THE SARDINE RUN - THE GREATEST DIVE ON EARTH!!!

The Sardine-Run Expedition is a unique expedition exploring the annual sardine migration on South Africa's rugged Wild Coast. Sardine fever hits the Wild Coast sometime in June/July each year. The "run" or migration of sardines begins off the cool waters south of the African continent where they form into hundreds of large swirling shoals. The sardines then run north east into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and mass into what wild-life film producer Peter Lamberti has dubbed "The Greatest Shoal on Earth".

What makes this such a spectacular show is not simply the gigantic waves of silvery sardines but the legions of predators that congregate en masse just off the east coast of South Africa in anticipation of the year's greatest feast. As a result the waters of the Wild Coast boil with sharks, dolphins, Cape Gannets, cormorants, seals, and even, on occasion, Orcas, albatross and penguins that have followed the Sardines thousands of kilometres from the southern ocean. The Sardine Run also coincides with the annual migration of Humpback Whales that move north for the season into warmer water to mate and calve. The spectacular breaches of these leviathan's are a daily phenomenon and it just adds to an already dazzling wildlife extravaganza.

SCUBA DIVE

For the advanced scuba diver, this is indeed the greatest dive show on earth. The ultimate highlight is the "bait ball". This is when the sharks or dolphins or both corral a shoal of sardines into a tight ball, then dive into it in a frenzied attack to come away with mouthfuls of unfortunate sardines. However, this is often logistically difficult for the divers and boats to approach as the sardines are very elusive. Luckily the predators are not as bashful. Bronze Whaler Sharks, Common & Bottlenose Dolphins and dive-bombing Cape Gannets are literally everywhere all the time, so any dive is pure adrenaline.

SNORKEL

For the non-diver the show is just as rewarding. Most of the action is seen from the boat and there are plenty opportunities to snorkel with dolphins, whales and, for the brave, sharks while being bombarded on all sides by Cape Gannets.

PHOTO & VIDEO

For the underwater photographer/videographer the "action" opportunities are amazing. To be in the middle of this incredible scene where predator and prey fight for their existence, is the ultimate dive. The fact that IMAX, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and dozens of other world renown TV stations, magazines and photographers flock to these waters is testament to the giant status of the sardine run.

The Sardine Run

Itinerary

• DAY TIME ACTIVITY
  • Day 1 - Arrive at Durban International Airport - met by sardine run Team member and transferred to our dive location in the Eastern Cape
  • Days 2 - 9 - 06h45 Full breakfast (packed breakfast supplied for occasional 06h30 launches)
    07h00 Microlight launches and begins recon
    08h00 Sardinerun.net Teams launch
    11h00 Light lunch and refreshments available onboard throughout the day
    14h30 Approximate time back in harbour - dependent on action and weather conditions
    16h00 Afternoon optional activity - horse riding, sundown cocktails, trail-hikes
    19h00 3 course dinner, next day activity planning and good times - Sardine run style
  • Day 10 - 08h00 Transfer back to Durban International Airport for short internal flight to Johannesburg.
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• AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES INCL.
  • Visit to a Zulu Sangoma
  • Let the local Sangoma (witchdoctor) predict the run of the Sardines for you.
  • Microlight flights
  • See the world from a new perspective as you take a flip in the microlight.
  • Sundowner
• 
  
  DATES:
  *         June 11 - 19
  
  *         June 19 - 27
  
  *         June 27 - July 05
  
  *         July 5 - 13
  
  *         July 13 - 21
  
  2011 trip cost is $ 3,895 per person sharing and includes:
  
  *         7 ocean days on the Sardine Run (weather dependent)
  
  *         1 x Microlight flight per guest (weather dependent)
  
  *         8 nights accommodation full board (www.mbotyi.co.za)
  
  *         All transfers ex Durban/ Umtata Airports
  
  *         Arranged afternoon activities (as per info-pack)
  
  *         Cylinders, airfills, weightbelt

Published article by Adam Cruise (appeared in Submerge Magazine June/July 2007)