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Dive spots near Strand
- Thread starter Simba
- Start date
Hi Simba,
I'm also interested to see if anyone replies with some good diving spots.
I mostly dive for crays in the Rooi Els & Pringle Bay areas, but don't always see lots of fish.
On the side: I recently got an u/w camera and if you guys don't mind some company, I'd like to tag along. My regular cray buddies aren't super keen on diving and I'd love to try some new spots! Unfortunately, I'm only free on weekends though...
Cheers,
Chris
I'm also interested to see if anyone replies with some good diving spots.
I mostly dive for crays in the Rooi Els & Pringle Bay areas, but don't always see lots of fish.
On the side: I recently got an u/w camera and if you guys don't mind some company, I'd like to tag along. My regular cray buddies aren't super keen on diving and I'd love to try some new spots! Unfortunately, I'm only free on weekends though...
Cheers,
Chris
Howzit Simba,
The problem with diving Strand (besides the Helderberg MPA which ends more or less where the strand beach front starts - or ask any Strand local where the pipe surf spot is) is the lay of the land.
The gradient from the MPA to Gordons Bay which the land runs into the ocean is very gradual. Looking at marine maps you will notice the -10m contour sits around 2km from shore.
Normally this would not be a problem, but as I'm sure you will find out during your dive course, the viz of the surface water around the Strand (actually most of that side of False Bay) area is usually rather bad and you will only only start getting more than 2m viz below the thermocline.
The thermocline of course differs depending on conditions and location but as a general rule, for that area, you won't find a thermocline in less that 10m of water.
So it will be best to look for areas along the mountain towards Rooi-Els where you have steeper gradients and deeper water with my favourite dive spots ranging from Koeel Bay to about 5 km's before Rooi-Els. There are loads of spots worth exploring in that area.
Unfortunately not the best time of year to try diving there but hopefully you will find a couple of good days.
Good luck.
The problem with diving Strand (besides the Helderberg MPA which ends more or less where the strand beach front starts - or ask any Strand local where the pipe surf spot is) is the lay of the land.
The gradient from the MPA to Gordons Bay which the land runs into the ocean is very gradual. Looking at marine maps you will notice the -10m contour sits around 2km from shore.
Normally this would not be a problem, but as I'm sure you will find out during your dive course, the viz of the surface water around the Strand (actually most of that side of False Bay) area is usually rather bad and you will only only start getting more than 2m viz below the thermocline.
The thermocline of course differs depending on conditions and location but as a general rule, for that area, you won't find a thermocline in less that 10m of water.
So it will be best to look for areas along the mountain towards Rooi-Els where you have steeper gradients and deeper water with my favourite dive spots ranging from Koeel Bay to about 5 km's before Rooi-Els. There are loads of spots worth exploring in that area.
Unfortunately not the best time of year to try diving there but hopefully you will find a couple of good days.
Good luck.