UNDERCURRENTS
www.ScubaDiving.co.za

Letters from André Nel of Reefcomber Tours and The Scuba Diving Academy

Dear Fellow Diver Travellers...

Welcome to our Members & Students

We have such a great special on at the moment to Zanzibar (18-28 March 2005 or 22 March-1 April 2005) - I just have to tell you about it:

We start off with a “get-to-know-each-other” Braai / Function, courtesy of Reefcomber Tours a few days before departure...

On arrival in Zanzibar, we board a boat en-route to a PRIVATE ISLAND we have hired out for our sole use for 3 full nights on a DB&B basis. A Coral Island nearly a kilometer long & some 100 meters wide, surrounded by white sandy beaches & only 10 minutes away by boat from Stone Town. Enjoy a corner of paradise in the island of spices, Chapwani Private Island will hold you so spellbound, that you won't be able to believe your own eyes.

There is a free transfer boat that leaves the island for Stone Town at 9.00am and returns at 4.30pm, so apart from Diving, excursions such as: Spice Tours - Jozhani Forest - Kizimkazi dolphins - Mangapwani beach, etc can be arranged.

At night the island is superb. The lights of Stone Town sparkle in the distance and the stars above are breathtaking. Dinner can be organised for you in an isolated spot on the island.

The island has four canoes, which can be used to explore the coast around the island. There is a beach volley court on the island, archery, petanque balls, and lots of other games to break up the day. We also can arrange trips with the local fishermen and sailing on an N'gelawa, the small tri-marans which are the traditional coastal fishing and sailing vessels.

On Day 4, … we depart for Stone Town and catch a flight to Pemba Island where we spend 4 nights at Manta Reef Lodge, on a Full Board basis.
Few words or pictures can describe the underwater paradise that is located in this prime virgin diving destination. Diving off Pemba Island is among the most spectacular to be found in East Africa. It is characterized by clear blue water drop-offs along with pristine shallow reefs. Magnificent hard and soft coral gardens are alive with large schools of pelagic marine life, giant mantas, turtles, anemones and reef fish of every imaginable species.
This unspoiled wilderness is yours to share. It is so peaceful and the natural beauty so magical - all stress of home and work evaporates the moment you set foot on our stunning white sandy beaches. Stroll the soft white sandy beaches that are deserted of people, dine by candle light on the beach with the azure blue waters lapping round your tables, followed by a walk underneath star studded skies with the murmurs of bush babies as they leap from tree to tree.

On Day 8, … we fly back to Zanzibar & transfer to Nungwi Village Beach Resort, where we spend 3 nights in Premium Sea Front accommodation on a B&B basis. Dive the renowned sites of Mnemba, Levan Banks & more, visit quaint Restaurants for Dinner & explore the mysteries of Nungwi.

On Day 11, … we sadly depart for Stone Town to catch our flight back to Johannesburg. BUT with lifelong memories of new friends met and Paradise found!

AlI this for the low rate of ONLY R 9 395 pps
I URGE you not to delay in booking your spot in Paradise for these 10 nights.

For more info, OR to book your spot, email Andre on: info@reefcomber.co.za

Click Here to email me about this great deal: holidays@reefcomber.co.za
_________________________________________________________________________
 

"Breaking New Special"
Africa's most exquisite LIVEABOARD ... SY JAMBO
Follow your Heart, Throw caution to the wind ... YOU Deserve this!! A ONCE-in-a-LIFETIME offer!!

Save over R 4 300.00 pps
Due to cancellations, Reefcomber proudly offers you this
trip of a lifetime at only
R 8950 pps
1 Departure ONLY... 7 February 2005 for 7 Days

Don't Delay, email us IMMEDIATELY to info@reefcomber.co.za  
 

_________________________________________________________________________

More Coelacanths found !

Three more coelacanths have been discovered off South Africa's north east coast, bringing to seven the number of previously unidentified coelacanths found in the past two weeks, the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (Acep) said on Friday.

The coelacanths were discovered on Thursday night in Chaka's Canyon in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

It also pushes the number of known coelacanths in South African waters to 25, an Acep statement said.

Submersible used to find coelacanths

All the new finds were made using a submersible and geared specifically towards establishing the distribution of coelacanths in the park.

As many of the underwater canyons in the park as could be reached in three weeks have been visited by the submersible and most were found to have the type of habitat preferred by coelacanths.

However, they have been observed in only one canyon not explored before — Chaka's Canyon — which is 50km south of Jesser and Wright canyons, were South Africa's known population of the 'fossil fish' was initially discovered.

Three new coelacanths were found in Chaka's Canyon two weeks ago, indicating the possibility that there are at least two separate families of coelacanths in Sodwana.

This would increase the genetic and breeding stability of the populations and decrease the vulnerability of the animals to extinction.

New member found

After the Chaka's Canyon find, a new member of the Jesser Canyon coelacanth group was found. Each fish has a unique pattern of white spots, making it possible to distinguish one from another.

Then, during a night dive on Thursday, three additional coelacanths were observed in Chaka's Canyon.

"Submarine canyons are huge, so in the limited time available to us we are only able to visit rather than thoroughly examine them," Acep programme manager Tony Ribbink said.

"Which is why we keep finding coelacanths we haven't seen before in Jesser and Wright canyons. Also, although we didn't see coelacanths in every new canyon we visited this time round, that doesn't mean they aren't there."

Establishing which canyons contain coelacanths holds implications for conservation management of the fish, Acep said.

"If coelacanths are found in a variety of canyons and we know their patterns of movement between canyons, then a possible management strategy would be to protect completely some canyons and allow recreational divers to have controlled access to others.

However, it is premature to make such recommendations now, because we need a better understanding of the overall population size and, of crucial significance, the movement of coelacanths between canyons," Ribbink says.

On The Travel Front:

No matter the weather (or the Rand), we will take you to the warmest waters around at the Best rates available! We continue to offer some of the best Travel deals around.

Xmas is around the corner, if you are planning a December vacation, PLEASE get your Bookings in ASAP. Bookings for Mozambique & Sodwana are streaming in & once again a lot of you are going to have to make alternate plans if you don’t wake up soon. Compare our rates & watch us lower any other quote you may have received!

If you are planning a Group-Trip, let us know in advance & we will source the BEST rates for you, guaranteed.

New Numbers:

Tel: 011 781 6520
Fax: 011 781 6521

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