Cape Town: Shark Spotters has launched a new app!

Shark Spotters, the primary shark safety programme used in Cape Town, has launched an innovative app to assist swimmers and surfers to be more shark smart at Cape Town's beaches. The app provides water users with all the latest shark safety information at the city's beaches, including which flag is currently flying and why. The flags fly for various reasons, including:

• poor spotting conditions due to cloud cover
• shark sightings
• an indication of water temperature
• the lunar phase
• an indication of whether the shark exclusion barrier in Fish Hoek has been deployed or not

screenshot

The app is updated by the Shark Spotters on duty in real time so users can be assured that they always have the most current information at their fingertips to help them make a personal assessment about shark risks when entering the water.

The Shark Spotters app also provides information regarding:

• weather conditions
• marine animal activity in the area (such as whales, seals, dolphins, sunfish etc.)
• the details of amenities on the beaches
• short surf videos of isolated surf spots covered by the programme that do not have live web-cams in operation
• safety tips to reduce the risk of encountering a shark
• information about shark activity in Cape Town

The Shark Spotters app is available on iOS and Android platforms and is free to download. 
    

Cape Town: Spring and Summer Months = Shark Time! >>

Diving at Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay, located on the east coast (Elephant Coast) of South Africa near St. Lucia, is classified as one of the top dive sites in the world. The 50km reef complex with its 700m deep valleys and submarine canyons boasts around 95 species of hard and soft coral, sponges, other invertebrates and around 1200 fish species. The spectacular coral reefs are amongst the southern most tropical coral reefs in the world.



Sodwana Bay National Park is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is also covering St Lucia Game Reserve, False Bay Park, St Lucia Marine Reserve, Maputaland Marine Reserve, Cape Vidal, Ozabeni, Mfabeni, Tewate Wilderness Area and Mkuze Game Reserve.

Kudos at Earth-Touch.com for the great video footage!

Video: Dolphins - Proficient predators of the Sardine Run

In this video Earth-Touch is taking a closer look at dolphins, one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean, and is explaining the the creature's complex social structures, sophisticated communication strategies and is examining the role they play as primary predators in South Africa's annual Sardine Run.



Kudos at Earth-Touch! Another great video by you guys!

btw - if you are in the area, don't miss out the Sardine Festival 2011 in and around Scottburgh, which started on 04 June 2011 and lasts till 28 Aug 2011.

Video: Orcas are hunting dolphins...

Orcas, or killer whales, do not only feed on sardines during the annual Sardine Run, but also on dolphins. What used to be a rumour only, became confirmed through the sighting of an actuall kill of a dolphin through orcas some years ago offshore Port Elizabeth. Check the footage taken out of a National Geographic documentary:

South Africa: Sardine Run 2011 - A taste of what's to come

update (27 June 2011): The 2011 Sardine Run has reached Durban's beachfront. Check the video... very durban-like ;-)



update (21 June 2011): According to reports, the sardines have started running. The first nettings produced 25 baskets of the fish at Hibberdene. The sardines currently coming through are isolated pilot shoals. About 500 common dolphins moved through the Margate area early on 21 June 2011. Many sharks were reported to be among the sardines.

The annual Sardine Run occurs in South African waters every June & July when millions of individual sardines spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the coast of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal into Mozambique. The shoals are often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 meters deep and are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface. The sheer numbers of Sardines create a feeding frenzy along the coastline, which is unique in the world. In terms of biomass, researchers estimate the sardine run could rival East Africa's great wildebeest migration.



Earth-Touch is a South African multimedia company that brings matters of the Earth (including wildlife and the environment) into the offices, homes and daily lives of people around the world.

Annual "Sardine Run" expected to begin around the third week of June

update (14 June 2011): Sardine Run - The first wave of sards is almost at Port St Johns but should be completely eaten by gannets and dolphins in the next few days. (via @animalocean on 13 June 2011, 22:11)

The 2011 Sardine Run is expected to begin a little late this year, but not as late as last year when the run only hit the coast around mid-July. News24.com is quoting Natal Sharks Board's chief executive Mike Anderson-Reade saying "We expect it in the next couple of weeks...maybe in the third week of June."
The Natal Sharks Board will make control flights later on this week (weather permitting) to see where the fish currently are.


Sardine Run 2010 Highlights from Josh Stewart on Vimeo.

The Sardine Run is usually taking place every year between June & July along the eastern coastline of South Africa. Also known as the "greatest shoal on Earth" the Sardine Run is a very popular event for tourist and local fisherman alike. The run, containing millions of individual sardines, occurs when a current of cold water heads north from the Agulhas Bank up to Mozambique where it then leaves the coastline and goes further east into the Indian Ocean.

Video: How Orcas hunt Great White Sharks

Great White Sharks are usually know as "the ultimate predator" of the oceans, but did you know that the mighty sharks became prey to Orcas, or "killer whales"?
Whale-watchers off the coast of San Francisco witnessed a stunning act of nature as a killer whale rose to the water's surface with a Great White in its mouth and held it there for 15 minutes. Luckily biologist Peter Pyle was nearby and able to get underwater footage of the whales feeding on the shark.

Shark Cage Diving in South Africa >>

Video: Dolphins see themselves in mirror!

CNN's Randi Kaye visits the Baltimore National Aquarium in the US and goes down in an underwater lab to see how dolphins react to themselves in a mirror. Stunning pics of incredible creatures...



Tour: Whale & Dolphin Watching in Plettenburg Bay (South Africa)
A wonderful opportunity to witness Dolphins frolicking in the surf and enjoy a close-up encounter with other marine species including whales, sharks, seals and a variety of marine birds on this exciting two-hour boat cruise.
Depart from Plettenberg Bay at the heart of the Garden Route and discover the abundant Cape marine life as you head for the renowned Arch Rock. Here it is usual to see bottlenose dolphins, small pods of the rare indo-pacific humpback dolphin and many species of shark. As you head to the middle of the bay, look out for resident bryde whales, magnificent Southern Right whales and if you are truly lucky you may get to see orcas which can be seen from July to November. Among the highlights is a visit to the seal colony at spectacular Roddberg Peninsula Nature Reserve for wonderful views of these enchanting animals. [more info & booking]

more Garden Route tours & activities >>

accommodation in Plettenberg Bay >>