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Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa

Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa

Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa have begun already as everybody looks forward to that bumper sardine run we all deserve.

Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns take divers right into the sardine bait ball action where every kind of marine perdator can be seen hard at work. Gorging the shoals of hapless sardines, they compete and work together – their common goal – the obliteration of bait balls, one by one.

Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, who for a decade now have operated boats and dive expeditions in The Transkei, arrange accommodation and meals for punters, and then take them to sea on one of their custom designed and rigged inflatables. The surf launch through the Umzimvubu River mouth warms the adrenalin valve up nice, and by the time you reach the action, you will be well into a state of flow. And that is the way you will stay as you get to jump in with sharks and whales and fish and dolphins and gannets…sensory overload is part of the menu.

Port St. Johns is far enough south and Offshore are normally the first to encounter the huge shoals. Other attractions include great fishing in the river and off the shore, incredible hikes through forests and over mountains – some that drop straight into the ocean, wide open beaches, a quaint settlers town to explore…the list is long.

At this time of the year, bookings with Offshore Africa for the 2016 sardine run, start to fill up fast. But, because of last years fantastic run, Rob and Debbie have extended their Sardine Run 2016 experience availability, adding a week or two on either side of their last years schedule.

Click on over to Offshore Africa Port St. Johns for more information and to make a booking.

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2016 Sardine Run in Port St Johns

2016 Sardine Run in Port St Johns

Offshore Africa have slots available for the 2016 Sardine Run in Port St Johns.

Enjoy this 15 second clip to get the vibe and see what its all about…

Book your Sardine Run in Port St Johns with Offshore Africa…

Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith are gearing up for another action packed sardine run, as the season for the migration nears.

Sardines can often be seen as early as April or May, but it is in June that things really hot up. The huge shoals of the little fish stick around until late July and even August.

Offshore Africa are rigged and ready to make sure you are right in the middle of the action, as and when it happens.

Their packages are flexible with a list of options for accommodation and meals.

Click here to check it all out, and make a booking…

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Waterfall Bluff by Offshore Africa

Waterfall Bluff by Offshore Africa

Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns in the Transkei took to the skies to bring us this radical view of Waterfall Bluff, a few clicks north of their base in Port St. Johns.

Offshoreportstjohns.com have been operating on the Transkei Wild Coast for many seasons now. They offer many different adventures from river cruises on the Umzimvubu to ocean safaris and scuba diving.

But their biggest and most sought after adventure is undoubtedly The Sardine Run!

Each season Rob Nettleton and partner Debbie Smith take to the water and get right involved with the chaos that accompanies the sardines wherever they go. Dolphins, whales, seabirds, fish and of course… sharks.

Every shark with a smartphone knows about the annual breakaway of approximately a tenth of the southern oceans sardine population. This crazy shoal of adventuring sardines just leave the pack and head north into South African waters and get hammered on the way, literally to depletion.

Humans are also in on the action as limited netting is allowed.

But the real action is underwater as baitball after baitball form in a desperate attempt to escape being eastern by something. The birds start from the top, and the predator fish from the bottom until there is literally not one sardine from that baitball family left.

Rob invariably has his camera rolling and captured the spectacle exceptionally well. Working with Rob and Debbie to get the video of your lifetime is a pleasure. Together they have ample experience and are committed to service excellence, attention to detail, and safety.

Check it all out at offshoreportstjohns.com

 

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PSJ from underwater by Ant Kobrowsky and Offshore Africa

PSJ from underwater by Ant Kobrowsky and Offshore Africa

Anthony Kobrowski from Sea Candy – an underwater image production company, spent a few seasons with Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith of Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns, chasing sardines and the predators that follow them.

This short film, put together by Sea Candy, portrays the vibe that gets us all so amped each sardine season.

For more information and for booking enquiries, click on over to:

http://www.offshoreportstjohns.com/

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Sardines and Garrick: by Jason Heyne

2017 Sardine Report

Sardines and Garrick: by Jason Heyne

Well it’s hard to believe but it’s sardines and garrick in the bay off Durban this week!? And along with the nice garrick being shot, the daga salmon are still eager aswell, coming right into the shallows in some places. Carl Gous got two Greeks off Seapoint in Friday in the heavy seas…and today (Sunday) looks to be a pearler.

A big up to Jason Heyne for compiling this weekly roundup of diving and conditions up and down the KZN coastline.

“August winds are still blowing making north coast undiveable with some viz down lower south coast where garrick and daga salmon are still coming out. The West this week brought some big swell but also some clean water from scottborough to hibberdene today.  Forcast for Saturday looks good with swell dropping to 1.5m and a moderate North easterly blowing in the afternoon dropping the swell more for Sunday to about 1m with a north easterly blowing again in the afternoon. We are having our open Species spearfishing competition on the 31st of October. More details to follow. As always dive safe and straight spears. “

 

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