Its been very quiet here in Gansbaai. The Roundhouse Guesthouse has been quiet and so has the rest of Gansbaai accommodation. This is the usual drop after the chaos of summer, but its still rather unnerving when the roads and shops are as quiet as they are now.
The weather has been highly irregular too, perhaps echoing the recent shark activity, with wintery days dominating this week. Cool in the morning and evenings, with some warmth in the afternoon, peppered with seemingly random pockets of humidity. Its all rather confusing.
This is the time of year where I would venture up to Mozambique, where you know how the weather works all the time and can prepare for it. Lets no forget its delicate exotic-ness. Perhaps its time you tried scuba diving in Mozambique? There's no time like the present to learn something completely new.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Great White Sharks Still Making A Good Showing
In what has been a surprising turn of events, Great Whites have been coming out in full force lately.
Great White Shark Tours, one of the eight operators in the region, reported NINE Great Whites on their trip out this past Friday. Nine is an unusually high number from late January, so our clients are enjoying a small bonus. It also shows people who come out to see the Great White in the low season can still enjoy a great showing by the apex predator.
Lets hope it continues well into February.
Great White Shark Tours, one of the eight operators in the region, reported NINE Great Whites on their trip out this past Friday. Nine is an unusually high number from late January, so our clients are enjoying a small bonus. It also shows people who come out to see the Great White in the low season can still enjoy a great showing by the apex predator.
Lets hope it continues well into February.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Whales Are Gone
January isn't our favourite month here at the Roundhouse Guesthouse for several reasons. Firstly, all the tourists leave in early January and return to their respective parts of the country. Secondly, the cage diving industry enters its low season (for more information on the cage diving seasons, please check this post) and thirdly, the whales leave.
The Southern Right and Humpback whales leave our coastline and make their way back to the Antarctic to feed now, and a quick look out to sea will reveal that every one of them has left. They return in June typically, but it always feels like a long wait for their return. From June till December, the lazy whales basking in along our shores becomes a visual staple for tourists and locals alike. When they leave with their recently birthed young, it feels like a little bit of Gansbaai is leaving with them.
On the plus side, its the perfect time to go see a behemoth of the sea that shares their name, the Whale shark. Scuba Mozambique will tend to your needs and wants efficiently, so you can see and dive with the magnificent Whale shark as soon as you want to. We often refer our guests to them since their staff are always so lovely and helpful. We hope they provide as memorable service to you and they do to us year in and year out.
The Southern Right and Humpback whales leave our coastline and make their way back to the Antarctic to feed now, and a quick look out to sea will reveal that every one of them has left. They return in June typically, but it always feels like a long wait for their return. From June till December, the lazy whales basking in along our shores becomes a visual staple for tourists and locals alike. When they leave with their recently birthed young, it feels like a little bit of Gansbaai is leaving with them.
On the plus side, its the perfect time to go see a behemoth of the sea that shares their name, the Whale shark. Scuba Mozambique will tend to your needs and wants efficiently, so you can see and dive with the magnificent Whale shark as soon as you want to. We often refer our guests to them since their staff are always so lovely and helpful. We hope they provide as memorable service to you and they do to us year in and year out.
A Shark Diving Myth
Here at the Roundhouse Guesthouse, we often get guests who are concerned about the environmental impact shark cage diving has on the Great Whites in the region. Some have outright said that they won't be part of an industry that draws Great Whites closer to the shore and encourages them to eat the bait we give them instead of hunting themselves.
Firstly, the cage diving industry does not feed the Great Whites. The chum (which is a wholly natural combination of fish oil and other fish byproducts) lures them to the boat, and the Tuna head is used to keep the sharks visually engaged. Occasionally, they will bite onto the bait before the bait handler has a chance to pull it away. If they want the Tuna head, they will have to work for it, so there is no outright feeding of the sharks.
Dyer Island, where the sharks spend the bulk of the year off our coast, is home to approximately 60 000 Cape Fur seals. The Great Whites have been coming here for years due to the abundance of natural prey; fish oil and Tuna heads won't make any difference. To quote a colleague, its like a drop in the ocean.
Thomas Peschak, a noted Great White photographer and book author, has scientifically dispelled the above myths through his book 'Great White Shark'. His work has been recognised by National Geographic and BBC Wildlife.
Please don't let ignorance of our industry prevent you from visiting our charming part of the South African coast and partake in one of the worlds greatest experiences.
Below: Peschak's most famous photograph taken off our coastline.
Firstly, the cage diving industry does not feed the Great Whites. The chum (which is a wholly natural combination of fish oil and other fish byproducts) lures them to the boat, and the Tuna head is used to keep the sharks visually engaged. Occasionally, they will bite onto the bait before the bait handler has a chance to pull it away. If they want the Tuna head, they will have to work for it, so there is no outright feeding of the sharks.
Dyer Island, where the sharks spend the bulk of the year off our coast, is home to approximately 60 000 Cape Fur seals. The Great Whites have been coming here for years due to the abundance of natural prey; fish oil and Tuna heads won't make any difference. To quote a colleague, its like a drop in the ocean.
Thomas Peschak, a noted Great White photographer and book author, has scientifically dispelled the above myths through his book 'Great White Shark'. His work has been recognised by National Geographic and BBC Wildlife.
Please don't let ignorance of our industry prevent you from visiting our charming part of the South African coast and partake in one of the worlds greatest experiences.
Below: Peschak's most famous photograph taken off our coastline.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Shark Cage Diving Seasons
Things around The Roundhouse and Gansbaai are beginning to quieten down now. It appears the Summer holiday rush is now at the tail end of its yearly cycle, and its life in the area returns to its normal rustic nature.
Now that things are quieter, we thought we could explain how the Shark Cage Diving seasons work since its such an important activity for most, if not all, of our guests.
The easiest way to look at it is Winter is the high season, while Summer is low season. Autumn is when the sharks return to Dyer island, while Spring is when they start to leave. You can consider autumn and spring the 'mid season' for shark diving.
Lets get in the specifics. The low season, where you probably wont see more than 3-5 sharks per trip, starts around the middle of January and ends at the end of March/beginning of April. The high season then starts around the middle of April, with the high season for professional photographers, filmmakers and other media people beginning in June.
The whales arrive around June as well, so the best time of year for the full Gansbaai experience is in winter. From June till September, you will see the most sharks and the most whales, fact. September to early December are excellent for sharks too, but the wind that spring brings can wreak havoc on the industry. The whales leave in December too.
For most people, the best time of year to come is South Africa's winter months. Sharks and whales are out in abundance, and it should be easy to travel without too many other tourists to worry about, so finding Gansbaai accomodation will be easier, and spaces on the local shark operators such as Great White Shark Tours or White Shark Projects will be far more plentiful than the busy December months.
Now that things are quieter, we thought we could explain how the Shark Cage Diving seasons work since its such an important activity for most, if not all, of our guests.
The easiest way to look at it is Winter is the high season, while Summer is low season. Autumn is when the sharks return to Dyer island, while Spring is when they start to leave. You can consider autumn and spring the 'mid season' for shark diving.
Lets get in the specifics. The low season, where you probably wont see more than 3-5 sharks per trip, starts around the middle of January and ends at the end of March/beginning of April. The high season then starts around the middle of April, with the high season for professional photographers, filmmakers and other media people beginning in June.
The whales arrive around June as well, so the best time of year for the full Gansbaai experience is in winter. From June till September, you will see the most sharks and the most whales, fact. September to early December are excellent for sharks too, but the wind that spring brings can wreak havoc on the industry. The whales leave in December too.
For most people, the best time of year to come is South Africa's winter months. Sharks and whales are out in abundance, and it should be easy to travel without too many other tourists to worry about, so finding Gansbaai accomodation will be easier, and spaces on the local shark operators such as Great White Shark Tours or White Shark Projects will be far more plentiful than the busy December months.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Hottest Day of the Year, Amongst Some of the Busiest
Yesterday the sun decided it was time to show its full strength with a blast of sweltering heat all around the Western Cape, Gansbaai included. The Great White Adventure Centre saw a spike in water sales, which wasn't unexpected. Instead of going to the beach to enjoy the perfect (just violently warm) day, we were inundated with clients looking for a guesthouse to stay at overnight, or a day trip with the shark cage diving. It was so busy that we had to unfortunately turn away clients due to the fact that we had reached maximum capacity.
Today we are still at capacity and the cage diving industry is full too. Even Great White Shark Tours, who have the largest and most technologically advanced boat, are fully booked till Friday.
We also wish the happiest of new years to all our future and previous clients, and if these past 2 weeks are anything to go by, this year will be better than ever.
Today we are still at capacity and the cage diving industry is full too. Even Great White Shark Tours, who have the largest and most technologically advanced boat, are fully booked till Friday.
We also wish the happiest of new years to all our future and previous clients, and if these past 2 weeks are anything to go by, this year will be better than ever.
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