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Elephant Seal by Jay Steenkamp

Elephant Seal by Jay Steenkamp

Elephant Seal by Jay Steenkamp

Our intrepid and voluntary sardine spy – Jay Steenkamp, has infiltrated the sardine fraternity to such an extent, that he can produce shots like these!

From Jay…

“Elephant Seal chilling on the beach today on the South Coast. Very rare to see one of these on our coast. Apparently only 9 have ever been seen on our coast in the last 40 years. This one is still a puppy but it’s the size of a large dog.”

This is the oddest news in today’s journal of all things sardine this 2017 on the KZN South Coast. Stay tuned as we try compile a comprehensive account of all the stories from all the sardine spies up and down. There are many reports!

However, they all agree on one thing – Sardines!

Literally everywhere, except the places we are all waiting for them. The Sardine Team has been patrolling, and the varied, but accounted for reports amount to many sardines, but in the faraway and literally unreachable places.

Except by boat!

That’s when you need Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns…they already all smell of sardines! They have been in the thick of it for a couple of weeks now. Swell or no swell. And there has been some swell! So if you are not feint hearted, and you love the smell of sardines in the morning – get in touch at…

http://offshoreportstjohns.com

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Offshore Africa’s new sardine spotter plane

Sardine spotter "Tzulu"Dowsett will be piloting this awesome machine as he searches the seas for sardines and their predators

Offshore Africa’s new sardine spotter plane

Take a look at Offshore Africa’s new sardine spotter plane!

Yep, introducing “Tzulu” Dowsett as the pilot of the cool gyrocopter that he will be flying to locate shoals of sardines this year. Starting in about two months time, pilot shoals of sardines will have started making their way north, as the exodus starts. It’s estimated that almost 10% of the entire sardine population breaks from the main pack down in the southern oceans to form the greatest shoal on earth.

Having this facility will help put clients of Offshore Africa down in Port St. Johns, right on the button. Port St. Johns is the epi-centre of the sardine run each year – Offshore have been taking punters out and into the middle of the action for many seasons now – the longest operating dive facility there.

Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, the operators of Offshore Africa and Diving with Sharks, have been hard at work underwater for decades. Their local experience combined with excellent service reputation and happy customers, have made them first choice for anything sardine and radical!

Situated in the Transkei, on The Wild Coast – Offshore have many other things to do in Port St Johns, when you make it down there. The team there have a huge cruiser on the Umzimvubu River, aswell as an air boat – unbelievably one of only two in the country. Fun, fun, fun!

Enjoy this gallery from 2015 sardine run…it gives a great idea of what goes on down there!

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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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Offshore Africa Port St John’s wins Service Excellence Award for Eastern Cape

Offshore Africa Port St John’s have just won Service Excellence of the Year for Eastern Cape in the 2016 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards!

Offshore Africa in action down in beautiful Port St Johns
Offshore Africa in action down in beautiful Port St Johns

The following excerpt was taken from the announcement by Luxury Travel guide.

 

“Congratulations Rob & Debbie, you have won Service Excellence of the Year for Eastern Cape in the 2016 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards!

 

The Luxury Travel Guide awards program selects winners based on their achievements and strengths in the travel industry. We received an overwhelming number of superb nominations this year and the judging panel had the unenviable task of selecting those firms, teams and individuals within each category most worthy of an award.

 

All winners of the 2016 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards are subject to the same rigorous assessment criteria, carried out by our experienced in-house professionals as well as a number of celebrity guest judges. This ensures that only the most deserving teams, businesses and individuals walk away with one of these prestigious accolades.  Award winners that have demonstrated success and innovation will gain a place in our soon-to-be published award winners’ guide, which will be distributed to over 500,000 readers.

 

All of Luxury Travel Guide Award programs represent the pinnacle of achievement, championing the best in their respective fields, therefore to come out as a clear winner is an achievement to be proud of.”

Click on over to Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns, right here.

smaller logo Luxury Travel guide

 

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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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