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Day 1.
2008 thru to October 31:
Arrive Cape Town International Airport, own arrangements. On arrival you will be met by Dive The Big 5 for the two hour road transfer to Gansbaai. This transfer takes you through some spectacular mountain passes and onto Gansbaai. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Saxon Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.www.saxonlodge.com
Day 2.
2008 thru to October 31:
5 Hours spent at sea in “Shark Alley” cage diving with the Great White's of Gansbaai. Shark Alley is a narrow channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, the latter being home to some 60 000 Cape Fur Seals. The islands are 5km (3 miles) from the mainland. This is the natural hunting ground of the Great White Shark and the area in which they are most commonly encountered. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Saxon Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 3.
2008 thru to October 31:
Another day spent with the “Apex predator of the seas”, the Great White Shark (weather permitting). Overnight at Saxon Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 4.
2008 thru to October 31:
Another 5 hours with the Great White’s of Gansbaai, weather permitting. After the dive you will be collected from Saxon Lodge by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the return transfer to Cape Town International Airport where you will connect with the 2 hour domestic flight to Durban, own arrangements. On arrival in Durban you will be met by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 45 minute road transfer to RockyBay, a small seaside resort on the KwaZulu/Natal south coast. Overnight at Ellingham Resort on a bed and breakfast basis. www.rockybay.co.za
Day 5.
2008 thru to October 31:
An early wake-up call for your two scheduled dives on Aliwal Shoal, weather permitting. Raggie (Sand Tiger) season is from July through to October, so if your dates of travel fall within these months you should encounter plenty of these fearsome looking beasts on all of your dives. If not there is still a lot to dive on Aliwal Shoal. The first dive could be on the wreck of the Produce, an 18 000 ton Norwegian tanker that hit the Shoal and sank in 1974 and the second would be on the Nebo which struck the shoal in May 1884 and sunk almost immediately with it's cargo of railway material. Both wrecks lie at approximately 30 meters and are fairly intact which makes for great wreck diving. The reef itself offers plenty to see in the form of soft and hard corals as well as an array of diverse fish-life. Aliwal is a year round dive destination. The rest of the day is free. Overnight at Ellingham Resort on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 6.
2008 thru to October 31:
Another early morning. An early breakfast to be on the beach by 09h00 to kit up and for the briefing. We launch the boat at about 10h00, weather permitting, for 5 hours at sea diving with the Tiger's of Africa without the protection of a cage!! This is shark diving at it's ultimate best and the experience will be indelibly imprinted in your memory forever. Depending on shark activity and weather conditions we will return to Rocky Bay at about 14h00. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Ellingham Resort on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 7.
2008 thru to October 31:
The final two dives on Aliwal, weather permitting. After the second dive you will be collected from Ellingham Resort by a representative of Dive the Big 5 for the 1 hour road transfer to Shelley Beach. Rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at Hammerheads on a bed only basis. www.africanodyssea.co.za
Day 8.
2008 thru to October 31:
The first two of your four scheduled dives on Protea Banks, weather permitting. Please note that dives on Protea are restricted to advanced divers or open water one divers with more than 25 logged dives due to the depth of the dives, in excess of 30 meters, and the strong currents that are usually present on Protea. This is adventure diving at its best, and well worth the effort! Rest of the day free to explore your new surrounds. Hammerheads is situated within easy walking distance to Shelly Beach and the tidal pool and within easy walking distance of dozens of restaurants, pubs and movies houses. Overnight at Hammerheads Lodge on a bed only basis.
Day 9.
2008 thru to October 31:
Your last two dives on Protea, weather permitting. All diving in South Africa are drift dives from Zodiacs or "Rubber Ducks" as they are locally referred to. After the first dive you usually return to shore for SIT and breakfast and then ride out to the reef again to do your second dive. However at Protea, due to heavy seas the authorities sometimes close the harbour and do not allow the "Ducks" to launch for the 2nd dive. If we suspect that this will happen, due to strong winds and height seas, we do a 2 tank dive. This is where we take the 2nd tank with us on the boat and do not return to shore between the 1st and 2nd dive. The SIT is spent on the boat. After the second dive and a shower you will be collected from Hammerheads by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the two-hour transfer to South Africa's premier holiday city, Durban. On arrival you will have ample time to settle into your hotel before hitting Durban’s famous "Golden Mile" with miles and miles of golden beaches, restaurants and clubs. Overnight at The Edward on a bed and breakfast basis. www.proteahotels.com and click on the Edward.
Day 10.
2008 thru to October 31:
After a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the short transfer to DurbanInternationalAirport. End of services.
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