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CLIMATE:
Climate varies as one would expect over such a large country. Summer is
December to February and winter is June to August (opposite to our
northern hemisphere seasons). The Cape has mild conditions with warm,
dry summers and temperatures topping 30oC whilst winters are
cool at around 16oC. The north east coast has tropical
conditions with mild winters around 20oC and hot, humid
summers topping 35oC. Rainfall generally occurs during the
summer months.
DIVING: South
Africa offers a diverse range of diving, along with a wide variety of marine life.
Diving is conducted from
RIBS (ridged-inflatable boat) and safety is paramount. Dive guides carry
SMB's (surface marker buoy) and the boat follows the buoy and picks
divers up at the end of the dive. Currents can be non-existent to strong
and drift dives are usually conducted.
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The cooler waters off the Cape are home to kelp forests and large seal
colonies which in turn attracts that apex predator, the Great white
shark. Diving tends to be centred around cage diving however there is
'normal' diving available amongst the kelp forests and along the rocky
shores, as well as wrecks. These waters also attract migrating Southern
right whales (September to December) which can be seen on whale watching
tours or simply from the shore.
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Aliwal Shoal and Protea
Banks is becoming known as a shark diver's Mecca with species including
Tiger, Ragged-tooth, Zambezi (Bull), Giant guitar, Hammerheads, Copper
and Blacktips.
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Sodwana Bay and Rocktail
Bay lie further north and offer tropical diving with extensive reef
systems bursting with marine life.
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