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So this weekend I went...

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:15 pm
by Dodging
...scuba diving!

(Not really Hilux related, but let me tell you - KZN is Toyota country. And with good reason...)

Always wanted to give this a go. So I went to a really good scuba shop and got the ball rolling. After I did the theory and pool training, got everything ready and on Thursday morning we left for Sodwana. The weather looked rather iffy, was overcast and rainy all the way there. The roadworks were not too bad - only three stop/go sections and they didn't take up too much time.

When we got to Sodwana Bay Lodge (Excellent place to stay) we quickly offloaded the van and headed for the training pool as two people still had to do some skills before hitting the open water

Next morning we were on the beach at 06h00. Got all everything sorted and ourselves kitted up, 07h00 we got in the boat and headed out to 4 Buoy on 2-mile reef. Was a bit odd going into the water for a first time. Took me a while to get to the bottom as I was battling to get my ears equalized. Got down eventually, did some skills and then we were off to explore the reef. Got back up and headed back to the beach. First dive done!

Had another dive on Friday, 2 on Saturday and one more on Sunday morning. The weather was generally miserable, but that had no effect on our dives. This was an experience that I enjoyed immensely. Was a bit heavy on air initially, but that got better with every dive. Will do my advanced training soon, as I'd like to go down to 30m next time I go to Sodwana.

If you haven't done this before, you should - great jol.


Some pictures:

The weather going there
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People finishing their pool training on Thursday afternoon
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Where we stayed

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Fair amount of rain on Saturday
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DM explaining the dive plan
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Going out
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Heading back in - beach landings are quite a jol!
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One of the few moments of sunshine we had (Shees I'm getting VERY grey now)
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Some of the Sodwana Bay Lodge staff - these guys are really on the ball. Super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. They really make the experience brilliant
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What people look like when they come back from Maak n Jol at 04h30 and need to be on the beach at 06h00 :lol:
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Most awesome rainbow I ever saw in my life. You could actually see its tip right there on the beach (No flippin' pot of gold sadly)
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Some underwater shots:
Me
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Dave
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Catherine (12)
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Eel pulling in at the cleaning station
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Heading back on Sunday we were treated to a fantastic sunset
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Dave's van
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We went down there with a 5-seater 2.5 TDi VW Transporter (Kombi thing). Was impressed to no end with this van. Massive power, huge torque and really nice gearing. I drove it from Hluhluwe to Ermelo. Had 5 people with all their diving gear, 14 full 12l cylinders and some odds and ends. Dave's Colt V6 just couldn't keep up on the uphills. Really enjoyed the smooth power delivery, and the acceleration was brilliant for getting past all the trucks. In that stretch I drove, it managed 9.2l/100km which I think is very good seeing as it was mostly uphill and I kept it at around 130km/h for most of the time. Wouldn't mind one of these

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:54 pm
by pietpetoors
Awesome pictures ! That is a world not many get to see. Fantastic!

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:25 pm
by Family_Dog
Excellent photos, but I think I am happier seeing some of those Marine Critters on my LCD screen rather than in real life... they look like they could turn mean in a flash! ;)


-F_D

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:28 pm
by 519franco
DAM man great minds think the same we also went.heres a similer photo to yours must of been min away from eachoda.
Let me guess you dived at 4bouy or stringger
here my pics that iam sure it the exactly da same animal at da same place just a diff camara angle
man sadwana had good viz da weekend

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:33 pm
by 519franco
what cam you using and how many strobes

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:12 am
by Sebata
Lovely pics indeed, talk of NATGEO right there :thumbup: :thumbup: ..... Just as F_D said I'm just happy seeing those on my LCD :yahoo:

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:42 am
by Dodging
Hey Franco!

Yeah we dove 4 buoy, Stringer, Anton's, Caves and Overhangs and Simon's. Really great visibility all the time.

I used a Sea to Sea G1 and one strobe

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:03 am
by 519franco
Dodging wrote:Hey Franco!

Yeah we dove 4 buoy, Stringer, Anton's, Caves and Overhangs and Simon's. Really great visibility all the time.

I used a Sea to Sea G1 and one strobe
you got a dx-g1.. man it good photos. you must have a monster strobe,
iam using the sea and sea dx-ge5 with one strobe as well bt i cant get any colour.(ANY tips)

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:37 am
by george
Awesome pics.
I use a normal Canon Powershot with a underwater housing, but my quality is more like Franco's

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:42 am
by Dodging
Well it isn't my camera (sadly), and I just shot it in Program mode. I didn't shoot the strobe in TTL though - shot at full power and that's what I got

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:02 am
by AdrianZ
wow awesome photos! Looks like you guys had a lot of fun :mrgreen:

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:24 am
by Legolas
Those are some really nice pics!!! Well done :thumbup:

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:29 am
by 519franco
george wrote:Awesome pics.
I use a normal Canon Powershot with a underwater housing, but my quality is more like Franco's
it lighting tri get a strobe and you can see the diff. i dont know why but da weekend i couldent get lighting

check on you tube how to photoshop underwater pics and it will look like the first pic the rest is just the camara and strobe no photo editing only resizing

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:56 pm
by Donkey
WOW! One day...
Will add to bucket list:

1. Bungee
2. Scuba
3. fly a microlight
4. Learn to use firearm
5.
6.
7.

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:10 pm
by 519franco
Donkey wrote:WOW! One day...
Will add to bucket list:

1. Bungee
2. Scuba
3. fly a microlight
4. Learn to use firearm
5.
6.
7.
5.skydive
6. cook food good
7. giving up the tv remote

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:34 pm
by 2.8 d/cab SFA
nice pics I am off end of the month Ihambane, pleasure bay

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:14 pm
by ChrisF
BAIE mooi !


sadly not for me. a few years back a friend of mine drowned, while WE were swimming the Breede River. I was okay for a couple of years, but last year I was swimming in a river again and totally freaked out ....

for now I will just have to enjoy these stunning pics.

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:30 pm
by Aquanaut
Some of my Photos

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:42 pm
by Aquanaut
Some tech dives on the wrecks off durban laying at 65 - 75 meters.
I have done instructors courses, specialty courses and Tri-Mix courses, so take small steps before trying anything stupid like we do.
Enjoy the fun of the 30m dives, they are less stressfull.
Well done to those who have just taken the plunge. :yahoo:

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:15 am
by Danman
This was my first dive(now standing on 87 dives).
Since then at least two dive trips per year to either Sodwana, Malongane or Tofo.
Next trip is 25 Jun - 01 Jul 2012.
dive.JPG

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:25 am
by Danman
2.8 d/cab SFA wrote:nice pics I am off end of the month Ihambane, pleasure bay

If you have kids younger than 12 yrs old don't try to have dinner at Flamingo Bay.
The Idiots there won't get any of my(or anyone I meet)'s business even when my kids grow up.
We were chased away like dogs and weren't even allowed on the walkways with the kids to try and discuss the matter with the manager.
Proof:
Flamingo bay.JPG

Re: So this weekend I went...

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:03 pm
by george
Thats bad news Danie :thumbdown:

On the photo side of things.i tried one of those youtube tutorials on making underwater pics better. This was my first attempt. Not great but I think its better.
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