protea banks sharks sardine run from SAFARI DIVER

Specialists in Southern African diving and safari holidays

Dive South Africa: The Sardine Run

Fast becoming a well-known phenomenon through nature programmes such as the Blue Planet, the Sardine Run is no longer a local event. Millions of sardines make their way from the nutrient-rich cool waters off the Cape using the Agulhas current which sweeps them past the Transkei (Wild Coast) and on to Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal. A finger of cool water sandwiches this living slick between the coast and the warmer Indian Ocean.

In their wake follow predators on a grand scale: dolphins, whales, sharks, big-game fish and even the odd penguin and seal. From the air thousands of gannets target the swirling bait-ball as the fish are hemmed in at the surface. Along the coast people are overtaken by ‘sardine fever’ as they scoop up the fish in anything to hand: fights have been known to break out over these little fishes!

Many companies promote the sardine run on specific dates, and charge handsomely for the privilege of sitting it out on the beach waiting for that elusive shadow to appear. However, in our experience, unless you have a couple of months spare it is very difficult to be in the right place at the right time. Generally the Sardine Run is touted between June and July with the optimum weeks being the last 2 in June – but no one has told the sardines! In past years, they have appeared in bumper numbers, in others they have failed to materialise along the coast with prevailing conditions forcing them to stay deeper and further off-shore. No one knows for sure when or where they will appear, despite spotter planes and hot-lines at the ready.

Our advice is this: go to South Africa and enjoy the incredible diversity of marine life it has to offer, whatever the time of year. From June onwards, large numbers of whales, dolphins and sharks start to congregate around Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal in anticipation of the Run so don’t be disappointed if you don’t see an actual bait-ball. Any dive that features a whale or dolphin on the ride to or from the dive site, plus sharks during the dive has to be a good one!

Please enquire.

Whales seen on the way to dive site, Aliwal Shoal

Dolphin during dive, Protea Banks

Bait ball and shark courtesy of SEAL, Transkei expedition

Telephone: 01428 644501

E-mail: info@safaridiver.co.uk