Hierdie artikel is bedoel om die reeds gekwalifiseerde duiker van inligting te voorsien wat sal help om te beplan duik in die waters van Suid-Afrika, hetsy as plaaslike inwoner of besoeker. Inligting word verskaf sonder om te benadeel, en is nie gewaarborg nie akkuraat of volledig. Gebruik dit op eie risiko. Die inligting handel hoofsaaklik oor duikplekke vir ontspanning, maar kan ook nuttig wees vir die snorkelaar of vryduiker.
As u op soek is na inligting oor opleiding en sertifisering as ontspanningsduiker, raadpleeg die artikel oor skubaduik vir algemene inligting, of die streekartikel wat u belangstel, om lyste van duikskole te vind.
Meer gedetailleerde plaaslike inligting en lys van duikwinkels, operateurs en ander verwante dienste sal ook gewoonlik in die streekgidse gevind word. Sommige inligting en aanbiedings vir gebiede sonder 'n streekgids kan in hierdie artikel gevind word onder die opskrifte vir dienste in die Bestemming afdeling.
Verstaan
Suid-Afrika het webwerwe langs sy kus versprei wat miskien meer bekend is vir haaie en ander groot seelewe, maar ook 'n wye verskeidenheid endemiese kleiner visse en ongewerweldes het. Die kusgebiede wissel van tropiese koraalriwwe in die noorde van KwaZulu-Natal aan die ooskus, waar die visse tipiese tropiese Indiese-Pasifiese spesies is, en baie kleurvol, deur die warm, gematigde suidkus met sy rotsagtige oewers en baie endemiese spesies. om gematigde rotsriwwe aan die weskus met hul kelpwoude af te koel, waar die vislewe relatief dof is, maar die ongewerwelde diere die kleur gee.
Die jaarlikse sardienloop van die suide tot die ooskus is regverdig beroemd en die minder bekende tjokka (inktvis) trek ook 'n groot aantal roofdiere, maar sonder om soveel rond te jaag om op die regte plek te wees. Die regte tyd is die probleem daar.
Daar is 'n groot aantal wrakke langs die kus, waarvan sommige met historiese belang dateer tot in die 15de eeu, en sommige word as goeie duikplekke beskou. Hulle is geneig om naby die hawens en naby groot koppe te konsentreer. Die Kaapse Skiereiland, Danger Point, Kaap Agulhas, Algoabaai en Durban het 'n relatief groot aantal toeganklike wrakduike. Die presiese posisie van baie wrakke is nog onbekend, en dit vind vermaak vir sommige duikers.
Die binnelandse terreine word meestal gebruik vir opleiding, tegniese en grotduik. Dit is duikplekke vir varswaterhoogtes, sommige met 'n grotkomponent en wissel van vlak tot baie diep.
Suid-Afrikaanse duik is oor die algemeen meer uitdagend as die meer gewilde tropiese bestemmings. Dit kan koue water, branderslansies, groot deining of sterk strome insluit, afhangende van die betrokke streek, en 'n hoër vlak van fiksheid en vaardigheid is wenslik as u die ervaring maksimaal wil geniet.
Die duikplekke in Suid-Afrika kan in vier streke gegroepeer word, wat gewoonlik dieselfde watertoestande, duikprosedures en biodiversiteit het. Dit is die Weskus, die suidkus, die ooskus, en die binnelandse duikplekke. Die kusduikstreke benader die kus-ekostreke nader as die politieke streke, met sommige oorgangsgebiede, behalwe dat die weskus / suidkusverdeel oos van Valsbaai gemaak word, wat beskou word as 'n deel van Kaapstad se weskusduikbuurt.
Vir diegene wat meer beskermde en goedaardige toestande wil hê, is daar twee groot akwariums waar duikers warmer water en baie maklike toegang kan geniet, en hulle is gewaarborg om 'n groot aantal visse te sien.
Algemene topografie
Die fisiese geografie van die streek
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Suid-Afrika is die suidelike deel van die vasteland van Afrika, die enigste kontinent waardeur beide trope beweeg. Die kontinent strek tot 'n maksimum van 34 ° 50 'breedtegraad suid vanaf die ewenaar en 37 ° 20' Noord, dus is dit meestal tropies en subtropies, met 'n matige mate van gematigde sones. Suid-Afrika is die streek van Afrika wat die verste afstand van die ewenaar in die suidelike halfrond is. Dit strek vanaf die Limpopo-rivier in die noorde by S22 ° 07 'tot Kaap Agulhas in die suide op S34 ° 50', en vanaf die monding van die Oranjerivier in die weste by E016 ° 27 'tot Ponta do Ouro in die ooste by E32 ° 23 '.
Oseane wat aan Suid-Afrika grens
Suid-Afrika is een van die min lande met meer as een oseaan aan sy oewers, en dit het 'n diepgaande uitwerking op die seetoestande, nie soseer omdat die waters nominaal in twee oseane verdeel is nie, maar omdat die groot strome van die twee oseane sulke groot verskille en dit beïnvloed die aangrensende ekosisteme sterk.
Die kuslyn vanaf die Oranjeriviermond wat aan Namibië in die noordweste grens tot by Ponto do Ouro wat aan Mosambiek in die noordooste grens, is ongeveer 3750 km lank en is die 51ste langste van 195 lande.
Die breedte van die kontinentale rak buite Suid-Afrika wissel baie, met 'n baie smal rak aan die noordoostelike kus van KwaZulu-Natal, en 'n wye rak aan die suidpunt van Afrika - The Agulhas Bank. Die rak vernou weer van die Kaapse Skiereiland en is van matige breedte vanaf Kaap Columbine noord, langs die Weskus.
Die geografiese verdeling tussen die Atlantiese en Indiese Oseaan is aan die suidpunt, Kaap Agulhas, maar vanuit 'n praktiese oogpunt is die skerpste onderskeid in kwalitatiewe terme aan Kaappunt, en baie Kapenaars dink hieraan is die plek van die twee oseane. . Die rede hiervoor is dat die weskus sterk beïnvloed word deur die koue Benguela-stroom, wat noord langs die weskus vloei, en die warm Agulhas-stroom suid aan die ooskus vloei. Die Agulhas-stroom kan beskou word as 'n voortsetting van die Mosambiekse stroom, wat suid-wes en dan wes vloei as dit die ooskus volg. Die Agulhas-stroom word beïnvloed deur die relatief vlak Agulhas-bank en gooi 'n paar enorme wervels weg, waarvan sommige in die Suid-Atlantiese Oseaan lek, maar die meeste suid en dan oos swaai en uiteindelik in die suidelike oseaan verdwyn.
Klimaat, weer en seetoestande
Weskus
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik aan die weskus van Suid-Afrika
In vergelyking met die tropiese waters wat vir baie duikers meer bekend is, is die water koud - dit kan van ongeveer 20 ° C tot 8 ° C wees. Dit kan donker wees en die sig kan aansienlik wissel - 8 m word as redelik goed beskou, hoewel dit soms 20 m oorskry en minder as 3 m as sleg beskou. Plaaslike inwoners beskou gewoonlik 5 m as die onderste aanvaarbaarheidsgrens. Aansienlike onderstrome is skaars, maar oppervlakstroom kan voldoende wees om probleme te veroorsaak vir duikers wat die afdraand vertraag. Stuwing is algemeen en kan lastig wees tydens 'n lang en swaar periode, wat nie ongewoon is nie. Daar is haaie, insluitend groot blankes, maar hulle word selde gesien. Oppervlaktewindkap het gewoonlik geen invloed op onderwatertoestande nie, maar kan die bootrit of swem op die oppervlak ongemaklik maak. Die gewone duikboot is 'n groot RIB met twee enjins, wat vanaf glybane gelanseer is, en wat tot 12 duikers vervoer, hoewel die toegang vir die duikers moontlik vanaf 'n kaai is. Strandduik is 'n opsie in 'n groot deel van die streek, afhangende van die fiksheid van die duiker en toegang tot die water.
Tegnies is die hele streek in die Atlantiese Oseaan - die amptelike grens met die Indiese Oseaan is by Kaap Agulhas - maar die ekologiese grens tussen die wes- en suidkus is by Kaappunt, en beide plaaslike duikers en mariene bioloë erken 'n beduidende verskil tussen die " Atlantiese kant "en Valsbaai.
Suidkus
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik aan die suidkus van Suid-Afrika
As 'n duikperspektief, kan die suidkus beskou word as wat dit strek vanaf Danger Point by Gansbaai ooswaarts tot aan die oorkant van die Wildekus. Die streek word oorheers deur die Agulhas-stroom, wat suid-wes langs die oostelike deel van hierdie kus vloei en van die kus af weggedwing word deur die verbreding van die kontinentale plat, wat koeler water langs die oewer laat instoot en enorme wervels afbreek. Riviere vloei langs die kus in die oseaan en aangesien daar geen sterk strandstroom is om hierdie waters weg te voer nie, versprei hul voedingswaarde relatief geleidelik in vergelyking met die ooskus. Baie endemiese spesies het in hierdie streek ontwikkel. Dit is diere wat nêrens anders voorkom nie, en sommige van hulle het 'n baie beperkte reeks. Die Knysna-seeperd word byvoorbeeld net in drie riviermondings aan die suidkus aangetref. Hierdie streek het 'n hoër seeoppervlaktetemperatuur as die weskus, bereik 22 ° C in die somer en gemiddeld ongeveer 15 ° C in die winter. As duiktoestande goed is, is daar 'n unieke biodiversiteit wat in die koue water ondersoek kan word.
ooskus
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik aan die ooskus van Suid-Afrika
Die water van die ooskus is warm, in die somer styg die temperatuur tot 28 ° C en in die winter wissel dit tussen 18 en 24 ° C. Sigbaarheid is oor die algemeen goed, alhoewel baie terreine in die somerreëntyd deur die afloop van die rivier beïnvloed kan word. Stroom kan sterk wees, afhangende van hoe naby die vinnige Agulhasstroom in die kus druk, en die oplewing hang af van die golftydperk en die duikdiepte. Die kontinentale plat van die ooskus is smal en die rakrand is vlak, dus vloei die Agulhasstroom relatief naby die kus. Hierdie smal, kragtige stroom vloei suidwaarts langs die ooskus van Afrika in 'n reeks groot roterende bome, wat die kosmopolitiese en gevarieerde tropiese Indo-Stille Oseaan-fauna saambring met water wat deur tropiese sonskyn verhit word, en die verspreiding van endemiese spesies noordwaarts beperk. Strandwinde waai oor die warm water en bring reën in die somer na hierdie kus, en die afloop van die riviere dra slik in die see in. Waar die kontinentale plat baie smal is en die stroom naby die kus vloei, vervang dit die soutwater vinnig met helderder diep oseaanwater. Die kontinentale plat strek verder in die buiteland naby Durban, dus word die somersigbaarheid daar benadeel, maar verder suid by Aliwal Shoal en Protea Banks is die kontinentale plat weer smaller en daarom is die water daar duideliker.
Lanserings is vanaf glybane, riviermondings of die strand, en strandbote word normaalweg na die oewer teruggekeer deur die strand agter 'n golf aan te hardloop. Strandduik is 'n opsie op 'n paar plekke in Durban. Baie terreine is die beste om weg te duik met 'n duikleier wat 'n merkerboei sleep wat die duikboot volg.
Mariene ekologie
Suid-Afrika se kuswaters kan in 'n aantal biogeografiese streke verdeel word, maar daar is gewoonlik nie 'n skerp onderskeid tussen die gebiede waar die grense geplaas is nie. Daar is 'n geleidelike verandering aan die kus, van die tropiese waters in die noorde van KwaZulu-Natal na die koeler waters van die suidkus.
Die een plek waar daar 'n relatiewe duidelike verandering oor 'n kort afstand plaasvind, is by Kaappunt, waar die waters van die oostelike en westekant van die Kaapse Skiereiland opvallend verskillende ekologieë ondersteun, en selfs hier is daar 'n beduidende oorvleueling van inwonende organismes.
Daar is 'n groot deel endemiese spesies langs hierdie kuslyn, veral langs die Suidkus.
Die mariene ekostreke
Die streke van belang vir ontspanningsduikers is die kus-ekostreke, wat toeganklik en vlak genoeg is om te duik. Dit word beskou as uit te brei vanaf die oewer tot by die breek van die kontinentale plat, so die grootste deel van die gebied is heeltemal te diep om te duik.
- Die koel gematig Benguela-ekostreek strek vanaf Sylvia Hill in Namibië tot Kaappunt. Die koue Benguela-stroom is die grootste invloed, en die streek word gekenmerk deur grootskaalse intensiewe opwelling en voedingsryke water. Aan die suidoostelike punt van hierdie streek is die onderbreking by Kaappunt baie duidelik in die diepte van die kus, maar in dieper gebiede is dit gekies as die diepte van 150 m tot ongeveer suid van Kaap Agulhas. Hierdie lyn stem meer ooreen met die mengsone van die Benguela- en Agulhas-strome, en is ongeveer parallel met die rakrand.
- Die warm gematig Agulhas-ekostreek strek vanaf Kaappunt tot by die Mbashe-rivier. Die Mbashe-rivier is gekies as die geskikste grens tussen die subtropiese provinsie Natal in die noorde en die warm gematigde Agulhas-streek in die suide, maar die verandering is geleidelik tussen hierdie streke. Opwelling aan die suidkus van Suid-Afrika word hoofsaaklik aangedryf deur die huidige Agulhas en die kontinentale plat. Hierdie vorm van opwelling dwing koue diep water op na die kontinentale rak, maar nie noodwendig bokant die termokline nie. In die streek oos van die Agulhas-oewer versterk windopwelling, wat hoofsaaklik in die somer voorkom, die huidige opwaartse stroom wat die kouer dieper waters na die oppervlak bring. Dit verhoog die biologiese produktiwiteit deur toevoer van voedingstowwe na die eufotiese sone (waar plante genoeg lig het om te floreer) wat die produksie van fitoplankton aanwakker, en rotsagtige oewers wat met die voedingsryke water voorsien word, ondersteun ryk biomassa van alge. Die jaarlikse tjokka- (inktvis-) paaiwerk vind grootliks in hierdie streek plaas.
- Die subtropies Natalse ekostreek strek vanaf die Mbashe-rivier tot by Kaap Vidal. Hierdie gebied het 'n groot rivierinvoer, maar die Agulhasstroom is die grootste invloed op die Natalse ekostreek. Reefhabitat is beperk en die belangrikste rifgebiede sluit in Aliwal Shoal en Protea Banks. Die rotsagtige gemeenskappe van die rif verskil van die koraalrifgemeenskappe verder noord, aangesien steenagtige koraal afneem met verhoogde troebelheid in die suide. Die Natalse ekostreek ondersteun endemiese sagte koraal. Die jaarlikse sardienloop is 'n kenmerk van die suidelike gedeelte van hierdie streek.
- Die tropies Delagoa-ekostreek strek vanaf Kaap Vidal noordwaarts tot in Mosambiek. 'N Duidelike verandering in die mariene gemeenskapsstruktuur by Cape Vidal word aangedui deur die verspreiding van die seegras- en mangrove-habitat, en die tropiese variëteite van seevoëls en walvisse.
Toerusting
Gewone ontspanning duik toerusting is voldoende vir die meeste duikplekke in die meeste streke. Die grootste verskil in vereistes vir blootstellingspakke. In die tropiese noord-ooste, waar die watertemperatuur gewoonlik 24 ° C of hoër is, word natpakke net soveel gedra ter beskerming teen die son en steek as vir die warmte, terwyl 'n 7-mm-pak aan die weskus skaars voldoende is , en droë pakke word al hoe gewilder onder duikers wat gemaklik voel aan die einde van 'n duik in watertemperature van so laag as 8 ° C. Die meeste duikplekke is relatief vlak - min is dieper as 40 m en die meerderheid is tussen die 10 en 30 m.
Duikersertifisering en regsaanspreeklikheid
Daar is geen wetlike vereiste in Suid-Afrika vir sertifisering as ontspanningsduiker nie. U mag wettiglik toerusting koop en daarmee duik sonder opleiding, sertifisering, ervaring of bekwaamheid. Daar is ook geen wettige beperking wat u verhinder om na die see te gaan en uit vrye wil oor die kant van die boot te spring nie, maar slegs 'n gewigsgordel dra, maar daar is gemakliker en geriefliker maniere om uself dood te maak.
Die meeste, indien nie noodwendig nie, almal van die duikbestuurders wil daarop aandring dat u gesertifiseer is om diep te duik en in die omstandighede wat op die duikplek verwag word, of vergesel word deur 'n gesertifiseerde instrukteur. Dit is nie net omdat u besorg is oor u veiligheid nie, maar dit verminder ook die papierwerk as daar 'n ongeluk is. Dit is sleg vir sake om u kliënte tydens 'n uitstappie te laat sterf, daarom is die meeste ondernemers redelik ywerig om te verseker dat kliënte ingelig word oor die waarskynlike toestande en werfspesifieke risiko's en die aanbevole vlak van sertifisering. Ontheffings word in die meeste gevalle vereis, en die duiker aanvaar die verantwoordelikheid vir sy of haar eie optrede, en tensy daar sterk bewyse van nalatigheid of onwettige optrede van die operateur is, is dit onwaarskynlik dat geskil ná die gebeurtenis die afhanklikes ryk sal maak.
Sommige operateurs sal 'n duik kanselleer as die toestande onaangenaam lyk, en waarskynlik sal almal kanselleer as die toestande gevaarlik lyk. Dit beteken egter nie dat die voorwaardes noodwendig vir u veilig sal wees as die duik aan is nie. Daar word van u verwag om self te beoordeel wat u kan hanteer, en of die situasie vandag binne u vermoëns sal wees, en u eie besluit te neem. Die bemanning kan raad gee, maar kan nie vir u dink nie.
As u 'n leerling in 'n sertifiseringsprogram is, het u die reg om van die instrukteur te verwag om u te adviseer oor risiko en veiligheid, maar tensy u hoegenaamd geen sertifisering het nie, word daar van u verwag om 'n redelike en verantwoordelike keuse vir u te kan neem.
Bestemmings
Duik in Suid-Afrika vind plaas in drie kusstreke, verspreid oor drie kusprovinsies, en op binnelandse terreine, verspreid oor 'n ander stel provinsies. Die kusbestemmings hier word hoofsaaklik teen die kloksgewys langs die kus gelys en per provinsie. Binnelandse webwerwe word net alfabeties gelys, aangesien daar geen duidelike rede is om anders te doen nie. Die provinsie maak geen noemenswaardige verskil aan die duiker nie, behalwe 'n algemene idee van waar dit is.
Wes-Kaap
Die Wes-Kaap provinsie is die mees suidwestelike provinsie in Suid-Afrika. Dit bevat 'n groot deel van Suid-Afrika se toeristebestemmings en besienswaardighede, waaronder verskeie van die meer bekende duikbestemmings.
Lambertsbaai
1 Lambertsbaai is 'n klein vissersdorpie aan die weskus van die Wes-Kaap 280 kilometer noord van Kaapstad. Dit is 'n stuk kuslyn wat blootgestel word aan wind en see met 'n westelike komponent. Dit word gewoonlik nie as 'n beskou nie skubaduik bestemming, maar is baie gewild vir vryduik vir kreef (weskus-kreef) in die seisoen.
Elandsbaai
2 Eland's Bay is 'n klein vissersdorpie in die Wes-Kaap, ongeveer 220 km (twee en 'n half uur se ry) noord van Kaapstad. Dit word oor die algemeen nie as 'n duikbestemming beskou nie, maar is redelik gewild vir vryduik vir rotskreef in die seisoen. Dit is 'n meer branderplankrybestemming en is ook bekend vir grotte met rotstekeninge. Dit is nie in 'n MPA nie, en daarom is geen permit nodig vir duik nie. Kreefduik benodig 'n permit spesifiek vir daardie aktiwiteit en mag nie op duik gedoen word nie.
Paternoster
3 Paternoster is 'n klein vissersdorpie aan die weskus van die Wes-Kaap. Dit word gewoonlik nie as 'n duikbestemming beskou nie, maar is baie gewild vir vryduik van kreef in die seisoen, en het 'n paar wrakplekke wat die moeite werd is om te duik nadat die vangs van die dag geland is as die toestande goed is. Dit is nie 'n MPA nie, dus is dit nie nodig om te duik nie, maar die versameling van rotskreef benodig 'n permit.
Saldanhabaai
4 Saldanhabaai Dit is 'n belangrike hawe vir ertsuitvoer en vissershawe aangrensend aan verskeie beskermde mariene gebiede en aardse natuurreservate. Dit is nie bekend as 'n duikbestemming nie, maar daar is 'n kommersiële duikskool in die stad en 'n paar ontspanningsduike word ook gedoen naby.
Dasseneiland
1 Dasseneiland is 'n klein natuurreservaat op die eiland aan die weskus van die Wes-Kaap. Dit word gewoonlik nie as 'n duikbestemming beskou nie, want dit is nie maklik om daarheen te kom nie, maar daar is 'n paar duikplekke, waaronder wrakke as u in die omgewing is.
Silwerstroomstrand
5 Silwerstroomstrand is 'n strand in die noorde van Kaapstad. Dit word oor die algemeen nie as 'n duikbestemming beskou nie, maar daar is 'n paar plekke.
Kaapstad
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik die Kaapse Skiereiland en Valsbaai
6 Kaapstad is 'n belangrike hawestad en die wetgewende hoofstad van Suid-Afrika. Die waters van Kaapstad sluit die Atlantiese kus in die weste van die Kaapse Skiereiland wat koel tot koud gematig is, en Valsbaai, wat ook koel gematig is, maar aansienlik beïnvloed word deur die warmer waters wat deur die Mosambiekse stroom en die Agulhasstroom aan die ooskus gebring word, en ekologiese ooreenkomste met die suidkus het.
Kaappunt word aanvaar as die grens tussen die koel, gematigde Benguela-ekostreek van die weskus, en die warm, gematigde Agulhas-ekostreek van die suidkus. Anders as die ander grense tussen die mariene biostreke, wat diffuus is, wissel die ekosisteme oor Kaappunt redelik op 'n kort afstand as gevolg van die verandering van die oorheersende invloed van die warmer Agulhasstroom in die ooste na die koue Benguela-stroom in die weste. .
Daar is baie endemiese spesies vis, ongewerweldes en seewier, asook 'n verskeidenheid ander organismes wat wyer versprei word, en 'n groot aantal skeepswrakke, waarvan sommige hoogs as duikplekke beskou word. Valsbaai is soms gasheer vir swerwende visse uit warmer streke, en soms selfs skilpaaie wat op die strome van die ooskus af ingebring word.
Die bergagtige Kaapse Skiereiland, wat die Atlantiese Oseaan van Valsbaai skei, beskerm ook die kuswaters aan weerskante van wind en golwe van die ander kant, wat dit moontlik maak om die hele jaar deur te duik, maar seisoenale variasies in waar om te duik en wat om te duik sien, aangesien daar 'n beduidende en opvallende verskil is tussen die ekosisteme op die alternatiewe kuslyne.
Daar is drie beskermde mariene gebiede wat verband hou met die kuswaters van Kaapstad: die Tafelberg Nasionale Park Mariene Beskermde Gebied, wat die meeste rifduike insluit en 'n groot aantal wrakke, die Robben Eiland Mariene Beskermde Gebied, met meestal wrakke, maar nie so baie nie, en sommige nogal diep, en die klein Helderberg Marine Protected Area, met baie min duikplekke.
Bettysbaai
7 Bettysbaai is 'n klein vakansieoord in die Overberg distrik Wes-Kaap. Dit was 'n gewilde vryduikarea vir perlemoenversameling voordat die vissery vir die publiek gesluit is en 'n groot stropery-probleem geword het.
Hawston
8 Hawston is 'n klein oord en vissersdorpie in die Overberg distrik Wes-Kaap.
Hermanus
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik in Hermanus
9 Hermanus is 'n klein hawedorp in die Overberg Wes-Kaap, bekend vir walviskyk.
Gansbaai
10 Gansbaai is 'n klein hawedorp in die Overberg Wes-Kaap, bekend vir die hokduik met grootwithaaie en die wrak van HMS Birkenhead.
Struisbaai
11 Struisbaai is 'n klein vissersdorpie in die Overberg distrik Wes-Kaap. Dit is nogal gewild as 'n bestemming vir speervissery.
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans)
12 Arniston is 'n klein vakansiedorpie in die Overberg Wes-Kaap distrik, vernoem na sy bekendste wrak.
Mosselbaai
13 Mosselbaai is 'n hawedorp aan die Tuinroete in die Wes-Kaap.
Knysna
14 Knysna is 'n hawedorp aan 'n groot strandmeer op die Tuinroete in die Wes-Kaap. Duik naby die monding van die strandmeer is die beste om met hoogwater te doen, aangesien die strome baie sterk kan word.
Plettenbergbaai
15 Plettenbergbaai is 'n vakansieoorddorp aan die Tuinroete in die Wes-Kaap, veral bekend vir sy strande.
Oos-Kaap
Die Oos-Kaap is 'n provinsie aan die suidkus van Suid-Afrika aan die kus van die oostelike deel van die Agulhas-ekostreek, wat ryk is aan endemiese mariene spesies. Duik is baie afhanklik van weerstoestande, en sigbaarheid is baie goed, maar as dit goed is daar is baie om te sien. Die water is oor die algemeen warmer as die Wes-Kaap, maar daar is soms koue toestande.
Tsitsikamma
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik die Tsitsikamma
16 Die Tsitsikamma Nasionale Park Mariene Beskermde Gebied strek langs die westelike deel van die Oos - Kaapse kus en 'n klein gedeelte van die Wes - Kaapse kus aan die Tuinroete.
Jeffreysbaai
17 Jeffreysbaai is 'n vakansieoorddorp in die Oos-Kaap, veral bekend as 'n branderplankry-bestemming.
St Francisbaai
18 St Francisbaai is 'n klein hawedorpie in die Oos-Kaap, bekend vir die jaarlikse Chokka-lopie.
Port Elizabeth
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik in Port Elizabeth
19 Port Elizabeth is 'n belangrike hawestad in die Oos-Kaap aan die oewer van Algoabaai. Die duikplekke is binne-in die baai en wes van Kaap Recife, in die omgewing wat bekend staan as die Wildside, wat meer blootgestel is aan suidwestelike deinings, maar is dieper en het meer uitgebreide riwwe.
Port Alfred
20 Port Alfred is 'n klein hawedorpie in die Oos-Kaap aan die monding van die Kowierivier.
SS Cariboo wrak
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik in Suid-Afrika / SS Cariboo wrak
2 SS Cariboo wrak is die wrak van 'n stoomboot ongeveer 3,4 km van die monding van die Mgwalana-rivier, noordoos van Port Alfred.
Madacascar rif
Net noord van die monding van die Bira-rivier, ongeveer 70 km noord-oos van Port Alfred.
Oos-Londen
21 Oos-Londen is 'n hawestad in die Oos-Kaap.
Wilde kus
3 Die Wilde kus is die kusstreek van die Oos-Kaap van noord van Oos-Londen tot by die suidelike grens van KwaZulu-Natal.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is 'n provinsie aan die ooskus, tussen Mosambiek in die noorde en die Oos-Kaap in die suide.
Margate
22 Margate is 'n klein oorddorpie aan die suidkus van KwaZulu-Natal naby die Protea-oewers.
Park Rynie
23 Park Rynie is 'n klein oorddorpie aan die Suidkus van KwaZulu-Natal.
Umkomaas en Scottburgh
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik Aliwal Shoal
In 1849, nadat 'n skip, die Aliwal, byna met 'n ongekaarte rif gebots het, het sy kaptein die posisie van hierdie rif, wat later bekend geword het as die Aliwal Shoal, gerapporteer. Dit is ongeveer 60 km suid van Durban. Die naaste dorpe is 24 Umkomaas en 25 Scottburgh, wat albei uitgebreide toeristegeriewe bied, ook vir duikers.
Die skoor is 'n versteende sandduin wat ongeveer parallel aan die kus lê, ongeveer 5 km van die oewer af. Dit bestaan uit 'n smal noordelike deel, die kroon, ongeveer 250 m breed, word ongeveer 800 m breed en uiteindelik met 'n breër landrug in die suide, groter as 2 km breed. Die kroon wissel in diepte van ongeveer 6 m aan die Noordelike Pinnacles tot ongeveer 30 m aan die seekant. Die gemiddelde diepte van die kroongebied is 12,5 m. Die suidelike breër gebied bevat verskeie uitsteeksels wat vanaf 'n diepte van ongeveer 30 m tot ongeveer 15 m strek (bv. Howard's Castle, Landers Reef). In die kroongebied het baie duikplekke (byvoorbeeld Raggie Cave en Chunnel) 'n groot hoeveelheid ongelyke topografie met klein grotte, rante en swembaddens wat ryk is aan seelewe, beide in visse en ongewerwelde diere.
Die gebied het 'n subtropiese klimaat met gemiddelde maandelikse lugtemperature wat wissel van 17,0 ° C (Jul) tot 23,9 ° C (Feb). Die seetemperature is gewoonlik ietwat warmer as gevolg van die warm, tropiese, suidwaartse vloeiende Agulhasstroom, wat gedurende die jaar 21-26 ° C tot gevolg het.
Durban
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik in Durban
Duik in die belangrikste hawestad van 26 Durban in KwaZulu-Natal word beïnvloed deur heersende winde en die afloop van die rivier die Umgeni, die Harbour monding en die Umlaas Cutting on the Bluff wat die sigbaarheid in die reënseisoen (lente: Sept. - Des.) in die onmiddellike omgewing van hulle kan beïnvloed. monde. Die lae seisoenale reënval en die heersende suidwestelike westelike strate wat helder water van die Mosanbiese stroom inbring, maak die winter die beste tyd om Durban te duik (Maart tot Julie).
Ballito
27 Ballito is 'n kusdorpie aan die Noordkus (KwaZulu-Natal) van Suid-Afrika. Dit is hoofsaaklik 'n vakansieoord met strande en woonstelle, maar ook duikplekke.
St Lucia
- 4 Kaap Vidal
Sodwanabaai
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik Sodwanabaai
5 Sodwanabaai is een van die meer bekende en gewilder duikbestemmings in Suid-Afrika. Dit is in die verre noordooste van die land en is in die tropiese Delagoa-ekostreek met rifkorale en tipiese Indo-Stille Oseaan seelewe. Sodwana is binne die groot iSimangaliso Mariene Beskermde Gebied en is bekend vir sy selakante, wat soms deur tegniese duikers op ongeveer 110 m diepte in een van die rande gesien is.
Noord Maputaland
Insluitend 6 Mabibi en 7 Kosibaai. Hierdie terreine is ook in die iSimangaliso-beskermde gebied.
Binnelandse duikplekke
- Hoof onderwerp: Duik die binneland in Suid-Afrika in
Die binnelandse duikplekke is oor 'n groot gebied versprei en sluit in:
- 8 Badgat: - 'n oorstroomde asbesmyn naby Mbombela in Mpumalanga provinsie.
- 9 Bass Lake: - 'n Onbruikte dolomietgroef naby Meyerton suid van Johannesburg in Gauteng provinsie.
- 10 Boesmansgat: - 'n Sinkgat, naby Kuruman in die Noord-Kaap provinsie.
- 11 Marico Oog: - 'n fontein tussen Rustenburg, Zeerust en Lichtenburg, in Noordwes Provinsie
- 12 Wonderwater: - 'n oorstroomde chroommyn naby Brits in die Noordwes Provinsie
- 13 Wondergat: - 'n dolomiet sinkgat naby Mafikeng in die Noordwes Provinsie
Reisroetes
Die jaarlikse sardienloop is 'n noemenswaardige gebeurtenis wat langs die suidkus beweeg terwyl die sardientjies migreer. Duikers en ander entoesiaste volg die hardloop langs die kus of ontmoet dit as dit verby groot sentrums gaan. Groot aantal sardientjies word voorafgegaan deur walvisse, haaie, dolfyne, wildvisse, seevoëls en natuurlik mense.
Leer
Daar is ontspanningsduikskole op die meeste duikbestemmings in Suid-Afrika. Affiliasie is by 'n wye verskeidenheid internasionaal erkende ontspannings- en tegniese duikagentskappe, waaronder PADI, CMAS-ISA, NAUI, IANTD, SSI, SDI / TDI. Sertifisering van hierdie agentskappe word wêreldwyd aanvaar. Die kwaliteit van die opleiding hang meer af van die instrukteur en die skool as van die agentskap, soos in die meeste wêrelddele die geval is. Suid-Afrika het sy aandeel in vinnige omset en hou nie van die standaarde nie, maar het ook baie goeie instrukteurs. Lees die standaarde en sorg dat u kry waarvoor u betaal.
Suid-Afrika is ook die beste bestemming vir kommersiële duikeropleiding, aangesien die sertifisering erken word deur die International Diver Recognition Forum, en dit baie goedkoper is as in Europa.
Respek
Bewaring en die stroperyprobleem
Daar is kommer oor die impak van sportduik op die rifekologie. Sommige hiervan kan wettig wees, en studie is nodig om te toets of dit 'n werklike probleem is. Die aantal duikslae in die streek het oor die jare aansienlik toegeneem, maar daar is geen betroubare numeriese data beskikbaar nie. Die aantal webwerwe het ook toegeneem, en daarom sal die duikfrequensie op die meeste plekke nie proporsioneel toegeneem het nie.
Ontspanningsduikers is oor die algemeen ten gunste van bewaring, en aangesien hulle nie toegelaat word om enige seelewe op Scuba in Suid-Afrikaanse waters op te vang of te vang nie, beskou hulle hulself oor die algemeen nie as 'n beduidende impak op die omgewing nie. Daar is bewyse dat skade aangerig word deur kontak met riforganismes en deur die sediment te versteur. Die vraag is dan hoe belangrik is hierdie impak in vergelyking met ander druk?
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Ruimtelike Biodiversiteitsassessering 2004 Tegniese verslag indicates that "Non-Extractive Recreational Activities" has been identified as a potential threat to marine biodiversity.This category is ranked 7th of the nine categories and includes Diver based activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving and cage diving to view sharks, as one of five subcategories.The identification and ranking of the potential threats was made by "Summed Expert Ratings", a procedure similar to the scoring method for competitive dancing, gymnastics and similar sports.
The authors claim that it has been established that scuba diving and associated activities can cause significant damage to coral communities by destructive contact (anchoring and diver damage), resuspension of sediments and by hand-to-coral contact.They also mention that coral reefs in South Africa are confined to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park where anchoring or mooring is prohibited, and that current research has indicated that the coral reefs of this region have not experienced serious diver damage.
They also state that most divers cause very little damage to coral reefs although underwater photographers have been identified as a group that causes more damage to reefs than other users.
Their findings also show that the prevalence of predominantly soft corals on South African reefs makes them fairly resilient to diver damage.
Unfortunately the government department of Marine and Coastal Management has made use of this report and surveys on tropical coral reefs to support an effort to make money out of recreational diving on the reefs in all marine protected areas by imposing a permit system as a recreational diver tax. No surveys of temperate reefs can be produced to justify their claims that divers are a threat to the reef ecology, and it seems unlikely that their interference will benefit either the ecology or the diving industry.
At the time the policy was perceived as a thinly disguised attempt to tax what department political appointees appeared to see as a wealthy but politically powerless minority group. However, there was an immediate reaction by the recreational diving industry and the recreational divers who use the affected areas, to the effect that the proposed permit fees were reduced significantly and the industry is more united than it had ever been before. The non-profit organisation Underwater Africa was formed to represent the recreational divers and recreational diving industry and it has fought tirelessly for the rights of its constituency.
Even in its restricted scope the permit system may have damaged the industry, as a number of dive charter operators have subsequently gone out of business, and the main effect appears to be that divers are harassed by officials of MCM while poaching has increased.
There is no evidence that the permit system has achieved any of its stated aims of providing finance for improved conservation in the MPAs. It is questionable whether it even covers the cost of its own administration, and may be merely an employment opportunity for the otherwise unemployable.
Marine and Coastal Management has (2010) gone through a period of major change as the government split its responsibilities between two departments. Fisheries have been transferred to the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), and conservation has gone to Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Internal turf wars at upper levels appear to be continuing to reduce effectiveness, and the working staff seem to have difficulty getting their jobs done. The most notorious of the previous management appear to have been transferred sideways rather than fired. So it goes.
Marine Protected Areas
A large number of the most popular dive sites of South Africa are in proclaimed Marine Protected Areas, and a permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA. Die permitte is 'n jaar geldig en is by sommige takke van die Poskantoor beskikbaar. Temporary permits, valid for a month, are usually available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in MPAs. The permits are not expensive, but the requirement to have them present at the site is an annoyance, as they are paper, and the printing on them states that the original permit, the invoice, and the holder's original identity document or passport must be produced on demand.
The department has officially specified that notarised copies are acceptable, but this information does not appear to have been passed on to their staff, who are frequently reported as insisting on the originals, and their generally uncouth and threatening attitude is notorious. The same personnel are seldom available to take action when complaints of poaching are made. It is not clear whether this is because the poachers tend to react violently to interference, while recreational divers have a long history of non-violence, or because they are on the take.
There have been accusations of corruption against personnel of MCM, which have not been cleared up, and the fact that a large part of the department's income derives from marine products confiscated from poachers is seen by many to be a conflict of interests, as this income would dry up if poaching was stopped.
It should probably be mentioned that the policies of MCM regarding recreational diving restrictions are in many cases not supported by members of their research staff, though obviously these are private opinions.
As of 2010 MCM has been split between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The situation has not improved after the split, and it is not clear, apparently even to the personnel of the two departments, who is responsible for what in the field of marine conservation. Some political officials appear to be attempting to gain short term popularity by trying to open reserves to artisanal fishers, in complete contradiction of the conservation policies, and enforcement is no better than before. Poaching goes on unabated, and divers are still harassed because it is much safer than attempting to apprehend the poachers, who tend to be armed and dangerous.
Diving on wrecks
A lot of ships have been wrecked on South Africa's long, rugged and dangerous coastline during the last 500 years. Due to its strategic location on the historical trade route between Europe and the East, at least 2700 vessels are known to have sunk, grounded, been wrecked, abandoned or scuttled in South African waters.
Wrecks and their associated artifacts can be impressive and interesting sites for recreational scuba diving and underwater photography. The diversity of wrecks around the South African coast offers divers a wide range of sites to visit and explore. At the same time, historical wrecks are a unique, fragile and non-renewable cultural heritage resource of great archaeological value. We all have a responsibility to conserve this heritage for future generations.
Divers are free to visit most wreck sites, but should remember that they are privileged to have access to these sites, which are an important part of our collective cultural heritage.
The complex and delicate nature of wreck sites requires that divers are especially careful when visiting them. To preserve them for future generations to enjoy and learn from, it is important that you appreciate the importance of wrecks, dive responsibly and treat shipwrecks with care and respect.
Wrecks are also important habitats for marine life. Avoid damaging wrecks by carelessly touching them with your hands, knees or fins. The disturbance of protective coverings of sand, plant growth or the products of corrosion that have formed on wrecks can greatly increase the rate at which a wreck and its contents decay. This reduces the wreck's value as an historical resource and dive site and divers should avoid doing anything that will disturb the delicate equilibrium of a wreck site.
Anchoring into wrecks can cause severe damage to artifacts and the structure of the wreck. If you need to anchor, ensure that you do so well off the wreck. Remember that a wreck site is non-renewable, and won't regenerate like a damaged reef. Dive with care and leave the wreck as you found it.
Legal protection of wrecks
The wrecks of ships or aircraft, and any associated cargo, debris or artifact more than 60 years old and in South African waters are protected by the National Heritage Resources Act #25 of 1999 (NHRA). The law of salvage and finds does not apply to historical shipwrecks, which are considered by the NHRA to be archaeological material, and as such are the property of the state, administered by SAHRA in trust for the nation, and may not be disturbed in any way except under the terms of a permit issued by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).
There are severe penalties for contravening the Act, including heavy fines and jail terms. All members of the South African Police Services, and Customs and Excise officers may act as Heritage Inspectors in terms of the Act, with powers of search, confiscation and arrest.
Historical wrecks may be visited provided that the sites are not disturbed or interfered with and no artifacts are removed or damaged.Resist the temptation to take home souvenirs. Not only is it illegal to remove such material, but anything recovered from a wreck needs immediate conservation treatment or it will end up rotting away or disintegrating. Souvenir hunting strips sites of artifacts and the information they carry, and denies future divers the experience of diving on a well preserved wreck.
Take only photos, leave only bubbles!
Kry hulp
- Emergency medical services vary in quality. Metro Rescue in Cape Town has a good reputation. However service will depend on availability of equipment and personnel. Hospital facilities also vary considerably, and most are understaffed.
- Recompression facilities are sparse. There are chambers in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. However, those which exist and are available, are competently manned and kept in good condition. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is standard at these facilities.
- Divers Alert Network (DAN) has a branch in South Africa Their toll free line from within the country 0800 020 111, and regular line *27 (0)11 254 1112 will get you the 24-hour emergency hotline. If you are a DAN member and are involved in a diving accident, contact them first and they will make the necessary arrangements through whichever other organisations are most appropriate.
- National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) have stations near most places where seaside recreational activities are popular
- Underwater Africa[dooie skakel] "The CPR of diving: Conservation, Promotion and Representation”. Contact them if you have trouble getting a permit or are harassed by officials of MCM or other organisations. They may be able to help.
Bly veilig
Sien ook: South Africa#Stay safe
- Crime unfortunately is endemic to pretty much the whole country, but some parts are worse than others. Generally where there are more people there is more crime, but not always in direct proportion. South Africa has pretty good laws in general, but they do tend to protect the guilty more than the innocent, and as a result, enforcement often leaves a lot to be desired. Shortage of staff, indifference, and corruption within the enforcement bureaucracy also do not help.
- South African politicians have a reputation for corruption, generally not very competent corruption, but there appears to be a tendency towards greed, incompetence, nepotism and indifference towards the job. This tends to filter down though the bureaucracies. However, there are laws which are intended to deal with these problems, and blowing the whistle does not usually get the foreigner into trouble the way it can do in some other places. If you stand up to it they will often back off, failure to provide service is the most likely retaliation, and you can always go to the press. At this stage the press is free, though not always interested. The foreign traveller is often better off than the local inhabitant as they will get better publicity for complaints, and the official policy is to encourage tourism as it brings in money.
- Scuba diving permits are required by anyone who wishes to dive in a Marine Protected Area. These are available from some Post Offices in the vicinity of the MPAs, and are valid for all MPAs. They should be available over the counter for about R92. The Post Office does take credit cards though it is possible that some branches might not. You will be required to show your identity document or passport. The permit is on the same form as recreational fishing permits, and is not waterproof or water resistant, but you are expected to show it when requested by an inspector. A certified copy is authorised by Marine and Coastal management, the organisation issuing the permits, but this is contradicted by the text on the permit, and the enforcement officials appear to be unaware that the copy is acceptable. The documents have been reprinted and are being issued as of 2018. Carry the permit in your car, but don't bother to carry it on the boat, as no-one else will either.
- Pollution is a long-standing problem. Many municipalities do not provide adequate services, and in many places effluent is discharged in contravention of the law, by the authorities who should be preventing it. Industry can often arrange a blind eye to be turned when they discharge their wastes. A lot depends on who the major shareholders are and how much money is involved. Nevertheless, it is usually safe enough to dive along most of the coast. Specific regional problems will be detailed in the regional dive guides.
Hazardous marine organisms
These vary by region. Refer to the regional dive guide.
Breathing gas, safety and emergency equipment standards
- Compressed breathing air quality is required by law to comply with SANS 10019. This is of an internationally acceptable standard. The filling station is obliged to keep a record of the results of air quality testing on site and show them to a user on request. This requirement is not usually stringently enforced, nevertheless, where there is competition for business, the air is usually good.
- Compressor Operators who fill cylinders are legally required to be competent in terms of South African National Standard SANS 10019, but there is no requirement for certification, and this requirement is not often enforced. The CMAS-ISA Compressor operator certificate is generally considered within the recreational diving industry to be a sufficient indication of competence, though not a necessary one.
- Compressed breathing gas fills are required by SANS 458:2005 table A.1(b) item 4 to be within 5% of the nominal fill pressure corrected to 20°C, and it is illegal to fill a cylinder to a higher pressure than a developed pressure equivalent to the working pressure stamped on the cylinder at 20°C, corrected to actual temperature when filled. The pressure must be checked before you leave the filling station, or it will be virtually impossible to prove deficiency. All filling stations are required to provide an accurate and calibrated pressure gauge if requested. In practice the gauges are seldom recently calibrated.
- Scuba cylinder colour coding is prescribed by SANS 10019 to be canary yellow with a french grey shoulder. Nitrox and trimix cylinders should have been cleaned for oxygen service before first use with mixed gases, and be labeled for the service. Technically a commercial filling station may not fill a cylinder that is not the right colour or is not in date for visual inspection and hydrostatic tests. Privately owned, filled and used cylinders are not restricted in the same way.
- Nitrox fills will normally be mixed on demand, and the customer is expected to personally test or observe the test for oxygen content and sign for it. After that it is your own business what you do with it. You may be asked to show Nitrox certification, but that is up to the seller, and is not required by law. Cylinders to be filled with Nitrox are required by law to have a label showing the composition of the contents, but the specifications for the label are so mind bogglingly incompetent that filling stations may require more rationally useful labels than legally required. Most stations will accept cylinders with the old style labels, as they at least provide adequate information. Composition is usually written on masking tape with a waterproof marker and stuck to the shoulder of the cylinder. This may or may not be legal, as the authorised experts are not keen to admit either way, and it is the standard procedure.
- Cylinders to be filled with Trimix are also required to be labelled with the contents. The size and position of the label is specified, but it is not required to actually be visible, and it is a position commonly covered by tank bands if the cylinders are twinned. Additional labels which can actually be seen are not forbidden, and may be used.
- Cylinders dedicated to 100% oxygen for breathing must be black with a white shoulder, but Nitrox cylinders may be filled with 99% Oxygen, and Nitrox mixes only need to be analysed to the nearest 1% accuracy. If you have a Nitrox cylinder filled with Oxygen for decompression gas, label it as 99% and it will be legal.
- Medical oxygen specifically intended for surface first aid purposes should be carried in the official black cylinder with white shoulder. Most have a pin index valve, but this is not a legal requirement, and a bullnose fitting as is used on bulk cylinders, or a scuba pillar valve may also be used, depending on the regulator available. As it is not a legal requirement to carry medical oxygen on a dive boat, it is also not a requirement to use any specific type of regulator. The regulators marketed by DAN are popular, and possibly the best for purpose, as they allow 100% on demand for conscious users and can also supply free-flow to a medical mask for unconscious users. Other types may be diving regulators which will only supply a demand regulator, and some older free-flow systems intended for general first aid purposes.
- The law requires that cylinders which are to be filled with gas mixtures containing more than 23% oxygen must be cleaned before the first fill with such gas mixture. Filling stations often require that there is an Oxygen clean label on the cylinder if it is to be filled by partial pressure blending, but this is not a legal requirement.
- Oxygen is carried by most dive charter boats, and this is considered the industry standard, though not required by law.
- First aid kits are required by law to be carried on boats.
- Skippers of dive boats are required by law to be certified for the category of vessel they operate, and to have a diving endorsement to the certificate. This certificate must be carried on the boat, so you can expect to be shown it if you ask at a reasonable time. If the boat is launched through the surf, the skipper's certificate must also be endorsed for surf launching. Unfortunately the certificate does not guarantee competence, but most of the skippers get good or get out.
- Skippers are also required to be trained in basic first aid, but this is baie basic and does not include decompression illness.
- Dive boats are obliged by law to carry safety equipment and pass a safety inspection every year. This is shown by a certificate and a decal on the boat.
- Vessels used for any commercial purpose must be licensed or registered in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act.
- Small craft licensing: You can recognise and identify a licensed vessel by the license number it must display on the sides. The number consists of a prefix identifying the licensing authority, followed by a number identifying the vessel, and any applicable category letters.
- South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) uses DT plus a letter identifying the port of origin. DTC is Cape Town. The number may be followed by a class letter indicating the waters the boat is licensed and equipped to operate in.
- South African Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) uses club identification prefixes.
- South African Sailing (SAS) uses SA for sailing vessels and ZA for motor vessels
- South African Small Craft Association (SASCA) uses U followed by the category and then the number.
- South African Institute for Skippers (SAIS) uses A
- South African Police Service (SAPS) uses SAPS
- Small craft licensing: You can recognise and identify a licensed vessel by the license number it must display on the sides. The number consists of a prefix identifying the licensing authority, followed by a number identifying the vessel, and any applicable category letters.
Bly gesond
- Malaria is endemic to some regions in the north east of the country. For divers this is mainly northern KwaZulu-Natal.
- Bilharzia is also endemic to some regions on the east coast, but only affects fresh water, so is not generally a problem to divers.
- HIV is widespread. However it is not really a particular problem for recreational divers.
 | COVID-19 inligting: Recreational scuba is not allowed during level 5 or 4 lock down. The rules for level 3 lock down are less clear, but the use of private boats for self-drive excursion activities for recreational scuba is permitted by the Department of Environmental Affairs, subject to the existing permit conditions. Use of rental scuba equipment may be a health risk as there does not appear to be any consensus on effective measures to reliably disinfect scuba equipment that do not damage the equipment. Check with the shop how they disinfect equipment between users, and check whether what they do is recognised as effective against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. |
| (Information last updated 25 Jun 2020) |
Werk
A recreational diving certification does not qualify you to work as a diver except as recreational divemaster or instructor. All other underwater work done for reward or as part of your employment requires registration as a commercial diver, or a recognised foreign equivalent. This includes scientific diving, including for your own postgraduate research at most universities, and at all research institutions.
The recreational diving industry is specifically excluded from the scope of the South African Department of Employment and Labour's Diving Regulations, but not from the rest of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its other relevant regulations.
Citizen science data collection, whether entirely autonomous, or as part of an organised project, is not considered to be within the scope of the diving regulations provided that each diver is personally responsible for the planning and execution of all their dives, and not under the direction of any other person regarding the safety of the dive.
Leer
Recreational diver training
All major diving centres in South Africa have recreational diver training schools. Most of the major international diver certification agencies are represented in South Africa. See also the regional dive guides for local details.
Dit sluit in:
- PADI
- NAUI
- CMAS
- SSI
- IANTD
- TDI/SDI
- RAID
Technical diver training
Technical diver training is available at the major centres such as Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, and at Badgat, also marketed as Komati Springs, where the site is suitable for deep and cave diving throughout the year. Rebreather training is available, but only where there is an instructor certified to train the specific equipment. This varies from time to time.
Commercial diver training
(Including scientific diving and public safety diving)
The South African Department of Employment and Labour certifications in Commercial Diving are recognised by the International Diver Recognition and Certification Forum. Divers holding certification that is recognised by the IDRCF may legally work as commercial divers in countries represented on the forum, provided that other visa and work permit conditions are complied with.
There is not a great deal of commercial diving work in South Africa, and the pay is not very good by world standards, but the training is cheaper than in most other countries on the IDRCF, and as a result South Africa has become a training destination for foreign commercial divers. Learner divers from Europe have commented that the cost of training at home covers the training costs, medical examination, travel and living expenses and enough change for an additional vacation in South Africa. South African commercial diver training is also popular with learner divers from many countries where there is no officially sanctioned commercial diver training system, and the certification, though there is no guarantee of employment, allows the holder to apply for lucrative work in the international offshore petrochemical industry.
A reasonable ability to communicate in English is a prerequisite, and medical fitness to dive must be verified by a medical practitioner registered as a Diving Medical Practitioner with the South African Department of Employment and Labour. Foreign medical certificates of fitness to dive are not recognised for commercial diving.
Lees
- Branch, G. and Branch, M. 1981, The Living Shores of Southern Africa, Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 0-86977-1159
- Branch, G.M. Griffiths,C.L. Mranch, M.L and Beckley, L.E. Revised edition 2010, Two Oceans – A guide to the marine Life of Southern Africa, David Philip, Cape Town. ISBN 978 1 77007 772 0
- Gosliner, T. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Arica, Sea Challengers & Jeff Hamann, Monterey. ISBN 0930118138
- Heemstra, P. and Heemstra E. 2004, Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa, NISC/SAIAB, Grahamstown.
- Ed. Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P. 2003 Smith’s Sea Fishes. Struik, Cape Town. (Authoritative, large and expensive)
Regional references
West Coast
- Stegenga, H. Bolton, J.J. and Anderson, R.J. 1997, Seaweeds of the South African West Coast. Bolus Herbarium, Cape Town. ISBN 079921793X (rather technical)
Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula and environs
KwaZulu-Natal
- De Clerck, O. Bolton, J.J. Anderson, R.J. and Coppejans, E. 2005,Guide to the seaweeds of KwaZulu-Natal Scripta Botanica Belgica; vol 33, National Botanic Gardens, Meise, Belgium. ISBN 9072619641
- King, D. 1996 Reef Fishes and Corals: East coast of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 1868259811
- King, D. and Fraser, V. 2002, More Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs, Struik, Cape Town, ISBN 186872686X