GoPro advice

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Wow hey.. sjoe.. you definitely have some interesting diving stories.

 

And yes the water was lovely.. 27degrees in fact.. this trip was hands down the best diving we have done there.. and we have had some amazing dives over the years..

 

I'll be sure to tell Eve a GrumpyOldGuy sends regards.. must be honest Tim's absence is noticeable [emoji22] but they have a bunch of really good guys there..my sons had a great instructor and they had absolutely no issues.

Good grief, my bath here isnt even 27 degrees.......

 

Indeed, I knew Tim well, its a small community.  

 

I enjoy Wondergat, I dived there last just before I moved so it must have been 2013, still much the same as it was years ago, the line is still there down to the grid and over the lip into the cave. Depth is of course dependent on the water table but last time I was there there was just a few of us so water clarity was excellent in the cave, but there have been times when there were so many divers in and out that it was all but silted out. I dont think its as popular as it was, folk now prefer to make the run down to Sodwana or Umkomaas, I understand, but Wondergat has its own unique flavour as well. 

 

But, Yah, best I dont get started on diving or I will never stop and ruin the thread, but its a great sport and my life would have been all the poorer without it, I have been diving regularly since 1975, and every dive is still a thrill.

[sawystertrance]

Have a 5 as well...spent the day jumping in and out of the pool and the next day (hot, beach), there was some mist inside the lens, had to remove the lens and let it breathe...so, yeah, be careful submerging it completely....rain and such may be OK...

I wonder if the 4 perhaps doesn't have the same problem because there is just a little bit of air in the case. Just enough to prevent misting?

 

Anyway, I'm mighty impressed with the dive experience and stories here. I've not dived in SA and not even in the last 15 years so perhaps a refresher course in Sodwana is called for. 

[Gen]

I wonder if the 4 perhaps doesn't have the same problem because there is just a little bit of air in the case. Just enough to prevent misting?

 

Anyway, I'm mighty impressed with the dive experience and stories here. I've not dived in SA and not even in the last 15 years so perhaps a refresher course in Sodwana is called for.

I know a place[emoji6]

 

We have been going to Triton for 15 years, and I can honestly tell you with all the confidence in the world if you are looking to do a refresher or any course they are top notch people..I wouldn't let my kids just do their course with anyone, the left there confident and knowledgeable and no issues whatsoever. Also because Sodwana is protected the reef is in beautiful condition. The kids couldn't have asked for better first dives.. everything on their wish lists were there.

 

http://www.tritondiving.co.za/

 

PS.. the dives were absolutely incredible.. here are some pics on different days with different viz.

[sawystertrance]

Man, that looks and sounds great, thanks. I must really think about that. I've been thinking of getting a dual-purpose m/cycle and doing some biking around the country so perhaps I could do both here. Thanks again

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I know a place[emoji6]

 

We have been going to Triton for 15 years, and I can honestly tell you with all the confidence in the world if you are looking to do a refresher or any course they are top notch people..I wouldn't let my kids just do their course with anyone, the left there confident and knowledgeable and no issues whatsoever. Also because Sodwana is protected the reef is in beautiful condition. The kids couldn't have asked for better first dives.. everything on their wish lists were there.

 

http://www.tritondiving.co.za/

 

PS.. the dives were absolutely incredible.. here are some pics on different days with different viz.

Nice photo's Gen, I am assuming thats 2 mile reef...? Those schools of snapper are great, very common on Antons reef, but of course they are everywhere as well.

 

I used to go hunting for Raggie shark teeth around the edge on Anton's, very easy to find, I have hundreds in a box here somewhere.

 

Did you ever hear about "Monty" the friendly Moray.? Its many years ago but he was a legend at Sodwana, heres one of many photo's of him interacting with divers.

 

[Gen]

Nice photo's Gen, I am assuming thats 2 mile reef...? Those schools of snapper are great, very common on Antons reef, but of course they are everywhere as well.

 

I used to go hunting for Raggie shark teeth around the edge on Anton's, very easy to find, I have hundreds in a box here somewhere.

 

Did you ever hear about "Monty" the friendly Moray.? Its many years ago but he was a legend at Sodwana, heres one of many photo's of him interacting with divers.

 

monty 2.jpg

Oh wow.. Yeah I have heard of that moray.

 

Yip all the pics from 2mile.. the one dive on ANTON'S was so cool ..there was quite a current so the fish found shelter there.. too many fish to count and all seemed super sized lol..

 

Bikini was also a great treat as it always is..so fascinating watching the fish go to be cleaned..really a treat. They have been spotting a large great white off 5 and 7 mile the last few weeks.. we never saw him though the crew did a dive on Roonies the one dive after us and while doing their deco he came and said hello. But saw a couple of grey reef sharks hanging about in mid water and while we were struggling to get the boat in the water the one day a juvenile Zambezi only about 1m was in the shore break..that was really cool we saw a shark before we even had the boat in the water ha ha. We also had a trigger fish attack us because we must have been to close to it's eggs..damn they go for your fins and hit them quite hard lol.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Oh wow.. Yeah I have heard of that moray.

 

Yip all the pics from 2mile.. the one dive on ANTON'S was so cool ..there was quite a current so the fish found shelter there.. too many fish to count and all seemed super sized lol..

 

Bikini was also a great treat as it always is..so fascinating watching the fish go to be cleaned..really a treat. They have been spotting a large great white off 5 and 7 mile the last few weeks.. we never saw him though the crew did a dive on Roonies the one dive after us and while doing their deco he came and said hello. But saw a couple of grey reef sharks hanging about in mid water and while we were struggling to get the boat in the water the one day a juvenile Zambezi only about 1m was in the shore break..that was really cool we saw a shark before we even had the boat in the water ha ha. We also had a trigger fish attack us because we must have been to close to it's eggs..damn they go for your fins and hit them quite hard lol.

It appears the OP has no further interest in this thread so I think its okay to steer it in another direction..

 

Yes, Monty was very well known. He was a big Honeycomb Moray and was resident in the vicinity of 3 buoy on 2 mile reef. Three Buoy was part of four mooring buoy's that were laid by the Parks board in the 70's down the length of 2 mile. Remember there were no concessions so divers would motor out in their ducks, tie them off at one of the buoys and go dive. Returning later to the boat. Not the greatest in rough weather but.....thats the way it was done.

 

Monty was resident in this area for about three years and we used to dive with him regularly, we would tie off and make a bee line for his rock. Whenever he saw divers he would come out of his hide and swim around you, inside your Bc around your tank, often we would take down some sardines and feed him, by hand, he would take the food as gently as your pet puppy. I never heard of anyone been bit or hurt by Monty. I doubt anyone was, I fed him often and he was gentle and careful, he was used to divers and was unafraid. It was magical to see, this wild creature who had so much trust in humans.

 

Then, one day he was just gone. We searched all over for him but he was never seen again.

 

Lots of rumors abounded, some said he had been killed by a spear fisherman, some said a diver had stabbed him, some said he just moved off, as wild creatures are prone to do.

 

I dont know the truth, I dont think anyone does, but he was sorely missed.

 

Here's another shot of him, you can see by the vintage of the dive equipment this was in the 80's.

 

 

Anton's reef is great, it also has a funny history, back in the late 80's dive concessions were just starting to get going at Sodwana, a guy by the name of Anton Buchell and another by the name of Ricky Schick were some of the first to start operating there and take out paying customers (divers), Anton always took his divers to this reef and he named it after himself for identification purposes, theres nothing official about it, he just called it Anton's and the name stuck to this day.

 

Just to make some interesting reading here is a flyer from Ricky Schicks operation (International Diving) when he started at Sodwana, Ricky was a real pioneer, he had a very successful dive business in Durban, was the first to bring NAUI Training into the country (PADI refused due to the political climate) pioneered diving on the Aliwal Shoal and was the first concession at Sodwana. He is still around actually although long retired now and I still chat to him occasionally.  

 

 

[Gen]

It appears the OP has no further interest in this thread so I think its okay to steer it in another direction..

 

Yes, Monty was very well known. He was a big Honeycomb Moray and was resident in the vicinity of 3 buoy on 2 mile reef. Three Buoy was part of four mooring buoy's that were laid by the Parks board in the 70's down the length of 2 mile. Remember there were no concessions so divers would motor out in their ducks, tie them off at one of the buoys and go dive. Returning later to the boat. Not the greatest in rough weather but.....thats the way it was done.

 

Monty was resident in this area for about three years and we used to dive with him regularly, we would tie off and make a bee line for his rock. Whenever he saw divers he would come out of his hide and swim around you, inside your Bc around your tank, often we would take down some sardines and feed him, by hand, he would take the food as gently as your pet puppy. I never heard of anyone been bit or hurt by Monty. I doubt anyone was, I fed him often and he was gentle and careful, he was used to divers and was unafraid. It was magical to see, this wild creature who had so much trust in humans.

 

Then, one day he was just gone. We searched all over for him but he was never seen again.

 

Lots of rumors abounded, some said he had been killed by a spear fisherman, some said a diver had stabbed him, some said he just moved off, as wild creatures are prone to do.

 

I dont know the truth, I dont think anyone does, but he was sorely missed.

 

Here's another shot of him, you can see by the vintage of the dive equipment this was in the 80's.

 

monty.jpg

 

Anton's reef is great, it also has a funny history, back in the late 80's dive concessions were just starting to get going at Sodwana, a guy by the name of Anton Buchell and another by the name of Ricky Schick were some of the first to start operating there and take out paying customers (divers), Anton always took his divers to this reef and he named it after himself for identification purposes, theres nothing official about it, he just called it Anton's and the name stuck to this day.

 

Just to make some interesting reading here is a flyer from Ricky Schicks operation (International Diving) when he started at Sodwana, Ricky was a real pioneer, he had a very successful dive business in Durban, was the first to bring NAUI Training into the country (PADI refused due to the political climate) pioneered diving on the Aliwal Shoal and was the first concession at Sodwana. He is still around actually although long retired now and I still chat to him occasionally.

 

International dive 001.jpg

Wow R35 bucks a day[emoji6]

 

You do indeed have interesting stories. Quite incredible how things were done back in the day.

 

While we did our diving course we were told about a potato bass that also had legendary status, apparently also ended up being speared- as the story goes, but who knows what actually happened to him.. we sure saw a good few of them last week, they are so fascinating.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Wow R35 bucks a day[emoji6]

 

You do indeed have interesting stories. Quite incredible how things were done back in the day.

 

While we did our diving course we were told about a potato bass that also had legendary status, apparently also ended up being speared- as the story goes, but who knows what actually happened to him.. we sure saw a good few of them last week, they are so fascinating.

Ha, Ha, Yes, I wondered if you would have noticed that.

 

The first concessions were "sparse" to put it mildly, as you may read in the fine print "You will be required to help fill tanks" - you had to work for your keep in those days, not sure folk would be too keen today. 

 

Indeed, as in the Brochure Picture there was one, we would burrow in the sand and he would come tearing up and dart in and out to eat the food been stirred up. Then he would hover around waiting for you to dig another hole, of course we never tired of doing this and he never tired of entertaining us. Sometimes we would boil eggs and take them down in a zip lock bag to feed to him, he loved them. 

 

So many stories....... 

[Gen]

Ha, Ha, Yes, I wondered if you would have noticed that.

 

The first concessions were "sparse" to put it mildly, as you may read in the fine print "You will be required to help fill tanks" - you had to work for your keep in those days, not sure folk would be too keen today.

 

Indeed, as in the Brochure Picture there was one, we would burrow in the sand and he would come tearing up and dart in and out to eat the food been stirred up. Then he would hover around waiting for you to dig another hole, of course we never tired of doing this and he never tired of entertaining us. Sometimes we would boil eggs and take them down in a zip lock bag to feed to him, he loved them.

 

So many stories.......

Lol that's awesome.

 

Ja now you get to the beach at 6am and everything is waiting for you..all you need to do is kit up and help get the boat in the water lol

. Spoilt we are...

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Lol that's awesome.

 

Ja now you get to the beach at 6am and everything is waiting for you..all you need to do is kit up and help get the boat in the water lol

. Spoilt we are...

Yeah, I know, isnt it great.!! 

 

Is there a dive operator in your area Gen? or do you have to go to JHB or Sodwana etc to go for training, gear etc.

 

I often did work for the Mines out that way back in yonder years, and I remember it was a small community, although I guess that may have changed now, but I just wondered?

[Gen]

Yeah, I know, isnt it great.!!

 

Is there a dive operator in your area Gen? or do you have to go to JHB or Sodwana etc to go for training, gear etc.

 

I often did work for the Mines out that way back in yonder years, and I remember it was a small community, although I guess that may have changed now, but I just wondered?

Here is a dive operator that are PADI affiliated "All about Scuba".back when we did our course there was a diving club where we did our courses (club so it was CMAS)

 

I know bubbles are bubbles but because we went the CMAS route we preferred for our kids also to go the CMAS route and that's why we took them to do their course at Triton.

 

And yip hubber crazy freedom challenger Marnitz was our instructor.. him and hubby go way way back to when they were kids.

 

 

Community still smaller than any major city but the place is getting a bit bigger now.. much to our disgust[emoji6]

 

At a stage we did quite a bit of diving at Wondergat hey.. even came across Nuno Gomes on one of his deco stops while preparing for his world record...damn I did enjoy a weekend away at the gat..the whole camping and community feels about it was so awesome..didn't like the cold water though ha ha.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Here is a dive operator that are PADI affiliated "All about Scuba".back when we did our course there was a diving club where we did our courses (club so it was CMAS)

 

I know bubbles are bubbles but because we went the CMAS route we preferred for our kids also to go the CMAS route and that's why we took them to do their course at Triton.

 

And yip hubber crazy freedom challenger Marnitz was our instructor.. him and hubby go way way back to when they were kids.

 

 

Community still smaller than any major city but the place is getting a bit bigger now.. much to our disgust[emoji6]

 

At a stage we did quite a bit of diving at Wondergat hey.. even came across Nuno Gomes on one of his deco stops while preparing for his world record...damn I did enjoy a weekend away at the gat..the whole camping and community feels about it was so awesome..didn't like the cold water though ha ha.

Nothing wrong with CMAS, when I did my first qualification back in 75 it was also CMAS, actually there was nothing else.....  and they were very good.

 

Back then it just took a long time with CMAS, everything was voluntary and there were no charges, except the club fees, so you had to wait until an instructor had a free weekend and then you did a lesson, then you waited till he had another free weekend.......... I think it took 3 months or something.!! 

 

Of course today its a business and customers dont have months to wait, so Yah, a lot quicker and easier now. 

 

Later I became friends with Ricky Schick and he convinced me to cross over to NAUI. Over the years I carried on with NAUI and eventually did the course and became an instructor, did quite a bit of diver training back then as well, but not anymore, I still keep my instructor rating with NAUI current but now its just "Emeritus" (ie) non teaching.

 

Unfortunately I saw in South Africa in the last 10 odd years PADI has taken over the market and NAUI has all but disappeared, certainly its taken a back seat to PADI as has CMAS.

 

Here NAUI is still very strong, and in the USA its doing well holding its own against the mighty PADI machine, but I saw a dramatic drop in NAUI training in SA.

 

Its odd, but even here with the adverse weather diving is still popular, more so in the summer months of course when the weather is great, but there is a huge travelling diver market here and all the shops run regular trips to warmer climates like the Florida Keys, The Bahamas etc during the winter months. Many of them also have their own indoor heated training pools so although slower, training continues year round.

 

When I first arrived I was keen to do an ice dive, so I raced into the first shop I found and asked when they were diving. "Next week he said do you want to join?"

"Yip I said where are we going on the ice".

"On the ice...." he muttered, "are you nuts,..its too frikken cold, we going to Florida baby". 

 

Anyway, I found its not that simple and you need to do a special course, so last year I did an Ice dive course at one of the local shops and have done about 12 dives under the ice so far, its quite stunning and very eerie,... crystal clear vis and theres very little fish life, but you can see the occasional seal if you are lucky.

 

Its a quick dive, usually 30 minutes max, a line is strung between two ice holes and you enter at the one and follow the line to exit at the other, of course you need a special cold water regulator so it doesn't freeze and a dry-suit, or its impossible. You also need special camera housings etc if you want to take photo's in that icy water, a normal underwater camera like mine would freeze in minutes, so I dont have any photo's, sadly. Maybe I'll look into getting the housings etc, I'll see!

 

I dont know All about Scuba, but if they have sufficient folk to keep them busy then certainly Klerksdorp is growing as you say. Good and bad I guess.       

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Yeah, Nuno often trained at Wondergat, Nuno and I are old chums, he was in the USA last year and we met up at a show and had a few beers, a fantastic diver and underwater athlete is Nuno.

 

Dived with him many many times on Aliwal, great guy.  

[Gen]

Nothing wrong with CMAS, when I did my first qualification back in 75 it was also CMAS, actually there was nothing else..... and they were very good.

 

Back then it just took a long time with CMAS, everything was voluntary and there were no charges, except the club fees, so you had to wait until an instructor had a free weekend and then you did a lesson, then you waited till he had another free weekend.......... I think it took 3 months or something.!!

 

Of course today its a business and customers dont have months to wait, so Yah, a lot quicker and easier now.

 

Later I became friends with Ricky Schick and he convinced me to cross over to NAUI. Over the years I carried on with NAUI and eventually did the course and became an instructor, did quite a bit of diver training back then as well, but not anymore, I still keep my instructor rating with NAUI current but now its just "Emeritus" (ie) non teaching.

 

Unfortunately I saw in South Africa in the last 10 odd years PADI has taken over the market and NAUI has all but disappeared, certainly its taken a back seat to PADI as has CMAS.

 

Here NAUI is still very strong, and in the USA its doing well holding its own against the mighty PADI machine, but I saw a dramatic drop in NAUI training in SA.

 

Its odd, but even here with the adverse weather diving is still popular, more so in the summer months of course when the weather is great, but there is a huge travelling diver market here and all the shops run regular trips to warmer climates like the Florida Keys, The Bahamas etc during the winter months. Many of them also have their own indoor heated training pools so although slower, training continues year round.

 

When I first arrived I was keen to do an ice dive, so I raced into the first shop I found and asked when they were diving. "Next week he said do you want to join?"

"Yip I said where are we going on the ice".

"On the ice...." he muttered, "are you nuts,..its too frikken cold, we going to Florida baby".

 

Anyway, I found its not that simple and you need to do a special course, so last year I did an Ice dive course at one of the local shops and have done about 12 dives under the ice so far, its quite stunning and very eerie,... crystal clear vis and theres very little fish life, but you can see the occasional seal if you are lucky.

 

Its a quick dive, usually 30 minutes max, a line is strung between two ice holes and you enter at the one and follow the line to exit at the other, of course you need a special cold water regulator so it doesn't freeze and a dry-suit, or its impossible. You also need special camera housings etc if you want to take photo's in that icy water, a normal underwater camera like mine would freeze in minutes, so I dont have any photo's, sadly. Maybe I'll look into getting the housings etc, I'll see!

 

I dont know All about Scuba, but if they have sufficient folk to keep them busy then certainly Klerksdorp is growing as you say. Good and bad I guess.

Yeah..I am a big believer in CMAS, it is still quite intense and technical, the kids had to spend a lot of hours in the lecture room each day and write a lot of tests.. I flipped through their books and still quite detailed as was when we did it, covered all the same stuff we did... They spent about 8 hours each day in the lecture room and 3-5 hrs a day in the pool. So over 2 days is was quite a lot before they even got into the ocean.. but once they did they had no issues

 

 

But rather that and prepare them better than just a wham bam course that leaves them unprepared. And I suppose any course is only as good as their instructor..and they had a really good one.

 

 

Yeah, Nuno often trained at Wondergat, Nuno and I are old chums, he was in the USA last year and we met up at a show and had a few beers, a fantastic diver and underwater athlete is Nuno.

 

Dived with him many many times on Aliwal, great guy.

Yeah we followed him quite closely those years, I have heard that he is a nice guy. He was the rock star of the diving world hey..pushed those limits so far hey.. any idea of what he is up to now days?

 

 

That ice dive sounds like a bad idea lol.. brrr.. the Bahamas though..that must be something special hey.

[Pieter1]

The stupid thing about the 5's super suit is that you have to pull and twist off the lens from the camera to put it in. Putting it back on is just as much of a mission. I won't put it under water without the super suit tho.