Worlds Best Dives - The Protea Banks in Kwazulu Natal
By Mark J Burns
The Protea Banks are an impressive series of reefs located approximately 8 kilometres off the shore at Margate, on the Kawazulu Natal Coast in South Africa. Widely recognised as one of the worlds best dive sites, the Protea Banks is more commonly known for its well deserved reputation for shark encounters in their natural habitat.What makes the scuba diving at the Protea Banks so special, is the opportunity to encounter a whole range of large pelagics such as the numerous Manta Rays and Spotted Eagle Rays, as well the wide range of reef fish which also frequent the area. However, what the Protea Banks really delivers on is sharks, and lots of them. A huge variety of sharks can be sighted here including Bull Sharks (Zambesi), Tiger sharks, Ragged Tooth sharks, Black Tip sharks, Mako sharks and even the off Great White shark can be sighted here at the Protea Banks.There is seasonality to the occurrences of specific shark species at the site, and so if you are hoping to encounter a particular species, it is worthwhile researching these patterns in advance, to maximise your chance of an encounter. For those scuba divers wanting to dive with the areas famous ragged tooth sharks, or "raggies," then it would be best to consider visiting the dive site during the August and September months, when the ragged tooth sharks visit the area as a part of their breeding cycle. For divers seeking an encounter with the Bull sharks, then you would need to look at diving around November time, when the Bull sharks follow the game fish into the Protea Banks.The diving at the Protea Banks tends to be split between the Northern and Southern Pinnacles. During the cooler winter months, the majority of the diving takes place at the Northern Pinnacles, where large congregations of ragged tooth sharks can be found on a regular basis. For the rest of the year, the diving tends to be focussed around the Southern Pinnacles, were Bull sharks, Hammerheads and Tigers are often sighted.It would be impossible to discuss the scuba diving at the Protea Banks without mentioning the Sardine Run, an annual phenomenon which is unique to South Africa. Each year, during the months of June and July, vast shoals of sardines pass through the region, attracting huge numbers of whales, dolphins and sharks who visit to feast on the sardines.The water temperature at the Protea Banks ranges from around 19 degrees Celsius in the cooler winter months, up to around 24 degrees Celsius in the summer period. The water visibility in the area can vary massively depending on the conditions and the time of year and can be anything between 5 to 40 metres.Overall, the diving at the Protea Banks can only be described as exceptional, however it should be stressed that there are strong currents in the area, and it is only for experienced scuba divers only.For fans of shark diving however, this stunning dive site is genuinely unique, and undoubtedly, it is well worth the long journey to this stunning part of South Africa.Mark Burns is a Director of Where On Earth, a website offering free travel information on South Africa for backpackers, tourists and scuba divers alike.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Burns
Worlds Best Dives - The Protea Banks in Kwazulu Natal
By Mark J Burns
The Protea Banks are an impressive series of reefs located approximately 8 kilometres off the shore at Margate, on the Kawazulu Natal Coast in South Africa. Widely recognised as one of the worlds best dive sites, the Protea Banks is more commonly known for its well deserved reputation for shark encounters in their natural habitat.
What makes the scuba diving at the Protea Banks so special, is the opportunity to encounter a whole range of large pelagics such as the numerous Manta Rays and Spotted Eagle Rays, as well the wide range of reef fish which also frequent the area. However, what the Protea Banks really delivers on is sharks, and lots of them. A huge variety of sharks can be sighted here including Bull Sharks (Zambesi), Tiger sharks, Ragged Tooth sharks, Black Tip sharks, Mako sharks and even the off Great White shark can be sighted here at the Protea Banks.
There is seasonality to the occurrences of specific shark species at the site, and so if you are hoping to encounter a particular species, it is worthwhile researching these patterns in advance, to maximise your chance of an encounter. For those scuba divers wanting to dive with the areas famous ragged tooth sharks, or "raggies," then it would be best to consider visiting the dive site during the August and September months, when the ragged tooth sharks visit the area as a part of their breeding cycle. For divers seeking an encounter with the Bull sharks, then you would need to look at diving around November time, when the Bull sharks follow the game fish into the Protea Banks.
The diving at the Protea Banks tends to be split between the Northern and Southern Pinnacles. During the cooler winter months, the majority of the diving takes place at the Northern Pinnacles, where large congregations of ragged tooth sharks can be found on a regular basis. For the rest of the year, the diving tends to be focussed around the Southern Pinnacles, were Bull sharks, Hammerheads and Tigers are often sighted.
It would be impossible to discuss the scuba diving at the Protea Banks without mentioning the Sardine Run, an annual phenomenon which is unique to South Africa. Each year, during the months of June and July, vast shoals of sardines pass through the region, attracting huge numbers of whales, dolphins and sharks who visit to feast on the sardines.
The water temperature at the Protea Banks ranges from around 19 degrees Celsius in the cooler winter months, up to around 24 degrees Celsius in the summer period. The water visibility in the area can vary massively depending on the conditions and the time of year and can be anything between 5 to 40 metres.
Overall, the diving at the Protea Banks can only be described as exceptional, however it should be stressed that there are strong currents in the area, and it is only for experienced scuba divers only.
For fans of shark diving however, this stunning dive site is genuinely unique, and undoubtedly, it is well worth the long journey to this stunning part of South Africa.
Mark Burns is a Director of Where On Earth, a website offering free travel information on South Africa for backpackers, tourists and scuba divers alike.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Burns
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