Aliwal Dive Centre

2012-02-02T00:04:00.001-08:00

Conditions are back to normal. 15+m viz today and 25/26 degree water. Yipppeee

2012-01-31T02:57:00.000-08:00

We have a special running from the 13th to the 19th February for Valentine's. Come and dive with us and get your scuba unit hire (cylinder, bc, and reg) FOR FREE. Book now :0)

2011-12-31T22:20:00.000-08:00

Well Bruce this is specifically for you and I will make an extra effort to keep the blog updated. Thank you so much for spending your time diving with us and we look forward to you coming and completing your courses.

To everyone else what a fantastic December, we were blessed with fantastic customers and are looking forward to a really great 2012.

Happy New Year to all of you and we hope to see you soon diving with us.

Pam

School holiday special

2011-09-22T02:35:00.001-07:00

We have a special running for the school holidays from 30th September through to and including the 10th October.

Our PADI open water course retails at R3300.00, save 20% and only pay R2640.00 AND our PADI advanced course which retails at R3025.00, save 20% and only pay R2420.00.

Come and enjoy the fun

2011-08-07T05:02:00.000-07:00

Well a fantastic sighting yesterday of a male black tip on our baited dive which is a first and got our shark guide very excited. Raggies are still being spotted on all dives and Eagle Rays have been around in numbers. Water temperature is still at 20 degrees and the average vizibility has been 15 - 18 m. Come diving super soon.

2011-07-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

Aliwal Shoal is at it's best. Fantastic "winter" conditions. 18 - 25m viz, hardly any surge or current and 22 degree water. The Raggies are packed into Raggies Cave at the moment. Big smiles all around.

2011-06-21T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

The sardines at the moment have appeared in Hibberdene which is about 50km south from Umkomaas. They netted yesterday. Although it was a small group the main group is still in Port St Johns but this is exciting news for us. The hotline number is 0839139495 if you would like to keep yourself updated.

If you would like to put yourselves on our "short notice" list if the sardine come up as far as Umkomaas please let us have your name, e-mail address and phone number so that we can contact you. Please send it to dive@aliwalshoal.co.za.

The approximately 2 hour journey will cost you R690.00 (excluding gear hire if you are a diver).

2011-06-17T03:59:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday we had a whale so close to the boat that when it "blew" it covered the divers with it's spray. Awesome baited dive with Tigers in all.

Today loads of Raggies and Black Tips with a Black Tip launching itself outof the water right near the boat.

Come and dive with us and see these amazing creatures.

2011-06-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

Dive report for 12th June 2011.

First dive to Produce wreck with 18 - 20m viz and 22 degree water. Awesome for divers the Brindle Bass were out to play. Second dive loads of Raggies again giving all our divers a good show. Remember to make next weekend a long weekend by taking the 17th off and come diving. Spoil your Dad on Father's Day and bring him for a dive on Sunday the 19th. Our special stands for that day, all Father's diving on that day will get a FREE full English breakfast.

2011-06-11T03:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, well awesome conditions today. 22 degree water 18 - 25m vizibility and loads of Raggies to be seen as well as a black tip or two, paper fish, turtles. Come diving :0)

2011-05-21T04:53:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

The Raggies are arriving so come and blow some bubbles.

Remember the 16th June is a public holiday which is a Thursday. Take the Friday off and make it a long weekend :0)

2011-05-06T01:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Please go to www.thepetitionsite.com, type in Aliwal Shoal in the search box and find SAPPI SAICCOR outfall pipe - Aliwal Shoal. Please sign the petition to stop this huge factory which is the only one in the world pumping effluent into our ocean. It is not only affecting the income of the diving industry but also (even though they say they have done scientific research) is affecting the reef and sea life - IT HAS TO BE.

It is disgusting and needs to be stopped.

2011-04-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

A compliment from one of our customers

Diving and Accommodation at Aliwal Shoal

The Aliwal Dive Centre is a "One Stop Shop" for family dive breaks especially when there is only one diving enthusiast in a family of three. In one location you have an excellent PADI 5 Star dive centre plus the advantage of excellent accommodation offering supervised reef diving and tourist attractions for non divers in the group. To say we had a wonderful weekend is an understatement thanks to the friendly staff who ensured a perfect stay for all the family. A special thanks to Pam and Clare and all the staff and instructors. Crauf 'n Joan 'n Bryce Lamb.

2011-03-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

Wow what an awesome baited dive we had. 20+m vizibility and amongst the black tips 6 Tiger Sharks.

What awesome creatures.

2011-02-08T01:36:00.001-08:00

Hey people Valentine's day is just around the corner. Why not book a dive for you and your partner and do an under water proposal ????

Come on you can do it :0)

Hope to see you diving soon.

2011-01-26T04:41:00.000-08:00

Conditions today at Aliwal Shoal were fantastic with 26 degree water and 15+m vizibility. Loads of sightings including dolphins, eagle rays, turtles, paper fish and much more. Come and blow some bubbles with us.

2011-01-17T02:15:00.000-08:00

January and February specials

Come and do your PADI Advanced course with us for R3025.00 which includes:-

Full Advanced crew pack
5 x ocean dives
On-line certification with PADI

And get a surface marker bouy for FREE

Come and do your Nitrox course with us for R1150.00 which includes:-

Full Nitrox coure material
Classroom session
On-line certification with PADI

And get 2 x 12l Nitrox fills for FREE

E&OE Special ends 28th February 2011

2010-11-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

Well, who says we don't get Great White's on Aliwal Shoal. This picture was taken on 26th November by one of our divers Roan Stoel while he was a Raggie's Cave. What an awesome experience. Our dive master Jason saw this same 3.5m female on three of his dives last week. How blessed are we.

2010-11-18T02:44:00.000-08:00

Fantastic deal. We are selling our school Sherwood regulator sets. We have 11 sets and they are going for R2000.00 each.

First come first served. Money up front to secure sale.

2010-11-10T03:29:00.000-08:00

We welcome Clare to the Aliwal Dive Centre team joining us in the capacity of Dive Centre Administrator. We know with her experience in the hotel industry and her new found interest of scuba diving she is going to be a huge asset to the company.

2010-11-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

We wish Hayley good luck with her return to the UK and the impending birth of her son at the end of March next year. Good luck. We are looking forward to seeing him

2010-11-03T06:35:00.001-07:00

For all those want to be Instructors our Instructor Development Course starts on the 14th November with the exams being written in DURBAN on the 30th November and 1st December.

Please come and join us.

Pam

Vacancy

2010-10-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

We have a vacancy at the centre for a Dive Operations Administrator which will include but not be limited to:-

Answering telephone and e-mail enquiries
Making bookings
Handling dive and lodge logistics
Invoicing
etc

Please send your cv plus a recent photograph to dive@aliwalshoal.co.za or contact us on the office number +27 39 973 2233

2010-06-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have not met her in the past she has been working with the centre for quite a while now and although an instructor did her Dive Master course with us before that. We welcome Hayley Greenway to Aliwal Dive Centre as Dive Operation Administrator.

2010-06-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

The Raggies have arrived on the reef in full force with some really hefty males dominating the scene. We are going to have a bumper year so come and join us for diving or completing a Sharklife speciality which can also be registered with PADI.

2010-05-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jethro Hauser, Michelle Engelbrecht and Phil Robertson on passing their instructor courses with flying colours. Congratulations also to Mark Shaw and Rachael Robertson for becoming Staff Instructors.

2010-05-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

Our two wonderful friends Ryan and Charmaine Zents cruised back into town on a rented 3 wheeler Mercedes bike to go on a road trip down to Cape Town. See you next week for your dives guys.

2010-04-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

You possibly saw on TV or read it in a newspaper that one of the top skippers on Aliwal Shoal namely Jeff Maullin had a boat accident on the 2nd January 2010. He fought for a month to live after suffering severe head injuries, cuts from the propeller, loss of sight to his right eye, broken bones and was in a coma for 10 days. He is now fighting to survive financially.

As friends of his and as a dive centre we have named the next long weekend (24th, 25th, 26th and 27th April) “Jeff’s weekend”. On these four days we will be donating R10.00 from each and every dive booked to him for his medical expenses. Please come and make a difference.

If anyone would like to make personal donations please contact us for his bank details.

2010-03-28T03:20:00.000-07:00

Well I could not resist taking this picture of our staff member Raggie after a hard days work. How cute is she.

2010-03-08T03:21:00.000-08:00

Madagascar here I come. Well just to let you all know that on Saturday 13th I will be on my way to this beautiful island paradise for a week of diving and relaxing. Will do a check while I am there and see if we can organise trips so keep on watching this space. Will post pictures and information when I get back. Check out www.sakatia.co.za - Pam

2010-02-27T03:02:00.000-08:00

We are famous. Take a look at the following link - www.guardian.co.uk/travel

The author Kevin Rushby came to dive with the centre and wrote this amazing article.

Pam

2010-02-22T03:25:00.000-08:00

Well look what we get our DM's to do after their dives which is why our school gear is always in pristine condition. The sun was blazing and our wonderful Jethro was taking apart each and every mask, cleaning them and de-sanitising them for your use. You go boy

2010-02-21T03:08:00.000-08:00

We are all getting very excited about the return of our fearless leaders during March. We are very proud to say that the dive centre has just gone from strength to strength. Thank you all our wonderful customers for making this possible.

2010-02-13T01:13:00.000-08:00

THE ROAD IS OPEN

Well all of you that remember the horrific storm that hit out coastline on 17th March 2007 the road eventually got opened yesterday so at last we can travel through to Scottburgh without taking the scenic view around the golf course. For your information it is also open from us through to Durban. Yahoooooo no more detours.

2010-02-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone remember Valentine's Day on Sunday. Why not come for a nice early morning dive following by a full English breakfast on our deck. Hope to see you all soon. Pam

2010-02-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

STAFF VACANCY

Dive Operation Administrator

We have the above full time position opening at our dive centre this year. It will include the following:-

Answering telephones
Responding to e-mail enquiries
Dive bookings and planning
Managing dive lodge
General Administration
Customer liaison

The successful applicant will be articulate, computer literate and able to work under pressure. Driving licence and / or dive industry experience an advantage.

Apply with CV and references to dive@aliwalshoal.co.za or 039 973 2233

2010-01-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

Special Special Special Special

Come and do your PADI Advanced diving course with us and get your Emergency First Response course for the cost of the materials and certification.

PADI Advanced course = R2750.00 (excluding gear hire) and includes:-

Manual, Navigation Aid
Lectures
5 adventure dives (including deep and navigation)
PADI certification

Emergency First Response course includes:-

Lectures
Manual
Practical Scenarios
Certification

Standard price = R1045.00 Special price = R500.00

Contact us for more details. Offer ends 31st March 2010

2010-01-22T23:29:00.000-08:00

Well everybody here is our Angel. Michelle on her 100th dive in angel wings and a very strange multi coloured contraption on her head. I had the pleasure of enjoying this dive with her and conditions were great with loads of rays, eels, nudibranchs and even a sand shark. Well done. Michelle is now back in Johannesburg to continue her studies but will be back with us as often as possible. First time in 5 weeks. We look forward to seeing you again and miss you already.

2010-01-15T03:23:00.000-08:00

The 15th of January already - wow. Conditions sitting at 18m + viz and water temperature at 24 degrees. Please remember to start looking at your Easter holidays - yes I know but it will be on you before you realise it and also the sardine run during June / July. Keep watching this space, we have one of our newly qualified Divemasters coming up to her 100th dive and she says she has things planned. Will post pictures. All have a fantastic weekend and keep checking back for updates.

2010-01-10T02:56:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I would like to thank all our customers for making our festive season so special. A Happy New Year to you all. Today's conditions were fabulous with 25+ m viz and 24 degree water. Our baited dive was especially great with 4 x Tigers, 3 x Zambies and loads of Black Tips. Please note that our Instructor Development dates for this year have been set so contact us for more details. The sardine run. Yes it is time to start booking especially as it is over the Soccer world cup time. We look forward to having you all back diving with us soon.

Pam

2009-11-21T03:20:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Leigh and Dale. We were priveledged to have been chosed to host your underwater proposal on the 21st November 2009. We wish you a blessed life together.

Pam

2009-11-11T00:36:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Jethro Hauser who is our brand new Divemaster having completed yesterday. Snorkel time tonight buddy :0)

2009-11-03T04:32:00.000-08:00

It is Tiger season. Yes the ocean is warming up and the season has arrived. Give us a call and come and experience the wonderful sharks up close and personal without cages. It is one of the best adrenaline rushes ever and not to be missed. Visit our website where you will find a full explanation of the dive itself and how it is run. We look forward to seeing you on our boats.

Pam

2009-09-15T03:57:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful Raggie the dive centre cat discovering the very smelly fish for the baited shark dive. She was in absolute heaven.

2009-04-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Well here is the boss man (Nigel) doing his favourite duty. Re-loading the beer fridge. Doesn't he look so happy :0)

2009-02-08T02:33:00.000-08:00

We welcome our new Dive Master Trainee - Haakon Saestad (standing on left). He has been diving with us for many years and heads up the Toti Social Divers group. It is fantastic having you with us and we look forward to you leading dives in the future. All the best.

2009-01-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Hayley Greenway for passing her Dive Master course with us at Aliwal Dive Centre. You did so well and it is lovely having you around. Particularly thank you so much for all your help around the centre. Loads and loads of love Pam

2008-12-05T04:05:00.000-08:00

We at Aliwal Dive Centre would like to congratulate one of our faithful customers Ian Townsend on becoming a Grandfather for the second time. His daugher had her second baby last week. Welcome William James Walker we wish you a blessed life.

2008-11-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

We would like to thank Sabrina and Mike from Submerge magazine for spending their weekend with us. We hope to see you back very soon.

2008-11-02T03:04:00.001-08:00

We would like to thank Alpha Dive Centre guests for spending their weekend with us. It was awesome having you and we hope to see you all back here very soon.

2008-10-05T00:39:00.000-07:00

Brian, Greg, Sean, Darren and Cindy - thank you for spending an amazing weekend with us. You really kept us smiling. We hope to see you all back with us really soon. Dress up warm for those cold PE waters :0). Check the "Rocktober" newsletter for a magic picture sent to us that was taken by Darren on the Produce wreck.

2008-09-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ha ha ha I found it the ultimate fish. It was lurking at the bottom of our pool and took me ages to identify it but in a huddle with the bosses we decided to name our new discovery a "PADI Slate Fish". WOW have some Nitrox dude. Pam has left the building.

2008-09-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well how is this for lining up the students, what organisation. Congratulations to all for todays sessions and to Mark and Vegard for their "superior knowledge". Once again they were really thankful for a heated pool and did not want to get out. Almost there guys.

2008-09-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well you definitely cannot say that we do not go the extra mile to accommodate new students. With 6 students to train and Vegard and Mark taking turns in the classroom and pool, three of the students ended up finishing pool session 3 in the dark. Yup, luckily we have a lovely heated pool and pool lights for the occassion. Well done everyone. Sitting here at 18h30 from us all being here from 06h00 this morning and still a while to go - shew. What do we say "Excellence in all things scuba"

2008-09-22T00:26:00.001-07:00

Daniel and Becky, thank you so much for choosing us to come and do your PADI Open Water course with. You were awesome students even with our "wierd" weather conditions. Enjoy your trip further and your 8 month stay in Australia. We hope to see you back soon. Becky bring your sister along. Congrats to Vegard and Mark for two more certs.

2008-09-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

Well well well although Mark has been doing loads of team teaching since he qualified as Instructor - here we have Suzanne Fowler who was his first "complete" victim. Suzanne, welcome to the wonderful world of diving. We thank you and Dominic for choosing us to do your course and diving. Enjoy the rest of your holiday and we hope to see you back soon.

2008-08-30T01:50:00.000-07:00

We all wish our Instructor Schalk a speedy recovery after having a horrible car accident on the 22nd. He is now out of hospital and back home recovering with a couple of extra pieces of metal in his body. Should be fun going through security now hey :0). We look forward to seeing you back diving very soon. All our love - your family.

2008-08-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Ocean Echo Scuba you were such a fantastic group - WOOP WOOP - thank you for making my weekend such a pleasure. Hope to see you back here REAL SOON.

2008-08-20T07:13:00.001-07:00

OK guess what one of our wonderful international visitors Anna Thoursie forgot to do? Have you ever seen mask squeeze like this before. Please people remember to equalize your mask while you are decending. There was no damage to the eyes and thankfully our mask - ha ha. We wish you well on the rest of your travels.

2008-08-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

Stunning sightings as always on Aliwal Shoal. This Mantis Shrimp was sighted out in the open entertaining the clients and a pod of approximately 25 dolphins also put in their appearance on North Sands on the second dive of the day. Two nice sized Potato Bass also came in for a look and hung around in mid water. Come and join the fun :0)

2008-08-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

Whales, whales everywhere. Well we have sharks galore and really good luck for the divers today who were down on South Sands with a mother humpback and her calf circling them. How awesome and how jealous am I. Green, green, green. Terry Locke who was on his last qualifying dive was extremely fortunate. Visibility of about 10m and water temperature still stable at 21 degrees.

Raggies in Raggie Cave

2008-08-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this video taken by Lloyd Williams. What an amazing sight. These wonderful creatures continue to leave us in awe at their grace and beauty.Even the experts are dumbfounded as to why there are such large numbers of sharks here, all I can say is, "long may they stay".

2008-08-10T04:33:00.000-07:00

We love you Ocean Explorers :0) Thank you for doing your shark specialities with us this weekend. Jeremy Cliff was a very welcome face at the centre. We look forward to seeing you all back next month for your wreck specialities. Please join our Facebook group. I will post more pictures there. You are all an absolute pleasure. PS - John, thanks for the fudge. Pam

2008-08-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

How is this for students trying to impress. Here we have Nigel shaving Mark's head with Martin overseeing the process. All our guys are getting their kit together today to go through and do their Instructor exams this weekend. Guys our thoughts and prayers are with you. You all deserve the best for all you have been through over the last 2 weeks.

2008-08-04T04:06:00.000-07:00

Well all of you that know our reefs are going to get a kick out of this one. I lead a dive this morning to "SUBWAY" of all places and it was absolutely AWESOME AND SPECTACULAR. Schalk had two students doing their advanced navigation and one open water doing her second sea dive. Well I have never seen it like this. Loads of crayfish (yum yum), guinea fowl eel, cleaner shrimp, octopus, rock cod, nudi branchs and loads more. The amount of soft and sponge coral was also amazing. Had a really good time. Pam

2008-08-03T05:25:00.000-07:00

Our newest Aquanuts - Amy and Fiona having their first briefing for pool session one. They are being taught by Schalk and we know they are going to do so well. Good luck ladies.

2008-08-03T00:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody we have some really tired people in this picture after the first 7 days of the Instructor Development Course but we are proud to say that we now have 5 Assistant Instructors. Yes, they are on their way to "Instructorship". From the left Kenny, Kieran, Dean, Mark and Axel with the Course Director Martin looking on. Just one week to go boys. This time next week you will be writing your exams. Keep it up.

2008-07-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

Well what would you rather be doing on a Sunday afternoon. Hmmmmmm I have some good ideas but our brave new Instructor candidates started with their pre-pool sessions. In the yellow T-shirt we have Martin Morgans our Course Director demonstrating with his son Craig and our students Axel, Dean, Kieran and Kenny. Good luck guys!

2008-07-26T01:56:00.000-07:00

We welcomed Johan Boshoff (Editor-in-Chief of Divestyle magazine and author of The Dive Spots of Southern Africa book) who stayed and dived with us this weekend. Please watch out for our article in the January / February 2009 edition of the magazine. Johan it was great having you here, come back soon.

2008-07-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our newest Aguanuts - Omer and Noa who qualified yesterday in 22 degree water, with no current and loads of Ragged Tooth sharks as on lookers. Have fun on the rest of your travels and we hope to see you back in SA soon.

2008-07-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

Well I am back to reality. Photo is proof that yup been there, done that and got the T-Shirt. Egypt was great. I did 21 dives in 6 days off the liveaboard Royal Emperor and then 3 nights in Dahab to recover. This I did by acting like a lizzard and lying in the sun and spoiling myself with a full body massage. After these 4 days it was off to Cairo to see the pyramids, sphinx and museum. It really was everything I imagined it to be and more. A huge thank you to Ocean Explorers for all the organisation. Ryan you rock. Keeping 16 people together and organised was a huge task and you managed it so well. I had an awesome time.

Congratulations to Mathew Marlow on achieving PADI Advanced Open Water

2008-07-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Mathew on finishing his Advanced with us today.

He has certainly be very lucky seeing so many sharks and the conditions on the Shoal haven't been bad either.

Today there was a moderate S-N current. The visibility was about 10-15m and the water was warm still at 22C.

Why are there so many Raggies on Aliwal Shoal?

2008-07-12T04:26:00.000-07:00

No one seems to understand why the shoal continues to be home (albeit temporary) to such large numbers of Ragged Tooth sharks. their presence surely vindicates Scuba Divers who for too long have been blamed for their declining numbers.

The authorities have been too quick to lay blame at our feet. The fact that sharks were declining whilst Scuba diving was increasing was seen by many to be a direct relationship.

Perhaps now and in the fututre the 'Scientists' might take a more scientific view of cause and effect and not lay blame at the feet of us Scuba Divers without proper evidence..

Off my soap,box now....The sharks in the Cathedral are so tightly packed you can't see through them to the other side. The current has picked up a bit but the vis is still great and the water is still warm.

Give us a call and get down here to see these wonderful creatures whilst they are still in such numbers :-)

Raggies at Shark Alley 9th July 2008

2008-07-09T05:24:00.001-07:00

When Mark the DM returned from the first dive of the day and told Nigel that he had seen 120+ Raggies from North Sands to Raggies Cave, he didn't believe him !!!! There followed a fairly rare occurrence - Nigel kitted up and went for a dive. This amazing 'Raggie' photograph was taken by Nigel along Shark Alley. The current pushed them gently northbound towards the North Eastern Pinnacles, along the way there were more sharks than they could count, a Honeycomb Moray, an enormous turtle and a beautiful mantis shrimp.

Anton & Antonie Kloppers

2008-07-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our newest Open Water Divers Anton & Antonie Kloppers who certified today at Shark Alley along with at least 70 Raggedtooth Sharks. Well done Guys, looking forward to seeing you both again.

Pam is going to Egypt

2008-07-02T06:09:00.001-07:00

As far back as I can remember I have wanted to visit Egypt, even before I became a scuba diver and on Saturday 5th July my dream will be coming true. For all of those people who did not make it this year - sorry. Look out for our trip next year and join us. Will post pictures and news as soon as I get back. Miss you - sniff sniff. Yeh right - ha ha. Pam

New Premises

2008-07-02T04:09:00.001-07:00

We are very proud of our new custom built dive centre at Number 2 Moodie Street, Umkomaas. For your convenience our Lodge is located above the dive centre and can accommodate up to 20 people in either double en-suite rooms (sea facing, balcony, fridge, safe, ceiling fan, air conditioner and hospitality tray) or dorm rooms (balcony, en-suite, ceiling fan). Our PADI 5 star Instructor Development Centre has a fully equipped training room and 4m deep heated salt water pool. Please contact us for further information.