should be reasonably decent for diving, but I think Sunday will be best. I will shore dive on Sunday, most likely around 10.00 am, once things have warmed up marginally. Let me know if you want to join us.

Turtle in Mozambique
Turtle in Mozambique

Turtle and seal rescue

The Kommetjie NSRI team rescued a seal and loggerhead turtle, entangled in fishing net, that washed up this week. The seal swam off, relieved, and the turtle is at the aquarium having some TLC and a health check, after which it will be released. Read all about it here.

regards

Tony Lindeque
076 817 1099
www.learntodivetoday.co.za
www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blog/

Diving is addictive!

To subscribe to receive this newsletter by email, use the form on this page!