Sardine Run 2009

One more suffering season for us readers!

OK so I arrived back last night after 6 days diving based in East London. Apparently as of yesterday (Thursday 18 June) the main shoal was 80km south of East London and is still due to come past in the next few days. We were very lucky and had a pilot shoal arrive on the 12th. I spent 5 hours in the water on probably 6 different bait balls and had the most dramatic in water action I've experienced in 20 years of diving. The following day had similar action but the vis had deteriorated and photography was difficult. The next 4 days were absent of any real action but we still had a great time whale watching and diving on the local reefs in between searches. The sardine run really is a lottery. You can spend a lot of money and get no result, but when it happens it is just incredible. I will be back next year!

I will post my shots in the next day or so but here are a few as a teaser in the meantime:

A Brydes whales makes a high speed pass within 2m of photographer Daniel Botelho

A gannet returns to surface after a deep dive

Dolphins hunt with amazing teamwork and precision

Videographer Paul Wildman captures and awesome baitball with a large Zambezi/Bull shark

Photographer Mark Van Coller drops over the side right onto a large Bronzie

Regards

Jean.

Fantastic Jean

I loved the Dolphin shot...

One year i will defo be there...

Dive safe

DeanB

Ouh man! This is so awesome!!!

It literally hurts to see these pictures knowing I'm not able go there any time soon.

Keep them coming!!!

Karel