Ponta do Ouro Mozambique

Heather:

We planned 2 dives today but only did 1 as the sea was extreme.

Rob took us to Riaana’s arch, the max depth was 24.4 meters. Aaron our instructor from Hermanus is going to give us such a lecture. We had a awesome dive. Hardly felt the depth, had no trouble with my ears, boyancy assent or descent, feel so comfy in the sea, love it. This is an awesome sport.

Saw:

1. black beauty
2. moorish idol
3. clown fish
4. anenome fish protecting there anenome
5. potato bass
6. loads and loads of parrot fish
7. 5 lion fish clinging under an arch

We had such a quiet dive, the seas crazy above us, but down here is so calm. The shallow dives have had so much surge. This is the first time I have felt a current all the other dives have been surgy. Its splendid down here, although time goes by so quickly.

Heath:

The sea is calm today, its overcast and not yet hot and muggy.

Rob and Sandra and Phil and I were up early. Roudy people again last night. Apparently people were dancing till 5pm at Hotel de Mar. This is a dive camp and not a party spot, well for us at least

Before our dive, we went for another walk around the point. We saw a school of dolphins playing in the surf. Lovely to sit and watch. Finally the blue bottles are gone, so we can walk with our feet in the water.

We kitted up early, had a good bowl of pronutro and got ready. The boat today had 13 people on board, so quite cramped. Carlos our skipper was brilliant again, we felt safe. Today I equalised early and often and went down slowly and easy. The visibility was down to 10 metres. I qualified today, what a treat to qualify at doodles, its on the top 10 dive sites in Moz. So proud of my achievement.

When we are not diving, we are chatting, looking at fish reference books, and sleeping, eating and talking diving.

The biggest treat of all this trip was defintely the 3m guitar shark., spoilt to see such an amazing siting on my qualifying dive. Kevin saw it first and motioned to the group to come look. I saw the shark end first and got a huge fright. I actually went “eeek” under water. I finned a little until i was behind Kev and peeked over his shoulder, thinking are you all mad. It was only then that I saw the ray characteristics around the head and knew there so no need to say “eek”

Not sure how I’m going to feel if i saw a nurse shark, black tipped zambezi or a great white for that matter.

Phil:

Had a great dive at doodles, calm water with minimal surge, so we had a good boat ride. An abundance of sea life.

1. Giant Guitar Fish
2. nudibranch
3. bridal parot fish
4. moorish idol
5. lion fish
6. female boxy
7. geometric eels
8. ringed wrasse
9. blue spotted ray
10. ribbon tailed ray
11. amber parrot fish
12. moon wrasse

Started of with 200bar and surfaced with 30. Really sucking air today (40 minutes). Kevin and Leeane said cheers today after Heathers qualifying dive and went with his family to umkomaas, we may have a dive with him on our way back home to Cape Town.

Phil:

We woke up to a warm rainy day. It rained all night so not many quad bikes and people about last last, which meant we had a great nights rest. Heather and I took a long morning walk around the point and saw a long sandy brown beach stretching off into the sea misty distance. Rock pool and shore coral everywhere at low tide. We went on the 12:30 dive to creche with Kevin, Rob and Sandra and a few others.

This was my my qualifying dive, so i’m really excited to have achieved my Open Water 1.

Heather Spotted:

• black diadema sea urchin
• serpent sea star
• maypole butterfly fish
• long nose butterfly fish
• zebra humbug
• box fish – blue boxy
• half moon trigger fish
• loads of LSJ’s [little silver jobbie's]

Heath:

I was really nervous today. Mostly because I was worried about my ears. I did not equalize well the day before, and my bouancy was also off. The day off did the world of good.

The boat ride out past the surf put a big grin on my face. Its an exhilarating rush pushing through the waves in a rubber duck. Creche is 5 minutes by boat, can’t believe how my forearms burnt after hanging on to the boat during the rough ride.

Sandra was our DM and Kevin our instructure. Rob Sandra’s hubby came with as did Kevin’s wife Leeanne. We were a small group and I much preferred this.

Today I equalized with no problems and went down to 16.1 meters, my deepest dive yet. We say less fish on this dive but I was quite happy just to play with my equipment and learn scuba in such beautiful waters. Phils like a fish down here, so comfortable he’s drawing the fish he sees.

The boat ride in was a little rougher, felt a little sea sick but managed to hold my lunch.

We dove off early to avoid the jolt of the sand/surf entry. The water is warm and its easy to swim to shore. It feel nice to walk ashore after a dive. What a splendid dive with all the Dm’s.

Phil:

Heather not feeling well today so I went for the 7:30 dive departure on my own. Sea was incredibly choppy, could not wait for the boat to stop so I could get overboard. Carlos was skipper and Kevin my dive buddy. Sandra (rob’s wife) was our D.M. As soon as I hit the water I knew it was going to be a good dive. I feel comfortable and at home underwater.

Fish Spotted:

1. Moorish Idol
2. Potato Bass
3. Honey Comb, Moray Eel x 2
4. Five Line Snapper
5. Blue Spotted Ray x 2
6. Female Indian Parrot Fish
7. Juvenile Lion Fish
8. Goby with purple head and yellow and green body with a forked tail and a triangle yellow centre
9. As we boarded we saw a green turtle swimming on the surface, almost like he didn’t want us to go until we’d seen him.

Heath:

A tractor drive to the beach, helpful staff to load the boat with all our gear, what a pleasure to dive here. We all pushed the rubber duck out into the sea and hopped aboard, ladies first and then the guys.

The boat trip out was an advenbture in its self. The sea is rough today and the surf is fierce, yet we somehow have to make it past a sandbank. The skipper revs the engine and picks up speed while timing the surf. The aim is to beat the sea. We try and try and many times don’t make it and have to quickly turn and put our backs to the wave. All the boats do the same, the wave riding is hectic, this adventure is well worth the dive fee and we haven’t even got our fins on yet.

Our first dive is on a reef named creche, its here that they saw the great white yesterday. I saw the photo’s and it was huge, its circled the divers and then swam right through the group. The boat ride is 5 minutes, in this weather its a little more than most can handle, the boat came to a stop, kit on quick is all I can think as the queaziness sets in. As soon as we were in the water it was fine

Our first dive was amazing, we’re used to the chilly water of the west coast, so being enclosed by such warm, clear blue water is such a treat. The visibility was great too. Our skipper and dive master are experienced and friendly. Its good to be in such safe hands.

We saw, Snappers a wonderful delight of yellow and silver fish schooling. A Clown Trigger fish amused us with its cow like pattern on its tummy. I came face to face with a Moray eel got such a fright, i was concentrating on my bouancy and settled down in front of a small ledge, in front of me there was just teeth, I only found out later that eels breathe with there mouths open, so the showing of teeth is not necessary an aggressive behaviour. My first dive and I see an Eel.

We both saw Bard rubber lips, a grunter, and a big solid looking fish that looks like its wearing lipstick. We also saw a female Indian Parrot fish with a spectacular rainbow colouring to it. The Parrot fish was actively hunting.

Also spotted were Emperor Angelfish and loads of Anenomee fish protecting there territories.

We went down to a max depth of 13m today. We were down for 37 minutes, i surfaced with 100 bar left, I was surprised at that as i had a few panicy moments with my boyancy and the eel. The current was a bit strong, I must learn to use the current to my advantage next time.

Heath:

After a long queue at the Kosi Bay border post, it is the 26th of December after all, we met our border transfer. A open land rover driving over sand dunes with a hot 11am sun beating down on us, made us so grateful for the aircon splendour that we have enjoyed on our drive from Hermanus in the Western Cape.

We arrived at the dive camp and a welcomed team of friendly staff helped us unload our bags. Our room is a reed baraka, nice and airy,  a comfy bed and thats it. We’re here to dive.

After settling into our room, we went down to the beach just to sit and do nothing for a bit, our first dive is tomorrow, we are so excited. Our day ended with a lovely beach walk at dusk, we walked back in the dark with the lights of Ponto do Ouro guiding us back. This place has a magical feel to it and we feel so safe. Our first dive in warm waters tomorrow morning so we’re going to get to bed early.