Shallow areas for a beginner in Garden Route

[fisher]

Can you recommend some shallow areas in the Garden Route for a beginner to learn/practice in;
apparently there are some spots along the Harkerville area/coast.

Any others/tips?

Thanks.

 

[Capespearo]

Depending where you are and what sort of dive experience you have,I would suggest starting to do a few dives at Coney Glen on the East Head of Knysna.Nice and sheltered and reasonably shallow against the side,and also has the chance to deliver a nice fish if you get lucky.

Harkerville area is very nice for hunting Cracker but can get pretty hectic diving in the white water with a lot of reef around you.

 

[ph03n1xkny]

Fisher, i rate the paquita is a the best place to practice and learn to dive, that is where i started, then moved to Coney glen to start shooting...Send me a pm with your number if you ever want to join me

 

[fisher]

Thanks for the invite.

Is the paquita the wreck close to the heads?

If one is a total beginner, besides getting the equipment, must one do some sort of beginner's diving course?
And can you recommend someone that does this in Knysna? (I know there's that dive shop near the heads but I have no idea how good they are or if they do beginner's courses).

 

[ph03n1xkny]

Yeah, the paquita is the wreck in the knysna heads.....If you looking at getting in to spearfishing, then i would say meet up with someone that dives and they will help you get into things, from my experience so far, most spearo's are willing to share there knowlage and help you, as long as you keen....If its scuba that you want to do then i would suggest getting hold of Stephan at Hippo dive campus (The shop at the heads)....Just remember that if you planning on spearfishing, you cannot shoot fish while using any underwater breathing apparatus. Only on breathhold!

 

[fisher]

I'm more interested in learning to spear than scuba, and yes I'm aware of not using any breathing apparatus.

BTW what sort of weather do you wait for/need for best conditions/visibility.

I know when fishing r&s when the SE blows it brings flatter seas and warmer water, making it good to fish in.

What holds true for spearing?

 

[ph03n1xkny]

Um, basically the above holds true, the west wind brings in the warmer and cleaner water, but can make it surgey...While the east flattens it out, makes it cold and dirty....Usually for the heads (Paquita) you can dive on a west wind, even if the sea is big...Not at coney glen, if the heads is breaking or even got a bit of a chop on it then its surgey and white.

I went for a dive on the paquita late yesterday afternoon on the Low Tide (Prefer the hide tide) and had about a 3m vis. Bear in mind that you cannot spearfish within 30m of the paquita, so just to dive and practice it wasn't bad conditions.

Maybe some of the other guys can give you more advice on the weather conditions that are prime, i usually look at how flat the sea is, then look at the colour...If all looks good then i get in and go hunting.

 

[fisher]

Did you get any nice fish, or were you just diving for fun?

And what specific colour do you look for?

And what is the usual vis at the heads and other shallow spots around here?

Thanks.

 

[Oykas]

If you a beginner, a good way to learn spearfishing and to get into it mentally and physically aswell as acquire the skills necessary then try gletwyn rubidges online spearfishing mentorship. Ive done it and it worth it? Go to www.freedive.co.za.

 

[ph03n1xkny]

Hi Fisher, that day was just diving for fun. Spent most of my weekend in the water, saw some nice cracker but was just out of range and couldnt get closer.....

The vis at the heads in winter is usually between 0m and 4m, on a good day it gets 6m...In summer on average 4m going to 12m+...Just depends on the weather.