Mabibi Trip

[Double Tap]

I'm planning a trip to Mabibi in April/May next year and have a few questions.

Is this a good spot to shore dive or are there better spots close-by? Is this a good time of the year ITO water colour and weather? How safe is it to dive the area alone?

 

[Reefman]

RULE NO 1 OF ANY DIVING:

NEVER DIVE ALONE! (but you knew that, right!)

Doubles... not being a spearo, I can't really help you - but I have snorkelled extensively at Mabibi and Scuba Dived off 9 mile Reef. One thing you need to be seriously careful of a Shore entry at Mabibi - there is a gap opening in the Reef about 80-100m out, which becomes a seriously dangerous rip as the tide turns to go out... have seen people get swept out to sea through that gap on a rushing current.

The water at high tide in the Bay at Mabibi is only about 5-7m deep, and depending on how "up" the sea is, is normally quite clear. Past the Reef, it gets steadily deeper, but I have never ventured out through that gap for fear of not being able to make it back...


Other spots... Sodwana has plenty offshore spots to Spear in. Further South from Sodwana is Adlams Reef and Kingfisher Bay - both known great diving spots... but they are 8km and 20 km south of Jesser point.

 

[Nepptune]

Is the Mabibi area not off limits to spearing?

Not sure but I thought the area was reserve of sorts...

Awesome place!!

 

[Double Tap]

Thanks for the responses. I will check out the reserve issue. I know that a lot of the area North and South is reserve.......

Reefman: Diving alone rule - Yeah, that one bothers me; but less when the conditions are what I expect they will be! I'll check out those other locations for sure. Maybe hook up with a diving buddy in the process.

 

[Coatesman]

Double Tap

Mabibi is one of my favorite shore dives on the Zululand coast. Is actually probably the only spot you can shore dive other than 9mile ....but 9mile is plagued with sharks and it is imposable to get your fish out.

I used to dive Mabibi with a ski ..before they stopped ski's. And now we just shore dive it. It is a big swim to the back about 800m off the beach and the current does take you down the beach. I have had to carry 20+ kg of fish for 2km back to the bay ...not fun - but worth the mission.

The back drop off is deepest directly off the bay in 19m and then gets shallower as you head south. The 16m drop off is still very good and I have shot loads of Cuta there.

Sharks! There are always sharks there and almost every time I have dived there a Tiger has poped in to see whats going on. The Balck tips can be a problem if they pitch up and we have lost fish. I didve with a fish bag .... a bit of a mission to carry but I dont get harrased by sharks.

I also would not dive it alone unless you stick to the point or in the bay ... but thats lame!! Although some big Iggies do go past the point on a high tide.

Hope this helps?

Chris