GW's and other beasties

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Gooseneck

New member
Howdy guys, I stay in false bay and would like to get into spearfishing. Done a little before but nothing that would actually have left a lasting impression or taught me anything useful. Reading through the forum, there are quite a few references to shark encounters, especially in the bay and my question is do any of you guys use shark pods or carry bangsticks? I seem to remember hearing somewhere that the regering had banned electronic transmitting devices in the MPA's, but can't find any more info. My scuba buddy and me got buzzed by a very big white a few years ago and the only way my wife would let me get back in the water was with one of those buddy repellents. Don't think she would have forgotten that one by now^^..

 

Also, great forum, nice to see the way you guys treat the questions from us grommets - some of your posts are the stuff legends are made of!
 
C

Capespearo

Senior Member
Hi Gooseneck,

Very few guys still dive False Bay,the MPA's don't allow for boat diving anymore (thanks to our poaching problem and inability to police it),which is pretty much the only safe way to dive the deeper reefs.Kelp diving for Galjoen is still safe but I wouldn't dive the bay without a POD.

The GW population has exploded along our coast in the last 3 years or so,we see them on at least every second to third dive,whereas in years gone by,any sighting was very rare.

Don't take this as trying to scare you off,some of the best diving to be had is right here in False Bay in good visibility,I know of a group of chaps who dive the Millers area regularly and always get good Roman etc. There have been very few attacks (surfers and bathers included),we just need to be careful of the "great frights".
 
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jensent

New member
Hi,

I agree with Cape Spearo, very few people dive False Bay outside the kelp anymore.  There is a bunch of guys diving Millers again, but that is not a good area for whites.  That med student was killed there a few years ago, Edward Hayman was bitten there, and many other of our top divers had bad experiences there - Colin Walker would not dive there, Tommy Botha does not like it, and two of my diving mates had big whites there.   And a number of those were in 6-8 m of water!!

Alison Koch, who does the proper GW research told us that her listening devices in Simonstown are the busiest she has in the bay, and that is just down the road.

Buffels and the Cape point areas are not so bad, but  number of guys have had some big whites at Brodjies just north of Buffels.

So be careful if you do venture out there, and I would very much recommend a pod if you are going to push pas the kelp.

Cheers,

Tony
 
F

fvangreune

New member
I also started spearfishing, actually two weekends back, but i am shit scared of running into the big S ^^...

Havent seen one thus far
 
H

henry.g

New member
Hi Gooseneck

Yes the Great white fright problem has increased over the past few years and like some others I refuse to dive anywhere near Millers. As for the shark-pod debate some people say that they actually attract the whites. The best advice I can give is to dive in a group and dont be affraid to admit that you are not comfortable in dirty water. Enjoy the diving when you can
 
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jensent

New member
If you dive Millers point now, you will definitely get a BIG red stump!

Where your right leg used to be ;)
 
G

Gooseneck

New member
Hi All,

Thanks for the responses gents, pretty much what I expected to hear! Don't feel like such a girls blouse anymore about not wanting to start spearfishing off Millers, sounds too much like an all you can eat buffet to me.

 

 

 
 
R

RedEye

Senior Member
Capespearo wrote:
Hi Gooseneck,

Very few guys still dive False Bay,the MPA's don't allow for boat diving anymore (thanks to our poaching problem and inability to police it),which is pretty much the only safe way to dive the deeper reefs.Kelp diving for Galjoen is still safe but I wouldn't dive the bay without a POD.

The GW population has exploded along our coast in the last 3 years or so,we see them on at least every second to third dive,whereas in years gone by,any sighting was very rare.

Don't take this as trying to scare you off,some of the best diving to be had is right here in False Bay in good visibility,I know of a group of chaps who dive the Millers area regularly and always get good Roman etc. There have been very few attacks (surfers and bathers included),we just need to be careful of the "great frights".
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What about Koell Bay? I have been diving there the last four summers about 300 to 400m off Round Rocks in 10-12m of water. The guys I dive with who have dived there for years tell me I am silly to worry about the GWs and to just relax. What do you reckon? Would you or do you dive there?
 
C

Capespearo

Senior Member
Hi Redeye,

Have dived here plenty ! One of the few spots that is generally sheltered and diveable in bad weather.Very few class size fish there but plenty of juveniles so still a nice "look see" dive.The deeper reefs hold good crays.

I wouldn't dive anywhere without a POD in False Bay these days though,and that would only be in 8m plus vis.

 
 
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jensent

New member
Echo Cape Spearo.  Past Kogel bay can occasionally produce yellowtail ( in the late summer months and autumn mostly) and every now and then a big white steenbras comes out there.

If you're in the water, you have a chance :)
 
R

RedEye

Senior Member
Surely if one diver has a pod then all the divers need a pod. I have heard that the pod in some way attracts the shark to a point (out of curiosity I guess) before it is repelled by the frequency. Can you comment on this? I have been told that by my dive buddies who are still teaching me the ropes and they reckon I may not dive with them if I am the only one with a pod. Have you heard of or had any sightings at Koell bay yourself? This is probably the only thing that freaks me out about diving there. My mates dive places like the Pioneer etc at Struis (I will buggy for them but won't a damn get in the water there!) They are not phased by the thought of bumping into a GW whereas that it the first thing on my mind. Not the breath hold etc...
 
C

Capespearo

Senior Member
Your chances of an attack by a GW are still far less than having a prang on your way to the dive site ! 4 people die from shark attacks every year worldwide.

As for the POD attracting the shark,that may/may not be true,but the pulse emitted by the POD deteriorates to literaly zero within a short space (tested),so the shark would be aware of your presence long before he senses the POD field anyway,and once he knows you're there he WILL want to come take a squizz.The spearing of a fish itself would draw the shark in long before the POD in my opinion.

 
 
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grunter

New member
Hi Gooseneck

There are lots of fish still to be shot on the right conditions in the kelp in under 10 m of water in reletivly safe conditions , steenbras, geelbeck, galjoen ,hottentot to name a few. Millers is just one spot there are plenty others in the cape peninsula where your chances of seeing a gw are very lowand you can still get good fish when the conditions are right. Very much like fishing you can fish a spot and catch nothing however go there when the conditions are right and you catch a fish every cast. I am shit scared of GW'S and i dive most weekends in the penisnusla, still lots of fun to be had just focus on the safer areas's.

Please dont any one come back and tell me about whites theve seen in the kelp i am happy beleiving what i beleive.^^..

 

 
 
W

white pointer

Senior Member
grunter wrote:
Hi Gooseneck

There are lots of fish still to be shot on the right conditions in the kelp in under 10 m of water in reletivly safe conditions , steenbras, geelbeck, galjoen ,hottentot to name a few. Millers is just one spot there are plenty others in the cape peninsula where your chances of seeing a gw are very lowand you can still get good fish when the conditions are right. Very much like fishing you can fish a spot and catch nothing however go there when the conditions are right and you catch a fish every cast. I am sh!t scared of GW'S and i dive most weekends in the penisnusla, still lots of fun to be had just focus on the safer areas's.

Please dont any one come back and tell me about whites theve seen in the kelp i am happy beleiving what i beleive.^^..

 

 
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I used to work in gaansbaai doing research and dives with the gw's and i have never ever seen one in the kelp so if no one wants to venture out the kelp then stay in the safety of it
 
M

MOGGY

Senior Member
What amazes me, is that the pearly poachers dive Bird island at night and in all the years not one has been bitten ( that we know of ).
 
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Capespearo

Senior Member
Teams of poachers swim across to Dyer Island to poach and only 1 (that we know of) has been bitten about 2 years back.
 
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