Scuba Diving - Sodwana Bay

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Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay is named after an isolated stream known to the local Zulu tribes as Sodwana (little one on its own). It is the world’s southernmost coral reef and is the only site on the KwaZulu-Natal coast that falls within a conservation area - the St Lucia Marine Reserve, which is one of the biggest and most diverse marine reserves in Africa. Its reef complex is rated among one of the world’s top 10 scuba dive sites. Sodwana is also the only tropical dive site in South Africa, due to the warm Mozambique current, which flows past this part of the African east coast. Ninety five species of beautiful hard and soft corals, sponges and other incredible invertebrates are found on the reefs at Sodwana and many coral formations including pinnacles, buttresses, caves and blow holes are found at the various popular dive sites.

Weather at Sodwana

Visibility is generally good throughout the year, but the best time for diving is during March - August. On a good day visibility can reach up to 30 metres but normally range between 8 to 15 meters. The weather is typically subtropical with the water temperature usually above 20°C reaching up to 29°C in mid-summer.

During June to August, it is generally warm and dry and the sea conditions are calm. During September to November, it is generally warm and dry but may be sometimes windy. The sea conditions are normally calm in the morning but may becoming choppy later as a result of the onshore breeze.

During December to February it can be very warm with thundershowers as this is the rainy season. Sea conditions are calm in the morning but may but may be choppy later if the wind start to blow.

During March to May it is warm with very little wind and the sea conditions are usually calm.

The Reef

Coral reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world and are extremely sensitive to human impacts of pollution, siltation and disturbance. Ironically these fragile environments are also among the most biologically rich and diverse. The St Lucia Marine Reserve and Sanctuary was proclaimed in 1979 to aid in the conservation of the biological diversity of this reef. Most of the various dive sites frequented by divers vary from being a few meters deep to over 30 meters, although most are found at 18 meters or less. All the dives begin at the famous launch site on the beach at Jesser Point, with an exhilarating boat ride through the waves.

The reef formations are divided into a number of reefs parallel to the shore and are named by the locals according to their distance from Jesser Point, starting from Quarter-mile Reef going up to 9 Mile Reef, each with their own unique features.

Dive Sites

• Quarter Mile Reef - About 12m, loggerhead turtles are frequently seen here. From October to March, ragged tooth sharks come to gestate and manta rays come in summer. A very exciting dive site, but the sea must be calm as it can be affected by surge

• Stringer Reef - comprising Stringer small and large, best dived in calm seas. Lots of rays and juvenile fish

• Two-Mile Reef - at an average depth of 12m, this main Sodwana reef extends for 2 km making it ideal for the student diver. Teeming with large shoals of fish, it has a magnificent range of coral, invertebrates and rock formations. It includes Anton’s Reef, Chain Reef, Pinnacles, Gullies Caves and Overhangs, Four Buoy, Potholed and Sponge Reefs

• Five-Mile Reef - at 21m, a large delicate pristine flat reef with spectacular plate & stag horn corals. Abundant tropical fish

• Seven-Mile Reef - from 17 to 22m this reef is densely populated with multicoloured tropical fish, big moray eels, rays and turtles. Also well known for bottle-nosed dolphin, sharks and passing big game fish. Perhaps the most scenic of all the reefs, it is very popular with divers. Coral heads, canyons and pinnacles can also be seen

• Nine-Mile Reef - from 2 to 19m, the most dramatic reef with spectacular caves, overhangs, pinnacles and green coral

• Sponge Reef - from 18 to 35m, you can see sponges up to 600 mm high. Due to its depth, this reef is popular with advanced divers

• Big Blue - diving off the continental shelf, which drops off about 5 miles out to sea, at depths of up to 40m

Fish Species

Sodwana Bay offers Indo-Atlantic species of coral and other sea-life, with more than eighty percent of South Africa’s 1200 species found here. These include potato bass, goatfish, butterfly angelfish, blue spotted ribbon tail rays, trigger fish, anemone fish, moorish idols, big eyes, snappers, scorpion fish, marbled rays, honeycomb morays, grouper and of course the world famous coelacanth to name but a few. A variety of turtles also frequent the coast, including hawksbill, loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles, and depending on the time of year, southern right and humpback whales, whale sharks and dolphins can be spotted.

Most species can be seen throughout the year but as most tend to have seasons during which you they are more likely to be found and whilst your are most likely to see many of these, sightings can unfortunately not be guaranteed.

The Sodwana Bay Marine National Park drew international attention when a rare fossil fish, the Coelacanth, was spotted in deep waters off Sodwana Bay. It was here that these 2m long pre-historic beasts, once thought to be extinct, were first captured on video film. A live specimen was during the first part of the century caught in a trawler net off the coast of the Eastern Cape in 1938.

Surf Entry

Due to the outlay of the beach at Jesser Point and because it is situated in a national park, no formal launch site exists. This means that all boats are launched directly from the beach, straight into the surf, which at times can be very exciting! Subject to suitable weather conditions, boats are launched daily and the experienced skippers will take you to and from all the most popular dive sites in Sodwana Bay, catering for the needs of scuba divers of all levels.

Dive Safety & Emergency Medical Services

Medical Rescue International (MRI) and Divers Alert Network (DAN) has teamed up to provide an established medical facility at Sodwana Bay for the most mundane of medical problems, as well serious emergencies requiring advanced life support in dive or medical emergencies. A fully organised helicopter evacuation service exists, which allow for patients to be flown to an appropriate hospital within two hours. There is also a recompression chamber in Richards Bay, a short flight away.

Activities  – All Holidays

• Additional Dives – maximum of two per day, Sodwana Bay

• Lake Sibaya Sunset Drive – view hippos, crocodiles and the prolific bird life, whilst enjoying a spectacular South African sunset over the lake (2 hrs)

• Marine Walking Trail – evening walk to see the remarkable spectacle of the egg laying and hatching of loggerhead and leatherback turtles (November – January)

• Private Walking Trails – various trails through Ozabeni Nature Reserve and the coastal sand dunes and forests, with guide (half or full day)

• Quad Biking – fun ride through the coastal forest and sand dunes of Sodwana Bay (1-hour)

• Horse Riding – through Ozabeni Nature Reserve and onto the beach

• Birding – twitchers can study the endemic South African birds of the Lake St Lucia Wetlands (over 600 species), with a local guide (half day)

• Discover Scuba Course – introduction to scuba diving, including educational session and pool dive, followed by a full assessment and first sea dive the next day (3-hours per lesson - two recommended)

• Rock Fishing – enjoy a wonderful fishing holiday in South Africa, with a fishing guide. Catch kingfish, queen fish, kob, shad, stumpnose and pompano (half or full day)

• Deep Sea Game Fishing – pre-dawn departure for big game fishing holiday some 40 nautical miles out to sea, including all tackle and light lunch. Black and striped marlin are best in the summer months (November to May). Full day (weather permitting).