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| Sodwana
Bay lies on the east coast of South Africa and is located within
the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, a World Heritage site with exquisite
untouched scenery. Pristine lakes, winding river estuaries, dense coastal
forest and the worlds highest natural sand dunes protecting miles of golden
beaches. This beauty forms the backdrop of your adventure here. Nestled
behind towering sand dunes, in amongst rolling green hills, Sodwana Bay
Lodge offers a rustic, relaxed and comfortable sanctuary. Designed to
match the eco-oriented nature of its beautiful surroundings and only 5
km from Sodwana Bay, the Lodge is in the perfect location to explore this
part of the world.
The resort
is comprised of twenty-one reed thatched chalets dotted around the central
hub of this secure resort. All the rooms are spacious with adjoining European
standard en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold showers. Rooms are fitted
with ceiling fan, mosquito nets, satellite TV, safes, fridges, complimentary
tea and coffee facilities. Sun filled terraces offer stunning views over
the lush resort and a perfect place to watch the African sun set.
At the centre
of the resort lies the swimming pool and a bar offering a refreshing atmosphere
for story exchanges at the end of the days adventures. The resort’s
Leatherback Seafood and Grill Restaurant is also situated here and provides
guests with an extensive menu including a delicious range of fresh seafood,
oven baked pizza and mouth watering grills. Pool tables and a volleyball
court supply further entertainment. A free shuttle service to the beach
is available for all guests and hiking trails, mountain biking and bird
watching are also on offer here.
Lake Sibaya,
the largest fresh water lake in Southern Africa can be found 20 km north
of the Sodwana Bay Lodge and is where guests are treated to sundowners
whilst absorbing the rich red glow off the lakes glassy surface as the
sunsets. Fish Eagles perch on the waters edges whilst sweeping Kingfishers
skim the surface and Cormorants strike poses. Crocodiles and hippos settle
in for the night. An African paradise to matching the delectable Pinotage
being served with a friendly smile. A perfect end to a perfect African
day!
Sodwana
Bay boasts a 50km reef that runs parallel to the coast making up the most
southern tropical reef system in the world. Teaming with life, this reef
system hosts 1200 different species of fish from the yellow box fish to
large schools of pelagics, gliding manta rays and enormous whale sharks.
Beautiful hard and soft coral abounds whilst sponges splatter the reef
with colour, a stunning underwater world begging to be explored.
Sandstone,
an ancient remnant of sand dunes that were above water level 4 000 years
ago, form the base for Sodwana’s coral reefs giving them a fascinating
topography. These relatively untouched reefs only began to be dived in
the1980s and today the area still remains fairly undiscovered, only accessible
by a lucky few! Sodwana Bay has a sub-tropical climate, slightly warmer
in the summer months than winter. Air temperatures range from 25C to 35C
and water temperature averages at 26C year round. Water visibility is
generally good and can be up to 40 meters.
A days diving
begins with a 4x4 drive down the beach where divers kit up under a shady
area near the launch site at Jesser Point. Diving is done off powerful
ribs that easily cruise over the wave breaks into the open sea. Small
groups are led by experienced dive guides that have extensive knowledge
of the area. Gentle currents cruise divers over reef out crops in relaxing
drift dives whilst caves, overhangs and swim throughs add additional twists
at some of the dive sites. At certain times of year the notorious ragged-tooth
shark make an appearance in the area. Beach landings add an exciting new
element to the diving and surface intervals spent on a Southern African
beach perfect the days experience!
Sodwana
Bay is without a doubt one of the diving jewels of Africa. Not for the
light hearted but definitely worth the visit. An unforgettable experience
for those who have the pleasure of diving into this adventure.
Dive
Sites
Quarter
Mile Reef
This reef lies approximately 400m north of Jesser Point and the same distance
out to sea. It’s a small reef which is actually an extension of
the rocky platform at the end of Jesser Point. This reef is not dived
very often during the months of April to January, but between January
and March the Ragged-tooth Sharks occupy this reef before they make their
way down to Aliwal Shoal again. Quarter Mile has a maximum depth of 11m
on the northern end and averages on around 6m on the more southern parts
closer to Jesser Point. The reef basically consists of scatter reef with
sand patches in between. Most of the tropical reef fish will be found
here and the sand patches create a perfect environment for various species
of Sting rays. This reef’s main attraction however is without a
doubt the Ragged-tooth Sharks that treats the divers with their presence
a couple of months in the year.
2
Mile
Our largest reef lies approximately 2 miles off Jesser Point. This reef
is approximately 1.7 km (just over a mile) long and up to 900m wide on
some parts. There are so many stunning dive spots on this very large reef
that you need not go much further to see what Sodwana has to offer. The
depth ranges between 9m and 40m and is almost always accessible. The landward
margin of the reef has sparse coral growth but as you swim out to sea
you will see the shallow reef-crest environment with numerous pinnacles
and gullies which are well developed in this area. Further out to sea
the reef gets “bigger” and depth also increases and then flattens
out, and numerous mushroom-shaped soft coral colonies are seen. The 2
mile reef has a huge variety of fish life and coral species making it
one of the most diverse reefs in the Sodwana Bay region. Each dive spot
on this reef has its own unique characteristics making each dive a new
and exciting experience. The main dive spots on 2 Mile reef include:
- Anton’s
Reef
This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful parts of 2 mile reef.
The average depth is 15m and maximum on 18m. This reef has a fantastic
variety of residential tropical fish, and dense shoals of Big-eyes,
Moorish Idols and Snappers hover above the coral reef. Scorpion fish,
Moray eels, big Potato Bass, Parrotfish, Marble rays and Triggerfish
are just some of the common sightings. The coral is dense and varied,
forming spectacular vistas with overhangs, walls and exciting swim-throughs,
all in all Anton’s reef is a stunning dive and excellent for photography.
- Caves
and Overhangs
As the name indicates more or less what to expect, this area just north
of Anton’s reef is truly a magnificent dive. A series of sandy
gullies cut through the shoreward-facing overhangs, coral arches and
pinnacles. Caves and Overhangs has a maximum depth of 15m and a average
depth of 10m. Much like at Anton’s reef, you’ll find a huge
amount of marine life like Turtles, Sting rays, big schools of Snappers
and most tropical reef fish. The Potato bass in this area are quite
big and very inquisitive, and always tagging along with them is the
cleaner wrasses – darting in and out of their yawning jaws to
do a quick dental check-up.
- Four
Buoy
This is a very well known dive site with a maximum depth of 14m. Rocky
outcrops and overhangs that are rich in fish life surround the sand
patches found in the area. Moray Eels are a very common sighting on
this part of the reef. Large Trigger fish, including the beautiful Clown
trigger, compete with the blue Surgeonfish and Emperor Angelfish for
the brightest and weirdest attire. The coral covering is profuse and
forms lovely gullies.
- Pinnacles
This part of 2 Mile reef has maximum depth of 11m. The formation of
the corals resembles that of gullies and caves, sandy patches flanked
by over-hangs, walls and beautiful swim-throughs. Occasionally a visit
from a pod of dolphins, a whale shark that passes by or large pelagic
species like Tuna that hang around, really makes this an interesting
dive.
- Deep
Sponge
This is a comparatively large and flat section of the deep eastern part
of 2 mile. This is a deep dive with a maximum depth of 42m. The northern
section is interspersed with large potholed reef structures and huge
sponges. Red gorgonian sea-fans, beautiful lilac cup-shaped sponges
and black coral are but some of the interesting scenery on this dive.
The mighty Manta ray has been spotted here more than once as well as
various species of Pelagics.
- Stringer
Between quarter mile and 2 mile and a little inshore one will find the
tiny but mighty Stringer reefs. Tiny, as they are 2 small reefs close
together but mighty as you are very likely to do one of the best dives
of your live. The stringer brothers has a maximum depth of 15m, and
are home to a variety of large and small Rays, thousands of tropical
reef fish, turtles and one or two resident Moray eels. Dolphins as well
as Whale sharks are spotted from time to time, and not only does large
game frequent these 2 small reefs Stringer also acts as a nursery for
juvenile fish. This truly truly is a world class dive.
5
Mile reef
This is an extremely delicate, reef that is well known for the astounding
variety of coral life present. Much like 2 mile reef, 5mile also slopes
down on the eastern side. The average depth on the top part of the reef
is around 18m but slopes down to 36m where one of the most amazing coral
formations grows, called Lettuce reef. On the top part of the reef you’ll
find beds of green Staghorn coral, Plate corals, Table corals and Mushroom
corals to only name a few, this truly is a remarkable reef for divers
interested in coral life. This reef also has an abundance of tropical
reef fish like Trigger fish, Moray eels, Paper fish, Scorpion fish, huge
Crayfish and the occasional Manta ray warms up a feeling of well preserved
splendour in one’s heart. A variety of other small reef fish like
Chocolate Dips and Clownfish is also seen all around this reef. There
is also a well known crater or pothole, on the seaward side of the reef,
which is home to variety of fish species like the juvenile Scorpion fish
and Paper fish. On Lettuce reef the Crayfish hides in between the layers
of the very delicate Lettuce coral with their enormous tentacles protruding
from underneath with clouds of different species of smaller reef fish
just above – truly an amazing piece of scenery!
7
Mile Reef
This reef is rated amongst the best in the world! The reef has a kidney
shape and is quite a bit smaller than 2 mile. 7 mile reef, in my opinion,
has the biggest variety in all aspects. The coral growth and topography
is amazing, not to mention the unbelievable amount of marine life. The
reef basically consists of three main areas, namely Northern Wall, Amphitheatre
and Mushroom Rocks. As one can gain, the northern part is mostly a wall
dive. The wall consists of three levels: the sand on the north western
side of the reef that averages at about 24m where Stingrays are a common
sight; the wall itself lies between 16m and 22m and is home to a huge
variety of tropical reef fish; the third part is the top of the reef which
forms the outside of the Amphitheatre. The Amphitheatre is a sunken circular
area that is between 3-6m deeper than the surrounding reef, this truly
gives one a feeling of diving in an outdoor amphitheatre that is not only
filled with more marine life than you can almost imagine, but also has
the most amazing coral formations. Mushroom Rocks is on the southern part
of 7 mile. Two huge rock formations in the shape of mushrooms are the
highlight of this section. Lots of soft corals can be seen all around
these rocks which gives it a very colourful look, as well as make a very
interesting surrounding for fish life. Starting on the right place and
working your way down, passing by all the little swim-throughs and gullies,
will definitely put this dive down as nothing less than spectacular.
9
Mile Reef
This reef is the most northern coral reef dived from Sodwana Bay. 9 mile
starts of shallow on the shoreward side called Breaking Waters, starting
at about six meters and goes down to 21m.This is also a smaller reef than
2 or 5 mile. 9 mile has a alot of interesting coral formations, and like
most of the other reefs 9 Mile is host to hundreds of species of fish
and the more exotic species like Lionfish, Stonefish and Moray Eels are
spotted here very often. This reef is also the only place in Maputoland
where one finds a species of free swimming nudibranches. The main attraction
on this reef is the well known green Coral tree that is always buzzing
with small reef fish like Goldies and Damsels. A few swim through overhangs
can also be found near this coral tree to add to the taste of the adventurous
diver. Black coral, green wire corals and Gorgonian sea-fans also forms
part of this stunning reef. |
