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Two oceans,
life abundant reefs and amazing wrecks are only a few of the
highlights south of Cape Town in South Africa. Text
and photos by Jerome
Konen
(Trip from 9 - 23 June 2001)
Early in the morning Paul an I we left together with Tania -
she's the owner of a Diving Base in Cape Town - for a drive to
Simon's Town on the way to the Cape of Good Hope. Simon's Town
is one of these picturesque towns in the False Bay and since
1957 South African marine base. Between Simon's Town and the
Nature Reserve of the Cape, the road leads alongside several
protected bays. In one of these bays we had an appointment
with the local diving base and some other divers already
waiting for us.
The weather couldn't be better, so the conditions out in the
sea were excellent. With a little help of everybody we put the
rubberboat into the water and left for the first dive on one
of the "Smitswinkel Bay Wrecks". These 5 wrecks were
sinked in the 70's by the South African Marine to be developed
as artifical reefs. They are lying on the ground in depth
around 30-35m quite near together.
We started our first dive on the wreck called "Good
Hope" quite near the "Princess Elisabeth"
wreck. With some powerful torches, penetrating the cargo and
machine rooms was an easy task but extremely exciting as the
wrecks are abounding in sea life.
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| Photo by Jerome
Konen |
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The visibility in these waters are mostly about 10m, that's
what we had during the dives, but may be close to 20m on
exceptional days with a water temperature around 15°C.
The second dive after a short break on the surface was along
a huge rock crowded by numerous sea birds. The underwater
scenery here was the best what cold water dives may offer you
in terms of sea life and play of colours. I've rarely seen
canyons, rocks and overhangs so gaily coloured and full up of
anemons, seasquirts, corals and sponges. In between numerous
catsharks, octopuses and crustaceans in their crevices.
After all these impressions were so intense that we had
completely forgotten White Sharks could be around here as
well. But diving with the apex predator is another story.
| Excursions |
Cape Town
Located
at the south point of Africa. Unique mix of Dutch,
British and Cap-Malaysian culture forming its exclusive
cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Highlights are
the "Two Oceans" Aquarium and the Table
Mountain.
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Wine Region
Enchanted landscape at the Cap with lots of high
mountains and fruitful valleys. Ideal for wine-growing.
Wine tasting is a must for connoisseurs.
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Cape of Good Hope Nature
Reserve
Overwhelming panoramic view at Cape
Point where the peninsula towers into the two oceans.
Antelops, ostrichs and baboons are crossing
your way.
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Chapman's Peak Drive
Picturesque coast drive through the cliffs on the
Atlantic Ocean side with splendid views.
Take
your time for a picnic on a vantage point along this
drive.
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