Sodwana Bay

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Sodwana Bay
SODWANA BAY Beach (Humpback whale in foreground) - panoramio.jpg
View of a beach in the bay with a humpback whale in the foreground
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Sodwana Bay
Location in South Africa
Coordinates 27°32′S32°41′E / 27.533°S 32.683°E / -27.533; 32.683 Coordinates: 27°32′S32°41′E / 27.533°S 32.683°E / -27.533; 32.683
Native nameSodwanabaai  (Afrikaans)
Ocean/sea sources Indian Ocean
Basin  countries South Africa

Sodwana Bay is a bay in South Africa on the KwaZulu Natal north coast, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. It is in the Sodwana Bay National Park, and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, and is a popular recreational diving destination. The term is commonly used to refer to both the marine reserve and the terrestrial park, as well as the geographical bay.

Contents

Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the east coast. Proclaimed a national park in the 1950s, it is frequented by anglers and divers. [1] Sodwana is situated in the Maputaland Marine Protected Area and is the only recreational scuba diving area along the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park (now renamed to iSimangaliso[ citation needed ]) coastline. Classified as one of the top dive sites in the world, [2] the park is visited by some 35 000 scuba divers per year. The bay is near the southern end of the tropical western Indo-Pacific marine ecoregion, and reef-building corals are present. The 50 km reef complex is the habitat of a wide diversity of resident and migratory species. Several submarine canyons cut into the edge of the continental shelf, which is very close to the shoreline. It was in one of these that on 27 November 2000 that a resident population of coelacanths was discovered.

Sailfish, king mackerel, kingfish and other pelagic species of game fish migrate south down the east coast of Africa and since the activities of sea pirates off the coast of north east Africa healthy populations of pelagic game fish again reach all the way south off the coast of South Africa which has re-established Sodwana as a sport fishing destination for pelagic species.[ citation needed ] The marine protected area is known for endangered marine megafauna including whale sharks, great white sharks, zambezi sharks, hammerhead sharks, blacktip sharks, manta rays, orange-spotted groupers, potato cod, critically endangered leatherback turtles, [3] loggerhead sea turtles, and coelacanths. [4] The discovery of Coelacanths made the region world-famous. In the March 2011 issue of National Geographic , a short article titled Ancient Swimmers appeared, discussing the discovery of coelacanths in the depths of Sodwana Bay and the surrounding area. A small section of the written article explains that:

"Since this chance sighting, Latimeria chalumnae have been found in several pockets in and around the Indian Ocean. No one knows how many there are - maybe as few as 1,000 or as many as 10, 000. Because of the depth of their habitat, they have mainly been photographed by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Divers first documented the fish [in Sodwana Bay] in 2000; in January and February 2010, a specially trained team dived to take pictures of [another] small colony in Sodwana Bay, South Africa."

Whale watching targeting migratory or resident cetaceans is a local tourist industry. [5] Bottlenose dolphins live in the vicinity and have been observed to swim with whale sharks. Humpback whales migrate through the bay during winter to spring seasons while southern right whales and other species are less common. Orcas may also visit the bay waters.[ citation needed ]

The land areas of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park are home to species of large land animals such as lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos and rhinos [6]

Climate

The climate is subtropical with water temperatures usually above 20 °C (68 °F), up to 29 °C (84 °F) in summer.

Ecology

Terrestrial

Map of the Ecoregions of South Africa Ecoregions of South Africa.svg
Map of the Ecoregions of South Africa

Marine

Sodwana is in the Delagoa coastal ecoregion Ecoregions of SA EEZ.png
Sodwana is in the Delagoa coastal ecoregion

The inshore waters of Sodwana Bay are in the Delagoa coastal marine ecoregion.

Economy

The local economy is based on tourism.

Tourism

Tourism in this area is based on recreational scuba diving, gamefishing and game park tours.

Recreational diving

A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa, including the recreational dive sites of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office. [7] Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit.

Several snorkelling spots, and a large number of scuba diving sites are available for recreational diving. Several dive operators are based in Sodwana, and equipment and gas fill are available. Diving conditions are generally good throughout the year, but the best visibility of up to 30 metres is most likely during April to September. In suitable weather night dives can be arranged. [1]

Dive sites are concentrated at the following areas: [1]

  • Two-mile Reef is the most popular area with depths ranging from 9 metres to over 30 metres at the outer edge.
  • Quarter Mile Reef is most often dived in January and February when Ragged-toothed sharks congregate.
  • Stringer Reef at a depth of 14 metres is a small reef with great diversity of species.
  • Four and Five Mile Reefs are about 8km from Jesser Point. They are a bit deeper, and have branching, table and plate corals
  • Seven Mile Reef is the area about 11km north of Jesser Point. There are overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom reefs.
  • Nine Mile Reef is the northern-most reef of the commonly accessible areas. Depths range from 6 to 21 metres. There is a green tree coral at the drop-off on the seaward side of the reef.
  • Coelacanth dives at the canyon require a special permit and certification and competence in trimix diving to depths of over 100 m.

Gamefishing

Game park tourism

Related Research Articles

Coelacanth Order of lobe-finned fishes

The coelacanths are members of a now-rare order of fish (Coelacanthiformes) that includes two extant species in the genus Latimeria: the West Indian Ocean coelacanth, primarily found near the Comoro Islands off the east coast of Africa, and the Indonesian coelacanth. The name originates from the Permian genus Coelacanthus, which was the first scientifically named coelacanth.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park South Africas third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 235 kilometres north of Durban by road. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the Lake St. Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km2 of natural ecosystems, managed by the iSimangaliso Authority. The park includes:

<i>Latimeria</i> Genus of lobe-finned fishes from the Indian Ocean

Latimeria is a rare genus of fish which contains the only living species of coelacanth. It includes two extant species: the West Indian Ocean coelacanth and the Indonesian coelacanth. They follow the oldest known living lineage of Sarcopterygii, which means they are more closely related to lungfish and tetrapods than to the common ray-finned fishes and cartilaginous fishes.

West Indian Ocean coelacanth Species of lobe-finned bony fish

The West Indian Ocean coelacanth is a crossopterygian, one of two extant species of coelacanth, a rare order of vertebrates more closely related to lungfish and tetrapods than to the common ray-finned fishes. The other extant species is the Indonesian coelacanth.

Aliwal Shoal Rocky reef off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and other marine invertebrates, and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the near-sinking in 1849 of the three-masted vessel Aliwal, captained by James Anderson. There are two wrecks near the reef that are popular recreational dive sites. The Norwegian bulk carrier MV Produce sank in 1974, and SS Nebo sank in 1884. Aliwal Shoal has diverse marine life, including large predators, and is popular as a recreational scuba diving destination. The Shoal is known especially for its abundance of Grey nurse sharks between July and November when the sharks congregate there to mate.

Shark tourism Tourism industry based on viewing sharks in their natural habitat

Shark tourism is a form of eco-tourism that allows people to dive with sharks in their natural environment. This benefits local shark populations by educating tourists and through funds raised by the shark tourism industry. Communities that previously relied on shark finning to make their livelihoods are able to make a larger profit from diving tours while protecting the local environment. People can get close to the sharks by free- or scuba diving or by entering the water in a protective cage for more aggressive species. Many of these dives are done by private companies and are often baited to ensure shark sightings, a practice which is highly controversial and under review in many areas.

Richelieu Rock Dive site in Thailand in the Andaman Sea

Richelieu Rock is a dive site in Thailand in the Andaman Sea about 200 km northwest of Phuket. It is part of the Mu Koh Surin marine park although being about 18 km east of Surin Island.

Protea banks is a reef about 7 km off the shore of South Africa near Margate. The reef is a submerged shoal approximately 6 km long and 800 meters wide, with an average depth of around 30 meters.

Recreational dive sites Places that divers go to enjoy the underwater environment

Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.

Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area Marine conservation area around the Cape Peninsula in South Africa

The Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area is an inshore marine protected area around the Cape Peninsula, in the vicinity of Cape Town, South Africa. It was proclaimed in Government Gazette No. 26431 of 4 June 2004 in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998.

The marine protected areas of South Africa are in an area of coastline or ocean within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of South Africa that is protected in terms of specific legislation for the benefit of the environment and the people who live in and use it. An MPA is a place where marine life can thrive under less pressure than unprotected areas. They are like underwater parks, and this healthy environment can benefit neighbouring areas.

The Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area is a coastal and offshore marine protected area between the Lovu and Mzimayi estuaries, off the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, South Africa. The MPA contains the popular scuba diving destination Aliwal Shoal

Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area Marine conservation area on the south coast of South Africa

The Tstsikamma Marine Protected Area is a marine protected area on the south coast of South Africa, in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It is on the coast of the Tsitsikamma National Park, and is one of the oldest MPAs in the country. The MPA provides protection for marine habitat and wildlife, including birds and threatened and endangered fish species.

The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area is a marine conservation area in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth.

The iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area is a coastal and offshore marine protected area in KwaZulu-Natal from the South Africa-Mozambique border in the north to Cape St Lucia lighthouse in the south.

The Robberg Marine Protected Area is an inshore conservation region in the territorial waters of South Africa, near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape province.

The Stilbaai Marine Protected Area is an inshore conservation region in the territorial waters near Stilbaai on the south coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Environmental impact of recreational diving Effects of scuba diving on the underwater environment

The environmental impact of recreational diving is the effects of recreational scuba diving on the underwater environment, which is largely the effects of diving tourism on the marine environment. It is not uncommon for highly trafficked dive destinations to have more adverse effects with visible signs of diving's negative impacts due in large part to divers who have not been trained to sufficient competence in the skills required for the local environment, an inadequate pre-dive orientation, or lack of a basic understanding of biodiversity and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems. There may also be indirect positive effects as the environment is recognised by the local communities to be worth more in good condition than degraded by inappropriate use, and conservation efforts get support from dive communities who promote environmental awareness, and teach low impact diving and the importance of respecting marine life. There are also global coral reef monitoring networks in place which include local volunteer divers assisting in the collection of data for scientific monitoring of coral reef systems, which may eventually have a net positive impact on the environment.

The Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area is a coastal conservation region in the territorial waters of South Africa, near Saldanha Bay on the Western Cape coast. The MPA is part of the West Coast National Park which is the core component of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve.

Whittle Rock is a granite corestone reef and navigation hazard in False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. The reef rises from a sandy bottom at about 40 m, to a minimum depth of 3.2 m, and is a well known fishing site and recreational diving area. It has an area of about 1 km2, and can affect the waves at the shore in Kalk Bay in special conditions of a long southeasterly swell. It is marked by a cardinal east buoy with sound and light signals.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Water Based Activities at Sodwana Bay National Park". www.nature-reserve.co.za/. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Top dive sites in the World | PADI". PADI Travel. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Sodwana Bay National Park, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa". Siyabona Africa Travel. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Venter, Pieter; Timm, Peter; Gunn, Gilbert; le Roux, Etienne; Serfontein, Christo; Smith, Pieter; Smith, Erna; Bensch, Martin; Harding, Dennis; Heemstra, Phillip (1992). "Discovery of a viable population of Coelacanths (Latimeria Chalumnae Smith, 1939) at Sodwana Bay, South Africa]". Science in Africa. Retrieved 18 December 2014. Archived 18 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Whale watching". Sodwana Bay Lodge. Retrieved 18 December 2014. Archived 18 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Taylor, William (1999). Africa's big five. Gerald Hinde, R. F. Du Toit. Johannesburg: Southern. ISBN   1-86812-779-6. OCLC   42659355.
  7. ↑ "R118. Draft Regulations for the management of the Isimangaliso Marine Protected Area" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.
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