AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 2009 Second Edition
Freediving Trevor Hutton
Aquarium Diving
Exploring the Two Oceans Aquarium
Mozambiqian Shootout The Sony/Palm Resort Spring shootout
The Namibian Marine Ecosystem Project Namibia’s move towards marine conservation
Marico Oog
A landlocked diving oasis
Magic in a magical land Ponta Mamoli, Mozambique 1
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Editorial
by Cormac McCreesh
We are excited to publish this second edition of African Diver. Creating this second issue has been as much fun for us as creating the first, and we continue to look forward to building the African diver community. This issue continues much in the vein of the first, except that we have spread our wings a little and incorporated three articles on destinations outside of South Africa. The first, written by Mike Markovina, is about positive initiatives in Namibia concerning the management of its fish stocks. It is exciting to see people and countries taking positive steps to manage marine resources, especially in these days of continual bad news. Mozambique, with its many varied and unspoiled destinations is special to Southern African divers. In this issue, we report on the inaugural SONY/Palm Resort Spring Shootout held in the Inhambane region. There are several dive centres in this region and the area is renowned for its whale sharks and manta rays. Staying in Mozambique, we feature Ponta Mamoli, a gem of a destination in the southern part of Mozambique, and well worth visiting over the Christmas holidays. Speaking of Christmas holidays, visitors to Cape Town over this period should consider a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and an adventure dive in its Predator and Kelp tanks. The Two Oceans Aquarium is a personal favourite of mine, which I try to visit whenever I am in Cape Town. Jean Marx, who lives in Cape Town, reports on the adventure dives on offer at the Two Oceans. Continuing with unusual dive destinations, Simon Brown takes us diving to Marico Oog – an oasis in the middle of the dry African bush. Easily accessible from Johannesburg, Marico Oog is another of those special dives that should be on every diver’s list of dives-to-do. In keeping with our philosophy of featuring all types of diving in Africa, Trevor Hutton introduces us to freediving and talks about his freediving academy based in Cape Town. Freediving has long been a fascination of mine and we are excited to feature Trevor in this issue and in future issues too. It cannot all be fun stuff though and Gary Clamp’s update on diving at Rocky Bay alerts us to some of the environmental issues facing the marine protected area there. Similarly, Leslie Rochat’s article on the plight of sharks reminds us that all is not rosy and positive. Finally, DAN South Africa’s article on medical evacuation in Southern Africa is pertinent for the Christmas holiday season when many divers visit exotic locations. It is an article well worth printing out and stowing with your dive gear in case of that unforeseen emergency. We would like to hear your thoughts on the first two issues. Please email us at info@africandiver.com and give us your feedback, whether positive or otherwise. Our mission for AfricanDiver remains that it be relevant, thought provoking and positive. We wish you a safe and fantastic Christmas holiday and may your bubbles always be free. Cormac and Paul
2
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Contents Page 3 African news Page 5 Two Ocean’s Aquarium Aquarium diving by Jean Marx
Page 9 Magic in a magical land Ponta Mamoli by Cormac McCreesh
Page 15 Namibia’s marine resources Namiba’s move towards marine conservation by Mike Markovina
Page 21 Marico Oog A landlocked diving oasis
Page 30 Jaws Propaganda Rethink the shark by Lesley Rochat
Page 33 Diver emergency management Evacuation protocols by DAN South Africa
Page 36 Mozambiqian Shootout The Sony/Palm Resort Spring Shootout Cover: Paul Hunter Visit AfricanDiver.com click here
by Simon Brown
Page 24 Freediving
by Trevor Hutton
Page 28 Rocky Bay Update by Gary Clamp
To subscribe to AfricanDiver.com click here
African News Penguin chick swims 1 250km Source – IOL, Environment Writer SHE’S come a long way for a chick whose parents abandoned her and left her to starve. She’s penguin F0054, and has surprised scientists by swimming an astonishing 1 250km from Dyer Island, off Gansbaai, around Cape Point and north to Mercury Island near Lüderitz in Namibia. Deon Geldenhuys, CapeNature conservation manager on Dyer Island, said he knew penguins swam far afield when they were youngsters. But he had been surprised when Namibian conservation authorities contacted him to say they had seen a penguin wearing a flipper band with the number F0054. “That’s quite a distance for a little bird to swim,” he said. F0054 was born to parents on Dyer Island fairly late in the season and was not old enough to fend for herself when her parents began moulting. When penguins moult, they lose the “wet-suit” effect their feathers give them and so don’t go to sea to feed until their new feathers have grown. If they have a chick on the nest when the moult begins, the chick goes without food. “If we’d left her on the nest, she definitely would have starved,” Geldenhuys said. “If the African penguin population were big and healthy we would not worry, but it’s not. Numbers are dropping, so we do everything we can to help boost their numbers.” F0054 was collected in November last year, with other abandoned chicks, and taken to the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) in Table View. She weighed 1,1kg. After Sanccob fattened her up, she was released at Dyer Island a month later, weighing 2,4kg. “According to the Namibian guys, the penguin looked fine and healthy.”
3
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Coral Reef Discovered in Seychelles, Climate Scientists Say By Randall Hackley Scientists discovered a coral reef in the Seychelles off Curieuse Island that is home to more than 200 giant tortoises. The mass of coral found south of the island showed signs of destruction, and recovery, from the 2004 tsunami, according to British researchers from the University of Essex who took part in a conservation study funded by Mitsubishi Corp. in conjunction with the Earthwatch Institute. The disaster almost four years ago left about 229,000 people dead when an underwater quake off Sumatra sent waves as high as 30 meters (100 feet) crashing into coastlines from southeast Asia to eastern Africa, briefly inundating low-lying islands such as the Seychelles. The archipelago nation of 115 islands lies north of Madagascar, about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) east of Africa. The university researchers, including Dave Smith and Dave Suggett, are working on experiments to test species’ abilities to tolerate warming weather in the hope the findings may help predict the fate of coral reefs faced with climate change. Studies this year by the IUCN conservation group found 70 percent of warm-water reefbuilding coral species are susceptible to climate change.
Readers’ respsonses and African news DAN’s article on malaria and prophylaxis in issue 1 of African Diver has proved to be one of the more popular downloaded articles. We received this letter from Val Fraser which we publish along with Dr Mike Marshall’s response. Dear Cormac and Paul Congratulations. I really enjoyed reading your magazine. I was especially interested in the article on malaria, but unfortunately it does not solve my problem. I am one of those unfortunate folk who suffer unpleasant side effects from taking prophylactics. I feel seriously nauseous and often vomit shortly after taking the pills. It is impossible for me to enjoy a day out on the sea in that state. All I can do is to cover up in the afternoons/evenings, and use sprays and coils. So far I have been lucky. I, like many others living in malaria areas, keep the 3 day Artusenate course at hand. It is cheap and readily available in Mozambique. I will take the tablets should I present flu-like symptoms after being in a malaria area. I would like your experts to comment on the effectiveness of Artusenate. Regards Valda Fraser
Response from Dr Mike Marshall Hi Valda Thanks for your enquiry about Artusenate. I must tell you that there is very little experience here with using Artusenate (I personally have absolutely no experience with it!). From my reading, though, I don’t think your suggested use Artusenate is a good idea. Rather, if you suspect you have malaria, you should have a blood test asap to confirm or exclude the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed, appropriate therapy can then be commenced. Here are some points to bear in mind with regard to Arusenate: • Artusenate is from the artemisinin group of drugs that are very effective against malaria. • Artusenate has been around for many years (a WHO publication claims the Chinese were using this agent from herbs 2000 years ago!). This has stopped drug companies from putting the usual money into the research & development of this drug. • As there has been little R&D, there is no licensed form of this drug in the US and the UK. Instead, Artusenate is used on an individual-patient-motivation basis – usually intravenously in severely ill hospital in-patients. 4
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
• Earlier this year the WHO ‘pre-qualified’ this drug – meaning that they waived the stringent controls normally placed on drugs prior to the completion of the R&D process. This was in response to the ever-increasing problem of resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. • In addition and most importantly, the WHO stated that this drug must NOT be used alone in the treatment of malaria. The concern here is that if the malaria parasite is exposed to Artusenate alone, it is more likely to develop resistance to this very effective agent. We will then lose another means of treating this lethal disease! • Artusenate must be used in combination with drugs such as mefloquine or amodiaquine. • Various sources advise that Artesunate should not be used as a first line treatment of P. falciparum malaria. Its use should be restricted to severe cases of malaria or where there is reason not to use quinidine, mefloquine, etc. Also, Artesunate is not recommended for the treatment of malaria caused by P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae, since other effective antimalarial drugs are available for this purpose. • Another concern is that, because of the previous lack of controls, there is a substantial incidence of ‘drug fraud’ involving Artusenate. A recent study published in The Lancet (a highly respected medical journal) concluded that up to 40% of Artusenate products contain no active ingredients and therefore have no therapeutic benefits. These fake drugs are more often than not ‘off-loaded’ in the third world. Reliance on a ‘survival pack’ may end up delaying the commencement of active therapy – which might prove to be life-threatening! • A recent and very good journal article on the use of Artusenate is available at http:// content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/17/1829. Hope this information helps you. With kind regards, Dr Mike Marshall
Aquarium Diving Text and images: Jean Marx
I
t’s summer in Cape Town. The beach at Camps Bay looks like a scene from little Britian as thousands of tourists pit their lily-white skins against the African sun. The result is always the same – sun: 1, lobsters: 0. Summer time in Cape Town is hectic; there is no parking, and it can take you longer to buy an ice cream than to go and milk a cow and make it yourself. Apparently that’s why they call it the Mother City - because everything takes 9 months to happen. However, as often happens in Cape Town, the South Easter starts blowing. Now, unless you are a pro kite surfer you are pretty much restricted to playing 30 seconds with your in-laws when this happens. But alas all is not lost: the Two Oceans Aquarium celebrated its 13th birthday in November. And as one of the best aquariums in the world and one of Cape Town’s big five tourist attractions it is a must-see. The Two Oceans Aquarium is really an all-seasons and all-weather destination. There is something very tranquil about any aquarium and time feels like it is standing still while you watch the fish swim by. Well, that is until you get into the tanks at the Two Oceans….. The Two Oceans Aquarium offers an Adventure dive program where you can dive in the 2 main exhibitions – the Predator and Kelp tanks. The Predator tank holds two million litres of water and is kept at a constant 18 degrees Celsius. The current population includes five ragged tooth sharks, a short tailed ray, blue bottom stingray and several eagle rays and a turtle. Each animal in the tank has a name and some very specific behavioral patterns. Yoshie the turtle has a tendency to give strangers a bite now and then, and Roy the male ragged tooth keeps a very watchful eye over his female harem that includes MJ and Noodle. The rays and turtles are hand fed on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays at 15h00. Hand feeding has to be done because the rays are bottom feeders and the turtle is a bit slow compared to some of the big cob and yellowtail that also live in the tank. The sharks are fed once a week on Sundays at 15h00. 5
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
6
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Dive Master Iain Robertson does a thorough briefing and tells you exactly how to behave in the tank. A dive lasts about 30 minutes and you have to have an open water qualification. Iain only takes down 3 divers at a time under his watchful eye. Once I had positioned myself at the bottom I felt as if I had become part of the exhibit. It was really nice to see little kids trying to communicate with me frantically trying to warn me of the shark behind me. It was also an excellent opportunity to closely observe the sharks and rays. Encounters in nature are normally brief and beginner divers do not normally get time to determine sex and size of the specimen encountered. The Kelp Tank holds 800 000 liters of water and is kept at a slightly cooler 16 degrees Celsius. Diving in this tank is exactly like diving in a typical Cape kelp forest. There is a large variety of Cape fish species present. Fish such as: white steenbras, galjoen, red roman and white and red stump nose to name but a few. You have to be an advanced diver to do this dive and you have to pre book it at least 1 day in advance. The daily dive times are 09h00, 11h00 and 13h00 from September to April. I would recommend that if you want to do photography to book the early dive when there would be fewer particles in the water. The current adult cost of a dive is R485 with the aquarium supplying all your gear or R380 if you bring your own. Students and children get a discounted price. All divers must be qualified and present their dive cards upon arrival at the Aquarium. All divers are supplied with a cylinder of air. The aquarium entrance fee for those people diving is included in the dive price so you can still have a look at the other exhibits after the dive. To celebrate the Aquarium’s birthday a new exhibit has just been unveiled calledFrogs-Beyond the pond. This exhibit is a themed gallery created to raise awareness of the plight of frogs as well as to provide advice on creating and maintaining frog-friendly environments.
7
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
If you have any further enquiries you can call the bookings coordinator on +27 21 418 3823 or email Tania.Jacobs@aquarium.co.za. My dive in the Predator tank was sponsored by an adventure company called Sugar Snap’s. They offer you the opportunity to meet local Cape Townians whilst experiencing the adventure of your choosing. Upcoming events for the wild at heart include Orange River rafting, caving, abseiling, diving, paragliding and the Otter Trail hike. Keep an eye on the website www.sugarsnap.co.za or contact Carla on 074 133 5863. The Two oceans motto is to foster love, respect and understanding of our oceans and to inspire support for their future well-being. A lot of work goes into this and just the opportunity to see how an aquarium really works is worth this excursion. For more information on the Aquarium visit www.aquarium.co.za
8
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Magic in a magical land Three days in Ponta Mamoli by Cormac McCreesh
Cormac McCreesh
9
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Mostly I dive Aliwal Shoal and Landers Reef, both of which are just south of Durban. However I dive Sodwana Bay, just south of the Mozambique border, a lot too. But every now and then, when the planets line up and the world seems too busy and hectic I feel the need to cross the Mozambique border and slow things down a bit. And there is only one place I know in Mozambique where the world does not seem to spin crazily, where cell phones do not work and the Internet seems worthless. This little jewel of a destination is Ponta Mamoli. The journey to Ponta Mamoli, once you cross the border, is deliciously exciting and otherworldly. Adventurous, anticipatory yet simple and beautiful it is a journey that feeds the soul. It is 4x4 country: characterised by vague sand roads that dip and climb through dunes, coastal forests and spectacular wetlands – a delight to the senses. After a week spent diving at Sodwana Bay, my companions and I head off to Mamoli looking forward to 3 days of tranquillity. We cross the border with minimum fuss and settle down for the drive to Mamoli. As is traditional whenever I cross over into Mozambique, I select Dylan’s Mozambique (off his magnificent Desire album) on the iPod and crank the volume up loud. With Bob’s words lifting our spirits, we bump and grind our way through the dunes. “I’d like to spend some time in Mozambique, the sunny sky is aqua blue, and all the couples dancing cheek to cheek, it’s very nice to spend a week or two….” We pass the turn-offs to Ponta D’Oura and Ponta Malangane and are embraced by the coastal forest as we track our way along the coast heading northwards. Ponta Mamoli is as much about getting there as it is about being there. It is truly about the journey and not only the end. The scenery fills the soul and detoxifies it of the stresses and strains of city living. We pass simple homesteads where locals go about their business purposefully and joyfully. They wave to us as we drive past; huge white toothy smiles fill their faces. And Dylan’s lyrics slide into my consciousness: “there’s lots of pretty girls in Mozambique and plenty time for good romance and everybody likes to stop and speak to give the special one you seek a chance or maybe say hello with just a glance” Cormac McCreesh
10
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Approaching Mamoli we pass large wetlands filled with spectacular birdlife. The wetlands resonate with the sound of millions of frogs calling to each other, seeking mates and asserting their positions. Finally, we arrive at the resort and are greeted by our hosts who effortlessly help us unload our baggage and settle in to our respective cabins. I feel like I am floating on air as I either walk on the beach, a stone’s throw from my cabin, or sink into
the luxurious couches on the deck overlooking the Mamoli Bay. It strikes me that although I know that Mamoli was once a titanium mine and the resort once housed the miners and employees I neither care nor want to care – what is important is now and how Mamoli embraces and caresses me with quiet sensual peace. We arrange our dives and my companions and I agree to one dive a day leaving the remainder of the day for leisure, chilling so to speak. Our first dive is on an exquisite little reef aptly named G-Spot. It is a deep dive (naturally) with the reef at just over 20 metres (24 metres on the sand). Visibility is delightful and we all become absorbed in the simple beauty of the reef. Time seems to stand still, but dive computers do not and we regretfully ascend when incessant computer beeping forces us to abandon our desire to ignore dive tables and flirt with decompression sickness. Deeply satisfied we lounge on our RIB for the journey back to shore only to be accompanied by a pod of playful bottlenose dolphin searching for a snack. Sneaky little creatures that they are, they buzz our boat and then lurk just out of camera reach each time I slip into the water to try to photograph them. Satiated by the experience, we beach our RIB and stumble back to the deck to sleep, read, eat and sleep some more. Dylan again….”magic in a magical land” left: Cormac McCreesh
11
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Cormac McCreesh
Dori Moreno
Cormac McCreesh
Cormac McCreesh
Our second dive, the following day, is to a reef called fish basket. So named for the aggregations of baitfish that make their home on it. Another deep-ish dive at 20 metres we expect to dive in shoals of little fish but are very pleasantly surprised to discover something quite different. Right from the moment we roll off the RIB the excitement begins – a large blacktip shark speeds in to investigate us. It gets close enough to figure we are not worth investigating further and then disappears in the blink of an eye. It all happens so quickly it seems to happen between heartbeats. Adrenalin pumping we drift through shoals of baitfish to the reef below to be met by the resident population of lionfish. I lose count when I get to 20-something lionfish. They patrol the reef like squadrons of fighter planes looking for trouble. An enormous ray glides over the sand towards us to investigate the activity and then speeds off realising we are just noisy ungainly divers disturbing the undersea rhythms. All this in the first 5 minutes of the dive! This sort of reef appeals to me as a photographer. Small enough to spend quality time exploring the photographic opportunities yet large enough to attract fish life. Undisturbed, peaceful and delightfully full of aquatic life this dive is not to be missed. You really have to make the journey and find out for yourself. Later that day, after sleeping off the morning’s dive and the filling brunch, we wander down to the rock pools to take photographs and explore. What a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Each pool brings its own excitement and new discovery and spontaneous activity.
12
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Dori Moreno
Day three dawns somewhat overcast and the prospect of rain threatens. Despite this, the sea remains lazy and our dive guides are positive that we will dive today regardless of any rain that may come down. We head out to a massive reef and drop on Dory drop – so named for the abundance of Powder Blue Surgeon that frequent this part of the reef (yes, I know Dory was a Palette Surgeon but that’s the name they gave to the dropoff). We roll off the RIB into 20 metre-plus visibility just as the rain drizzles from the heavens. The sea is deliciously warm and the reef exquisitely picturesque. Average depth on this dive is 14 metres and we drift for 72 minutes over untouched, unspoilt and virgin reef. Above us, the rain paints ever-changing patterns in the surface of the water while below us the reef is a kaleidoscope of living 13
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Cormac McCreesh
colour. And as we surface to climb aboard the RIB, the rain slows to a fine misty drizzle that washes the saltwater from our bodies. Barry our skipper manages a smile through his rain-drenched clothing and guns the RIB shoreward. And as we head back to the beach, to spend the afternoon of our last day reading, sleeping and relaxing, Dylan’s words come floating back: “And when it’s time for leaving Mozambique, to say goodbye to sand and sea, you turn around to take a final peek and you see why it’s so unique to be among the lovely people living free upon the beach of sunny Mozambique”
Cormac McCreesh
14
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Mamoli, a jewel in Mozambique
Dori Moreno
Dori Moreno
Namibia’s marine resources and positive initiatives being implemented in Namibia’s marine conservation efforts
by Mike Markovina, Marine Resource Experdition contributors: John Patterson Albatross Task Force and Heidi Currie, WWF images by: Linda Schonknecht
Introduction to Namibia’s fishing history: The wind-driven Benguela Current up-welling system is one of four eastern boundary current systems found on the planet. Situated along the southwestern African coastline between Cape Agulhas (34º5’S) and southern Angola at 10ºS, the Benguela Current system, and in particular its northern sector, adjacent to Namibia’s coastline, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Historically Namibia’s fisheries were subject to massive uncontrolled and unregulated fishing. From 1950 to 1964, sardine was the dominant catch, with peak catches reaching 1.4 million tons by 1968. Exploitation of sardines was predominantly by highly mechanized South African factory vessels, which have the capacity to process their catch at sea. The extent to which the sardines were harvested was not sustainable and the stock collapsed with only 12 000 tons being landed in 1980. Soon after the monumental collapse of the sardine industry, vessels focussed on harvesting anchovies, which stocks declined drastically. Interest in Namibia’s rich fishing grounds attracted foreign fleets to her waters. The number of vessels increased dramatically and by 1972 catches of hake were estimated at 820 000 tons (this figure may be an underestimate if by-catch and unreported catches are considered). This was a dramatic increase from the 47,000 tons harvested in the early 1960’s. It was estimated that by 1990, Namibia’s independence, 20 million tons of fish were harvested by foreign vessels. From 1970 to 2000 there has been a decline in total landings in Namibia, with many commercially important fish stocks precariously balanced on the verge of collapse. The horse mackerel is one such species that is in terrible trouble in terms of individual size and
The stern of the Desert Ruby
15
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
The Desert Ruby offloading her catch of Horse mackeral at Walvis Bay port
abundance. The industry started targeting horse mackerel as early as the late 1950’s. To date, the stocks have been severely depleted . This is reflected by the reduction from 450 000 tons in 1992 to approximately 200 000 tons in 2008 in Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for this species. While offshore fish were harvested at an unprecedented rate, the inshore and shore-based fishery, which targets the same species, fared no better. Shore anglers typically targeted fish and shark species including silver kob (Argyrosomus indorus, Sciaenidae), west coast steenbras (Lithognathus aureti, Sparidae), galjoen (Dichistius capensis, Coracinidae), blacktail (Diplodus sargus, Sparidae), copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus, Carcharhinidae) and the smoothhound shark (Mustelus mustelus, Carcharhinidae). Diamond mining concessions and national parks have restricted access to approximately 25% of the coastline, therefore the majority of recreational fishing occurs within a 260km strip from Sandwich Harbour, near Walvis Bay to the Ugab River mouth. Prior to 2001 when recreational fishing permits were implemented into the fishery, it was a ‘free for all.’ Anglers equipped with generated powered freezers would comb the coastline and fish with no regard, keeping everything that was hooked. The fish were then sold either in Namibia or back in South Africa. The high demand for good quality fish and the ability to pay off ones holiday by catching as much fish as possible attracted huge numbers of fishermen to
Namibia’s beaches. Fish stocks were soon under pressure as well as the coast, as anglers would drive recklessly along the beach disturbing nesting sea birds in search of their favorite fishing spot. In trying to understand the extent of marine resource exploitation, and the current measures to control and protect economically important fish stocks, the Marine Resource Expedition spent a month in Namibia talking to various role-players regarding on-going positive research, initiatives and future outlooks involving marine resource management. The recreational fishery, curbing the ‘free for all’. Information, both economic and biological, regarding the extent of the shore-based fishery was required to gauge an understanding of the fishery and to implement sound policy development and management. Angling surveys and research showed that recreational fishery contributed approximately N$11 to N$15 million to the economy in the mid 1990’s, which represents approximately 4% of the N$391 million fishing sector. Current information suggests that this figure has increased considerably by 2007, with unconfirmed estimates in excess of N$30 million per annum. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources developed the Marine Resource Act in 2000, which was implemented on 1st of August 2001 and amended on 7th of December 2001. All recreational anglers wishing to partake in shore-based fishing are required to visit the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and purchase a fishing license. The license is inexpensive and it would cost approximately R14 for a month of fishing. The license clearly states the rules delineated by the act, which include legal and illegal baits, bag limits, size restrictions, area restrictions and closed seasons for various species, amongst others. The angler’s particulars are entered into a computer and within 5 minutes, the license is issued. As with any rule or regulation, compliance is critical. Without effective law enforcement the tendency for humans to cheat the system is overwhelming. In Cape Town, South Africa, for example, Left: Silver Kob, one of the most important Namibian recreational angeling species. Above: Mike Markovina with a Galjoen caught in Swakopmund, Namibia. The Galjoen is South Africa’s national fish, and a popular angeling species along the Namibian coastline.
16
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
“Namibia and South Africa are the only two nations on the African continent that belong to the Albatross Task Force� Left: John Patterson with Albatross killed by fishing vessel Below: John Patterson monitoring sea bird mortality resulting from fishing
an interesting statistic showed that a fishermen would on average have their license checked once every 22 years, where in Namibia the likelihood of having your license checked is once per fishing trip. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has cracked down on unregulated fishing along its shores by the implementation and enforcement of fishing permits, which has resulted in the inability of recreational fishermen to fish uncontrollably and transport absurd amounts of valuable fish to markets. The Albatross Task Force, a positive initiative in understanding seabird mortality: Namibia has become the sixth country to join the ranks of Birdlife International’s Albatross Task Force in an attempt to help the local fishing industry to reduce its by-catch of seabirds, especially albatrosses and petrels. An assessment report launched last year, believed to be one of the most extensive of its kind, indicated that about 34 000 seabirds a year became victims of fisheries in the Benguela Current region, which includes South Africa, Namibia and Angola.
17
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
This has prompted Birdlife Internal’s Albatross Task Force to expand operations to include Namibia. Negotiations with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), and the Global Seabird Programme resulted in the formation of the Namibian chapter of the Albatross Task Force. The Royal Society funds the project in Namibia for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) through the NNF and MFMR. On 1 April 2008 the first two Namibian Instructors, Melba Mate and John Paterson, were appointed with the task of assessing the extent of seabird/fishery interactions in the Hake longline and Hake demersal trawl fisheries. Namibia and South Africa are the only two nations on the African continent that belong to the Albatross Task Force. This is a fantastic and positive initiative given that the existence of 18 of 22 Albatross species, are currently threatened. Commercial fishing industry and the ability to contribute socially and scientifically: Huge mechanized fishing vessels with the ability to strip the ocean of her resources efficiently and effortlessly, characterize large-scale commercial fishing operations. Although this is not incorrect, fishing industries have an important economic and social responsibility in the fish stock they are harvesting, and therefore play an important role in conservation. Total Allowable Catch (TAC), which is a conservative figure assigned to a targeted species, governs how much of that particular species may be landed in a given
year. The TAC is set by observing historic and current catch records and may change from year to year. Scientists and observers in Namibia work in conjunction with the industrial fishing companies to obtain critical data required for the allocation of the TAC. Furthermore, the fishing industry which targets hake has halted all fishing operations for a single month in the year, which coincides with the peak spawning season of the hake. This is seen as a positive step in the gradual process of rebuilding a fish stock, while still trying to harvest the species at an optimal level. Industry also provides scientists with vessels to conduct valuable research, therefore contributing by providing the ability to acquire data, which in turn will be used to manage the targeted species. All industrial fishing vessels are fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), which allows GPS tracking of vessels therefore alerting authorities when a vessel encroaches on protected waters. Observers are required on board to monitor fishing activity, and to ensure that catch records are representative and accurate for that particular vessel. This is important and in industry’s interest, as incorrect data can impact the TAC negatively. In discussion with one particular company based in Walvis Bay, it became apparent that the social consequence to a fish stock collapsing is massive, and not in the industry’s interest. For example: a company, which is regarded as relatively small in size employs 700 workers, of which approximately 695 are locals from Walvis Bay. The company has created 60% of these
18
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
jobs by discarding the mechanized fish filleting machines, which were used because they save time and money. This particular company is one of many situated in Walvis Bay, and is striving to be truly Namibian. Although industrial fishing companies have a tarnished reputation largely based on historical greed, there is a positive integration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Namibia, and this is positive and important in ensuring effective and dynamic fisheries management. The New Marine Protected Area, Namibia’s move towards marine conservation: The Namibian Marine Ecosystem Project, supported and funded by WWF, consists of two components: proclaiming and implementing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Namibia, and supporting the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management (EAF). Namibia’s first MPA, which includes all of the country’s islands in the south, is about to be proclaimed. With its northern boundary at Meob Bay, around Hollamsbird Island, and its southern boundary at Chamais Bay, it is almost 400 km long, and approximately 30 km wide. The inland boundary stretches up to the high water mark, as such over-lapping with the proposed, terrestrial Sperrgebiet National Park (SNP), resulting in a co-management arrangement between the two Ministries of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and Environment and Tourism in this inter-tidal strip between the high – and low – water lines. The proclamation of Namibia’s first Island Marine Protected Area will be the culmination of intensive stakeholder consultations and negotiations, which kicked off with a legal review at the end of 2005. Among others, this project is also to serve as a pilot, so that the successes and lessons learned in the process can be applied to protect remaining coastal and offshore areas. This MPA will be proclaimed by the honourable Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in terms of enabling provisions in Namibia’s Marine Resource Act. Once proclaimed, more detailed systems of Monitoring and Evaluation will be developed for this MPA, as well as training courses for managers of the MPA. The EAF – component of Namibia’s Marine Ecosystem project consists, among others, of training courses offered to fishers, aimed at ecosystem protection, the facilitation of Ecological Risk Assessments, reviews thereof and the development of a generic fisheries management tracking tool. The proposed MPA, which includes all of southern Namibia’s offshore islands and surrounding waters, is aimed at ultimately providing greater protection for biodiversity, recruitment areas, endangered species and habitats, as well as benefiting the rock lobster and line fish resources and industries. The development of the MPA is a positive and progressive step
19
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
taken by the government and various stakeholders in tackling marine resource abuse by inconsiderate users. Aquaculture development, on the right track: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in 2000 global aquaculture was 45.7 million tones, worth an estimated US$56.5 billion. Finfish accounted for 55.9%, mollusks 16.8% aquatic plants 9.9% and crustaceans 16.6%. Of this sector mariculture contributed 22.98 million tons, worth an estimated US$23 billion. Africa has been late off the starting blocks with respect to aquaculture. Total aquaculture production in Africa was approximately 390 000 tons, worth an estimated US$951 million. Namibia is yet to feature in world aquaculture statistics, but all the potential is there. According to the government’s vision 2030 document, by the year 2030: “Aquaculture will have grown to become a thriving industry. Namibian aquaculturists will have capitalized on the country’s productive advantages such as unpolluted; nutrient rich waters and the development of wet aqua-feeds from the industrial capture fisheries. Investors will have developed a marine aquaculture sector that utilizes intensive rearing methods to produce various types of high-valued finfish and shellfish, destined mainly for the export market. Inland extensive and semi-intensive freshwater aquaculture systems will provide food, income and employment for rural communities”. The South African aquaculture industry when compared to that of Namibia is advanced, however at a policy level lags far behind. The Namibian government has already instituted the Aquaculture Act, 2002 (Act no. 18 of 2002) detailing an arrangement of regulations regarding aquaculture, something South Africa has
yet to achieve. These include, definitions, licensing, records and reports, health management in aquaculture facilities, control of disease outbreaks in Namibian’s waters and protection of the aquatic environment. In conjunction with the ACT, Namibia has produced an aquaculture strategic plan, which in summary marks the first coordinated effort to support aquaculture in Namibia, and represents the foundation for addressing the complex, multifaceted issues associated with aquaculture and removing impediments to the aquaculture industry. When chatting to a senior marine researcher at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, it was clear that aquaculture is here to stay. Although the industry has a tarnished history the establishment of aquaculture is seen as a positive step to the economy. Although mariculture will have to face the devastating hydrogen sulphide blooms which occur naturally of the Namibian coast in waters up to 150m deep, technological innovation and systems development are industries within aquaculture, which would have to be developed to tackle this toxic problem. These associated industries have major positive social impacts on local communities economically. Aquaculture demands that the conditions in which fish will be cultured must be of optimum quality. This will inspire research, which will tackle key issues such as coastal pollution, water contamination, larval rearing, live feed production and disease control, all of which have a positive effect at a management level not only in aquaculture but integrating with environmental and coastal management as well. The most important facet of the aquaculture industry is ensuring responsible aquaculture production. It appears that the Namibian government is ensuring this at policy level. The University of Namibia has just rebuilt and modernized its aquaculture research facility in Henties bay. The Marine Resource Expedition was invited to visit the facility, which was installing a modern and versatile recirculation system. The system is brilliant and will offer researchers first class facilities in larval rearing, shellfish and finfish culture. The system boasts new innovative water recirculation technology and state of the art water sterilization methods. The development of the aquaculture research center is testament to Namibia’s dedication in ensuring responsible aquaculture, and that is a positive step. left and previous page: New recirculating system which has been designed and set up in the University of Namibia’s aquaculture research facility in Henties Bay, Namibia.
20
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
An oasis called Marico Oog T
he North West Province of South Africa is a landlocked region about 800 kilometres from the nearest sea that, on the face of it, would appear to offer nothing of interest to a visiting diver. The landscape of burnt brown is fried to a crisp by the African sun and water is in short supply. But approximately half way between Johannesburg and Botswana is a dive site, a tiny patch of clear water surrounded by an acre or two of emerald-green land. The dive site - Marico Oog - is a freshwater spring at the head of a small river surrounded by lilies and reeds and blessed with near gin-like underwater visibility. The site is deep in Afrikaans farming country. English is not spoken through choice but this language barrier was not a problem; as soon as the owner of the site realised the site briefing was failing to register with me he switched to English without so much as batting an eyelid. This language difference explains the dive sites’ unusual name; Marico is the name of the river and “Oog” in Afrikaans means “eye”, and when viewed from above water this name fits perfectly. My first impression was not great as we pulled up alongside the reed bed, right next to a muddy ditch. From this viewpoint the diving looked spectacularly poor and certainly not worth the entrance fee, but a short walk though the reeds changed my opinion in an instant as a clear blue pool, surrounded by flowering lilies, greeted me. This view turned out to be correct, and although I had no way of knowing at the time, the Oog was to be the source of my first magazine front cover. The spring is not large, around 40 metres in diameter, so the number of divers allowed in the spring at any one time is restricted to eight. With all freshwater sites silt is a problem and bad buoyancy can destroy the clear water in seconds, but given time the clear water entering the spring from deep underground flushes the muck out. The lilies require protection too, taking about four years to grow and reach maturity means a careless tangle with your dive gear can remove a mature lily in seconds. Diving rules of “look but don’t touch”, akin to a coral reef, in the middle of nowhere! With the first group leaving the lake we kitted up and entered the water. Finning out through a narrow corridor cut through the lily bed we entered the shallow part of the spring, a narrow fissure in the rock reaching down beyond the limits of light. Whilst the underground river system that feeds the Oog 21
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
may lead to a cave system there is little point in lugging multiple lights, reels and cylinders here, the source of the spring is too narrow to enter for even the slimmest of divers. Leaving the first spring we crossed over a narrow ridge and entered the Eye itself, a deep blue dropoff of almost vertical walls leading to the bottom of the spring, dropping down 14 meters and clear enough to see the opposite wall some 40 metres away. With the sunlight streaming through the lilies the feeling is akin to hanging on the edge of a kelp forest clinging to the edge of a rocky reef, except the water is a comfortable 21 degrees and fresh as a daisy. And that is where the tale would have ended if it wasn’t for a simple question posed some months after I had returned home; “What are those plants growing in the Eye?”. I didn’t have a clue, and those I dived with had no idea - with the closest guess as “The green stuff that ruins the viz when you touch it”. The owner of the Eye called it “Water Gras” in Afrikaans, which translates as (can you guess?!) “Water Grass” - a very generic name. A prolonged search on the web came up with the email address of the head of aquatic plants at the National Botanical Institute based in Pretoria and (in relative terms) not far from the Eye, but they were puzzled too. Eventually the photos found their way to the email inbox of Professor Cook, based in Zurich, Switzerland, and a world authority on aquatic plants. He identified the plants Nymphaea nouchali, more commonly known as the Africa Water lily. This came as a surprise. I had assumed that the large leaves at the bottom of the Oog were distinct and separate plant to the flowering lilies floating on the surface above, but not so – they are one and the same plant. Puzzle solved! 22
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Seeing a site like this for the first time brought my arms out in goose bumps despite the spring sunshine. Marico Oog is a photographer’s paradise.
23
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Freediving by Trevor Hutton images by Sarah T Carter
24
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
F
reediving has a long history in South Africa. Rooted in the spearfishing and crayfishing communities along our coastlines, freediving has developed a rich and deep culture and following. Recently, South Africans have competed in international freediving competitions - and have been setting and breaking records. This has brought more interest from the nonspearfishing South African public and the freediving community as a whole is growing. Names such as Tony Dicks, Len Jones, Laurie Plumridge, Tommy Botha, Andre Hartman, Gyula Plaganyi, Len De Beer, Barry Skinstad, Abri Retief, Bevan Dewar and Edward Hayman - amongst other great divers - tell this compelling story. Together with my partner Sarah and a team of dedicated assistants headed up by Paul Winter, we run Ocean Logic International, a full time professional freediving academy. While the courses are intellectual, physically active and technically informative they are passionately about freediving, becoming one with the sea and exploring one’s own personal boundaries. Ocean Logic is run by a team of freedivers who are committed to the sea and diving. This passion is rivaled only by a desire to teach and share our knowledge with fellow divers. We are dedicated to assisting individuals that are as enthusiastic about the water as ourselves. 25
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
I have been freediving for 18 years and I have broken multiple South African, African and World records during my career. I have lived and dived outside of South Africa for a period spanning approx eight years, staying in Cyprus, Israel and Turkey and competing in France, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Namibia and South Africa. During this period I received intensive and specialised training and coaching from many of the best swimming and diving coaches in the world (including Kirk Krack, Alexander Krupnik, Terry Loughlin and Jimmy Herbert). I have spent years training with the monofin, and also have plans to offer this as part of our training portfolio. My partner Sarah T Carter has been actively involved in the diving industry for the same time period. Interestingly enough our scuba backgrounds have followed a very similar path, with both of us receiving our early training on Ocean Divers International Pro Courses in the early 90s. Sarah is now co-owner of Dive Action with Barry Bey – Leveld and both are avid tech divers. Sarah an Instructor with IANTD PADI and NAUI (also a NAUI Course Director in the 1990s) has been a keen tech diver since 1996 and is trimix trained on the Buddy Inspiration Rebreather. She has a strong background in diver and personal fitness training and has now been involved in freediving for 2 years. Although I have been teaching Freediving for a number of years, it was only after the birth of our son Tom in June this year, that Sarah and I decided to dedicate our time together to teaching and sharing our wealth of experience with the other freedivers out there who wish to improve their performance and safety in the ocean. Courses are run mainly in Cape Town from Dive Action/Marine Solutions’ premises in Paarden Eiland near the Waterfront. All courses are comprehensive with lectures at Dive Action, confined water sessions at the Sea Point pool, sea dives at Oudekraal and deep dives at Blue Rock quarry. In Cape Town we do a lot of work with experienced spearfishermen who wish to improve their diving capacity and performance. Although now there are a lot more people coming through who wish to learn to freedive for different reasons ie. photography, videography, marine research and the sheer joy of just diving and exploring. Incidentally we run regular training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Seapoint pool for anyone interested – come along and see what we do! We teach divers of all levels from beginner to instructor and I have taught divers from many different nationalities in various parts of the world. We will be running a series of courses in Johannesburg in the new year, before going to teach in Lanzarote in May.
26
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Our 2009 courses in Johannesburg, will be run from a few different venues. For the January course we will be using the Prest-ige Dive School’s lecture facilities and swimming pool. Shallow water work will be done at Bass Lake, near Meyerton and we will do the deeper dives in Komati springs. Apart from teaching we are all very keen freedivers and enjoy using our skills in practical applications. We all dive as often as we can, and do many dives a year on the sites around Oudekraal. - the Antipolis wreck being one of the sites we most like to visit. We have some very exciting personal missions which we are working on for 2009 and we will bring reports of these as the year progresses.
“In October of 2006, I attended a course with Trevor and learnt more about the ocean as a dynamic medium, and about myself, as a diver, than all my years put together. Trevor had no fancy talk or frills. He just called it and taught it from hard experience. The result was a priceless insight into how to perform and stay alive in the South African conditions, and the one phrase that summed up the way he taught me was something he said to me on a morning in the ocean off Hermanus. What he said was ‘ Become the sea..”. And that stays as my single most important piece of knowledge. Jeff Ayliffe - Cape Talk Breakfast Show Sports anchor.”
27
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Some thoughts and musings on diving and fishing in and around Rocky Bay by Gary Clamp
Cormac McCreesh
28
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Diving on the KwaZulu-Natal coast during September, October and the first half of November has been very much a hit and miss affair. This time of year is generally a period of regular rainfall and windy conditions which create variable conditions that play havoc within the diving fraternity along the coast. The winds, when blowing in a favourable direction, can bring clean water to the dive sites, however the rainfall can create poor visibility due to the many rivers that abound in this area. While we who dive at Rocky Bay are spared the dirty river water (there are no rivers flowing in the immediate area) the winds have managed to contribute to the cancellation of seven weekend dives during this period. Each Thursday morning the divers in our group receive a text message from our dive leader requesting a response confirming their participation on Saturday morning’s dive. Naturally the race is on to reply as soon as possible to ensure that your place on the boat is booked, limited boat space tends to lead to disappointment for the slow to reply. All too often lately this has been followed by another text message at around 06h30 on Saturday morning which declares “Dive cancelled. Want to know why? Look out of the window.” Disaster! No diving today. The feelings that these occurrences evoke are akin to a drug addict being denied access to his preferred chemical substance. Not receiving our weekly “fix” makes us edgy, grumpy and gives us too much time to ponder the ills of the world. Obviously Nitrox is good stuff because we are quite normal, relatively speaking, when we dive regularly. It was during one of these enforced breaks in our diving regimen that a few of the usual diving gang got together to support each other during this traumatic time, naturally over a tipple of one’s choice. While bemoaning the fact that the diving gods are currently getting a beating from the weather gods, the subject turned to a reflection on the dives we had done recently and to the state of the reefs off Rocky Bay. One theme stood out among all the others, the amount of fishing line, traces, lures and sinkers on the reefs. This topic is a very emotive one wherever divers and anglers share the same piece of ocean. Now I am the first to admit that I am completely ignorant about fishing. I do, however know the following: Rocky Bay is part of the “Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area” and as such is a controlled area in terms of our legislation. I also know that “bottom 29
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Dori Moreno
fishing” is prohibited on the reefs. And I know that the sinkers are intended to take the hooks to the reef. It is terrible to see the lengths of fishing line tangled around the coral, hooks still attached and waiting for some unsuspecting fool, me or one of my friends in this instance, to try and remove it and suffer the shame of being caught on one. In addition to this, the number of sinkers recovered from the reef on an average “Landers” dive is truly staggering. We certainly would not have to worry about underweighted divers here. There is plenty of lead to be found.
a diving permit in order to dive in any “Marine Protected Area.” I, like many others, have complied with the regulations and coughed up my money, albeit grudgingly , in order to obtain the necessary diving permit. I would surmise that the money paid by all would be used to attain the objectives of the Marine Protected Area being: protect the ecosystem and populations of threatened marine species on and around the Aliwal Shoal; to reduce user-conflicts over the use of the shoal; and promote eco-tourism within the protected area by providing a properly regulated environment.
As divers we are required to obtain, and pay for,
Well, I don’t think its working.
Jaws Propaganda Text and images by Lesley Rochat
30
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
In 1974 Peter Benchley wrote a novel that became a cult movie called JAWS. It portrayed sharks as bloodthirsty killing machines with an insatiable appetite for humans. The film gave rise to the intentional slaughter of many innocent animals; it branded sharks as man-eaters and instilled fear and loathing of them, a perception that continues to this day. Peter never envisaged the power of his imagination to impact so negatively on the way people think about sharks. Riveting images in the film changed the way we felt about using the sea - no longer could we enter the sea without being haunted by the fear of a black fin slicing through the water towards us.
And though there might be nothing more terrifying than the cry of ‘Shark’ when swimming in the ocean, if sharks could speak, they would all be shouting ‘People!’. Over 100 million sharks are being slaughtered annually by increased fishing pressures - populations are plummeting around the world. Already 110 species on the international Red List are threatened with extinction. For all their perceived menace, sharks are extremely fragile and in deep trouble. Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of the marine ecosystems and oceans raped of them will have severe repercussion on the millions of people that depend upon the oceans for food. Recent scientific reports project the collapse of all fisheries by the year 2050, and as fish stocks decline shark catches are on the increase.
Sharks are good indicators of the health of the oceans, but despite their importance in the marine food-chain, they remain a low conservation priority. Peter Benchley understood how serious the plight of sharks is. He had a very public change of heart before he died in 2006. He regretted demonising the shark and became an ardent marine and shark conservationist: “Today I could not, for instance, portray the shark as a villain, especially not as a mindless carnivore that attacks boats and humans with reckless abandon. No, the shark in an updated JAWS could not be the villain; it would have to be written as the victim. For 31
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
world-wide, sharks are much more the oppressed than the oppressors.” The negative impact we are having on our environment has been dominating world news. The future of the human race is looking bleak. The only fear we need to encourage now is fear of species loss and the implications thereof, and fear of the largely unknown repercussions of what human greed, abuse and neglect of our planet will cause, and already has. Whether it is too late still remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, we need to work together – our own survival hinges on it. We need improved public perception to win the battle - irresponsible TV and media portrayal of sharks perpetuates poor perceptions of them, which only add to their threat. Decision makers, whether they are in government, media companies, television or newspapers, have the power to help us save our planet’s
of water users, the actual number of shark bites is extremely low – only 1 person in the entire world was killed by a shark last year. There are many other ocean related dangers that pose far greater risks.
The biggest danger is the water itself – many more people drown every year while swimming in the sea than are bitten by sharks: The odds of ever being killed by a shark are a staggering 1 in 265 million, whereas the odds of drowning in the sea are 1 in 3.5 million. Informed decisions and responsible behaviour while using the sea will greatly lower any associated risk. If you decide to believe in the propaganda of films like JAWS, or sensational headlines whenever there is a shark encounter, remember they were created with two things in mind: to scare the living daylights out of you and make loads of money while doing it – sensationalism sells, no matter how far from the truth it is. There is only one truth - we have very little to fear from sharks, they have everything to fear from us. resources, or not. They can choose to continue accelerating the demise of these much maligned animals, which will ultimately result in our own downfall as everything in nature is connected; or they can help us save them so we might save ourselves.
Then to set the records straight: Although there are over 400 different species of sharks only 10% are considered dangerous; and sharks do not consider people natural prey. If they did people would be bitten and eaten daily – this simply does not happen. Though the number of shark bites has increased globally, this is largely attributed to human population growth and more water users spending increased amounts of time in the ocean. The reasons sharks bite people are mostly unknown, but possibly because of mistaken identity, curiosity, investigation and in few cases, aggression. Considering the daily number 32
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
“it is time to Rethink the Shark, and turn the mirror to Rethink the Predator!”
HOW DAN HELPS INJURED DIVERS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS: MOZAMBIQUE, TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR
D
uring the past two months there have been two emergencies in Mozambique requiring emergency evacuation. Both were complicated and we would like to use this opportunity to involve and empower our DAN members to work with DAN in the case of an emergency to ensure the fastest, most appropriate response. Medical Evacuation Information for Mozambique and Zanzibar Medical Evacuation is the process of transporting a person / persons suffering from a medical emergency or injury to a place of medical assessment and care or more advanced medical care. This may be achieved by using dedicated aeromedical evacuation, commercial airlines, watercraft or road transport. It may even include using the injured person’s own means of transportation depending on the circumstances. The ultimate objective is to move the person to the intended destination while ensuring necessary safety of the patient 33
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
(and others involved in the evacuation); providing the appropriate best care available; and achieving this within a time frame that will minimize the consequences of the injury or emergency. Medical decisions balance these complex factors in an effort to offer the best solution in a real world filled with many challenges including, weather conditions, terrain, loss of daylight, limited access, and – most importantly – reliable communication. As long as communication is maintained it is possible to consider alternatives, manage difficulties and offer advice – this should always be a first priority. Each emergency is unique. DAN cannot predict the most appropriate solution to every situation in advance. This is where experience and judgment comes into play and that is why DAN partners with experienced service providers – such as Netcare 911, and various others over the globe – to assist with these decisions. We also rely on the medical, logistic and environmental information provided by local dive operators who are on site. The following is intended as a guide to these decisions that may be made when • the nature of an emergency specifically requires aeromedical evacuation, and • there is insurance (e.g., cover related to DAN membership) that offers the service provider a guarantee of payment.
The most common reasons for delayed or aborted evacuation are • inadequate communication; • loss of daylight which disqualifies many airstrips for purposes of night time access; • lack of insurance; • poor reporting of information required to determine medical necessity for evacuation. Accordingly, every effort should be made to think of an evacuation as a partnership and every effort should be made to facilitate this.
Mozambique: Note that Ponto do Ouro and Nacala don’t have any customs available. Although it is possible to land a small aircraft at Ponto do Ouro you will have to clear customs in Maputo which will add to the flight time back to South Africa. Another option would be to drive to Manguzi Hospital and /or continue after stabilization to Hluhluwe from where the patient
This document provides current information on typical aeromedical considerations related to locations in Mozambique and Tanzania. Included you will find whether the airport has customs facilities. You will also find the operating times of the airports and typical response and flight times. Divers and visitors should realize that there is limited medical support in many areas where they enjoy adventure sports and exposure to the elements. Even though every effort is made to assist when accidents occur – tourists and visitors should never neglect their own responsibility to avoid injuries and have access to / or training in emergency first aid. Depending blindly on aeromedical evacuation is a poor substitute for preparedness, common sense and safe diving practices. Even under ideal conditions, some delay is to be expected. Dive operators and resorts must realize that they may need to provide assistance to an injured person for up to 24 hours before help is able to arrive. An injured person’s chances of recovery or survival are dramatically improved if proper first aid and oxygen administration can be provided. Persons or groups traveling to remote destinations should enquire what services and equipment are available at the various resorts and dive operations. When in doubt, be independent and take your own equipment and supplies. Importantly make sure that there is an emergency response plan in place and that the management and staff know what to do in an emergency. Don’t leave this to chance. To assist in identifying safe operations DAN Southern Africa has developed a Dive Safety Partner recognition programme that acknowledges operations with the necessary training, equipment and emergency preparedness. This programme will provide the diving public with visible information on the dive operator’s commitment to diving safety.
34
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
can be airlift evacuated. Helicopter evacuations are not always practical or possible, they have limited range and it is impossible to state before hand whether or not a helicopter can be used as the primary means of evacuation. Inhambane has custom officers on call that are not always available. When the officers are available, they are not always reliable and very difficult to contact. Although it is not impossible to arrange evacuation from the Inhambane airport it’s not possible to land an aircraft at night on the runway. It’s possible to pick up a patient at Inhambane airport without clearing customs but the pilot will have to stop at the airport in Maputo and clear customs before entering South Africa. Nacala has the same problems as Inhamane except there you will need military clearance which can cause extensive delays.
“The most important element in the event of an accident or emergency is to secure good communications” Tanzania & Zanzibar: It’s possible to evacuate a patient from Tanzania but there will be an extended flight time back to South Africa. Although the airports in Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar are in good condition you should always keep in mind that the rest of the country’s infrastructure is still developing. Therefore it might be possible to evacuate a patient but the challenges of getting a patient to the airport should also be considered. Special Considerations: Netcare 911 The Netcare 911 aircraft are fully equipped with all the necessary medical equipment and crew to handle most injured patients and stabilize them until they reach an appropriate medical facility. The most important element in the event of an accident or emergency is to secure good communications. It does not matter whether it is done by telephone, cell phone or radio. As long as the rescuer making the call can talk to a qualified medical person that can provide advice and coordinate the medical response effort the patient has a better chance of receiving timely care. The second most important element is gaining access to the patient. Therefore the rescuer making the call needs to provide the call centre with as much information about the patient and the location as possible. Divers Alert Network DAN has provided Netcare 911 and various Dive Operators in remote locations with a Neurological Assessment Slate that will help both the service provider and the rescuers to assist and assess the patient in the event of an emergency or accident. DAN offers a variety of first aid training courses that will aid dive operators in the event of an emergency or accident. To improve their emergency preparedness, DAN is providing detailed questionnaires relating to emergency response that can assist operators in preparing themselves to manage emergencies. For more information contact us on medical@dansa.org. This information will assist DAN and Netcare 911 in providing the best service in case of an emergency. Dive Operators Dive Operators are encouraged to make sure that all staff members are trained in first aid so that they may assist in the event of an emergency or accident. Where possible, operators should consider negotiating with the local government to upgrade airports so that rescue aircraft are able to land at night. There are many ways of upgrading an airstrip relatively inexpensively that will allow aircraft to land after sunset. DAN is willing to assist in this process, but depends on local initiative to do so.
Previous page: Lutherin church overloking the harbour in `Dar es Salaam
35
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
The Mozambique Sony/Palm Resort Spring Shootout compiled by AfricanDiver
In the previous issue of African Diver, we featured the annual Sodwana Shootout underwater photography competition. This issue we are excited to feature the inaugural Sony/Palm Resort Spring Shootout – another competition that looks set to become a feature in the annual dive calendar. The shootout competition is the brainchild of Colin Atkins who attributes his passion for the idea to a time dating back to April 2007 when he and his wife were diving with some Spanish photojournalists in the Inhambane area. The journalists thought the area and the diving the “best hidden secret” they had ever come across. They were particularly rapturous about diving Manta Reef, proclaiming it a “top 10 dive reef ” in their eyes. With this as motivation, Colin decided to set up a web site and organise a photo competition to gain exposure for the area, both locally and internationally. Colin set about his task with the objective of getting all the dive centres in the Inhambane area to participate in the same competition - even though they are up to 1 hour apart by road. The dive centres dive common sites, and all see Manta Reef as the premier dive site. The challenge of getting approximately 15 dive centres to work together, for common benefit, seemed an ideal opportunity to expose the area further, for its quality diving both to the South African market as well as to the European market. Inhambane is often seen as an expensive option compared with Sodwana and Ponta D’Oura and requires better exposure to educate divers to its rewards and variety of marine life. Mozambique is developing so quickly, and from such a low base, that the resorts and dive centres desperately need a coordinated approach to protect and conserve the reefs from abuse by fisherman and divers alike. The shootout was an ideal way to get the dive centres to learn to work together. Given this was the inaugural competition it proved to be very challenging, with communications between resorts being the main stumbling block. Email just doesn’t seem to work reliably in Mozambique yet! Nonetheless 6 dive centres covering Barra, Tofu and Guinjata Bay, participated, and 42 entrants participated from these centres. From these participants 113 submissions were entered for judging which was 36
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
encouraging as adverse weather conditions forced at least two dive centres to close during the week of the competition. Unfortunately, the weather limited participants and dive time because conditions were windy and visibility limited. The majority of participants used compact digital cameras with SONY and Fuji the dominant brands being used. There were a few participants using digital SLR’s (wide angle and macro) however, and there were 3 video entries. Participants could enter and dive at any “qualifying dive centre” in the Inhambane area. To qualify the dive centre had to subscribe to the rules and donate a prize. This meant a participant staying in Barra could dive there while another staying at Palm Resort, Guinjata Bay, could dive there. This made for some very challenging logistical problems, especially the collecting of entries after closing time. But with the assistance of Sanque Bom in Tofu and much travel of the conveners, no significant hiccups occurred as a result of the distance factor. Participants entered online or at dive centre of their choice in the Inhambane area. Registration and collection of the rules was at any qualifying dive centre. The competition ran over 6 days to facilitate relaxed holiday style shooting (3 were impossible due to weather). On 17h00 on 27 September entries were submitted according to one of the 12 categories on offer (4 compact digital, 4 SLR, 2 video, 1 novice and 1 conservation). 2 entries plus 1 conservation entry were allowed per participant with additional entries permitted, provided a fee was paid for this. All entries were collated at Jeff ’s Palm Resort where the judges were set up to view and judge entries on a salon style basis, one category at a time. An overall winner was chosen across all categories and the prize for this was a R25,000 SONY Viao Laptop. The official opening and final prize giving and display of winners’ entries were done at Jeff ’s Palm Resort. With submissions in all 12 categories, including a few really interesting video entries, the quality of submissions across the board would suggest that the objectives for the first competition were met. The single biggest success factor was the scoop in getting SONY on board as the main sponsor. SONY’s decision to become involved with the competition coincided with SONY’s relaunch of its compact digital underwater range. This proved particularly successful as most participants were in this league. A representative from SONY (Michael Gibson) acted as a judge in the Shootout and proclaimed the quality of shots a resounding success. Michael even took a presentation of the images back to Japan. 37
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
38
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
SONY donated prizes as well as loaned cameras and equipment that helped add a professional touch - so difficult to achieve in an underdeveloped country such a Mozambique. Regardless of the number of participating dive centres, the seed has been planted for the future and success was achieved. Sanque Bom, a photographic centre in Tofo, producing some really high quality work, has offered to co-organise future events. It is likely that the competition will move to October next year in order to take advantage of better weather conditions.
Report by Fiona Ayerst, who judged in the competition.
The judges for this competition were: Fiona Ayerst (Professional), Chris Scarfe (Sanque Bom, Tofo Photo Centre), Michael Gibson (SONY) and the conveners were Sabrina Moolman (Submerge) and Colin Atkins, who prepared entries for judging.
39
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
I was excited to be invited to judge the inaugural Sony/Palm resort Spring Shootout. Having been to this area on numerous occasions in the past six years I know it intimately and the thought of relaxing next to the Palm resort pool whilst others ran around madly capturing images was seductive, to say the least. The conditions were not too favourable (a little windy and surgey) and so contestants had to really think
hard to get suitable shots worth entering. Luckily some of the contestants had a five-day period to do this but many of them only had two or even three days. The rules used were very similar to the Sodwana Shootout, the main difference being that shots were also welcomed from Tofu and other resorts within the general Inhambane area as long as they were taken over the allowed time period. I was very impressed with the fact that I saw no contestants anywhere near the reef and everyone thought about their environmental impact should they get too close, especially important is such a surge. The area for shooting was wide and the reefs in that area are incredibly rich, yielding up all kinds of treasures for the aspiring photographers. Many of you know Manta reef, a dive spot which never fails to inspire and invigorate with its myriad of reef life. There were incredible photos to be taken here and many were. Despite surge and bad visibility, many photographers captured a couple of Manta ray pictures. Martin Prest was awarded a prize (one of a couple of prizes he scooped up!) for a beautiful tranquil shot of one of these magnificent creatures. This reef also has a surprising array of small critters and in fact the fabulous and fiery Dragon Eel shot by Tibea Hamman, which captured the overall fist place, was shot on this reef. My fellow judges were Michael Gibson of Sony; the official sponsors of the event, and Chris Scarffe a well-known and respected videographer from Sanque Bom in Tofu. Luckily we had approximately the same taste in photos and so not too many harsh words passed between us and the judging went surprisingly smoothly. It was important to get the judging finished in as little a time as possible as the electricity supply to this area is temperamental to say the least. The judges were all very impressed with the high standards set in this first Shootout. The novices deserve a special mention as their imagery was outstanding and all the judges and even their fellow contestants remarked on this. The compact digital cameras they used produced images that it was hard to imagine came from such a small camera! Amongst the novices, Hannelie van der Merwe came out tops with a shot of a difficult subject the crocodile fish. Dylan Kotze, who was skilled enough to take photos of Harlequin Shrimps so that we could actually see what they were, took the compact digital Macro. This is not an easy task as usually these little shrimps look like pieces of flotsam. Dylan’s shot was lovely and crisp. Rene Schutte used some good lighting to brighten up some Nudibranches and secure her 40
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
spot as winner of the compact macro. Rene Schutte won the conservation prize for an interesting and thought provoking shot “save some for me”, depicted here. Colwin Seltzkorn from Scubaversity took a lovely manta shot which I found to be very unusual and interesting. I think that to take this type of photo with a compact camera takes much planning and skill. All the shots that were awarded prizes on the nightrepresented just this - the photographers had really thought about the shots they wanted to capture and gone out and captured them correctly! Eels and Manta Rays were well represented in the prize giving this year. Jean Marx won the Open Macro prize with a lovely eel portrait.
The video category only had three entries and so the convenor combined the submissions into one category although we were asked to judge them according to the category they were submitted into. Dylan Kotze from Mozambique was a worthy recipient and awarded a superb prize package donated by Guinjata Bay. In total forty-two people entered the competition and this was a good number. The judges were hard pushed with one hundred and thirteen great images to choose from. The judging took a little longer than expected as the judges were amazed at the high calibre of the images and would often sit and mull over a glorious image for longer than expected. The prizes were incredible and well spread out over the contestants. To ensure the areas Shootout grows Colin has already started to set up a committee including other lodges and schools in the area and you can expect the October 2009 Shootout to be bigger and better but hopefully just as much fun. Sometimes things can get serious at a Shootout but being in one of the top dive sites in the world certainly helps to keep people happy and relaxed. The Rum and Raspberry drinks that we quaffed liberally did quite a good job of that too Thanks to Colin and his team for initiating this important Shootout and for hosting the first competition. Thanks must also go to Sony for placing their trust in the event and Underwater Photography and I sincerely hope they found it worthwhile and continue to support the growth of this sport in Southern Africa. May the Sony/Palm resort Shootout go from strength to strength and hope to see many of you there in October 2009.
41
AfricanDiver.com
Dec/Jan 09
Contributors Lesley Rochat
Gary Clamp
Lesley is the Founder of the AfriOceans Conservation Alliance (AOCA), and the Manager and Director of Education & Awareness for the Save Our Seas Shark Centre. Lesley has recently won awards for her conservation efforts: the Rethink the Shark campaign, designed by Saatchi & Saatchi, has won a prestigious Panda Award at the Wildscreen Film Festival 2008 for Best Campaign Ad, while the documentary Sharks in Deep Trouble, produced by Lesley Rochat, won a Conservation Message Award from the Montana CINE International Film Festival 2008. To find out more visit www.aoca.org.za or www. saveourseas.com. Simon Brown
Gary “retired” to KwaZulu Natal in 2007 to live the peaceful life. An accountant during the week, his work supports his passion for anything to do with diving and just being close to the sea.
Jean Marx
Gary is a PADI MSTD instructor who no longer teaches, preferring to hang out with a bunch of “old-timer” divers who dive together in the full knowledge that they don’t have to worry about each other. Every Saturday morning, weather permitting, you will find Gary diving and hanging with the Rocky Bay Ballies (slang for old men) at Rocky Bay.
Simon first picked up an underwater camera in 2002, and his first feature was published 12 months later. Simon now supplies 15 dive magazines throughout the world with both single images and features, and to date his work has been translated into 7 languages. In addition to the dive press, Simon’s topside work includes motorcycle touring and adventure features.
Mike Markovina
Working closely with commissioning editors, Simon will develop a story from idea to finished article, with words and images supplied. Simon lives in Hampshire, England with his wife and two daughters.
The core members of the Moving Sushi expedition are, the expedition leader Michael Markovina and expedition photographer and filming coordinator Linda Schonknecht.
42
AfricanDiver.com
Both Michael and Linda are graduates of Rhodes University. Michael Markovina has a Master’s degree in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, while Linda Schonknecht obtained a bachelor of journalism and media studies. Both Michael and Linda spent considerable time in Gabon, Central Africa where they worked for WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). Michael was in charge of marine-going expeditions and fisheries compliance, and Linda, photography.
A frequent contributor based in Cape Town. Jean is addicted to all water sports of which diving and underwater photography are both passions of his. Jean who is an experienced technical diver has recently compled his free diving course with Trevor Hutton. Trevor Hutton and Sarah T Carter
Dec/Jan 09
diving industry.
Trevor is a passionate freediver with a long and successful career in competitive freediving. Sarah is equally passionate about freediving and too boasts a long career in the
Together they live, sleep, eat and breathe diving and freediving. Trevor and Sarah can be contacted on freedivfing@trevorhutton.co.za or visit their website www.trevorhutton.co.za or phone Trevor: 082 33 44 841 Sarah: 082 88 11 660 Fiona Ayerst Fiona is a freelance adventure sport and underwater stills photographer and journalist who has a special interest in sharks. Fiona turned professional in April 2006 after having been practising as an Attorney for twelve years-and she has not looked back since. She travels the world extensively and writes about adventure travel and conservation for various local and international publications. Fiona also teaches underwater photography running specialist workshops for digital photographers in the Red Sea, Egypt as well as on various locations around the East Coast of Africa.
Divers Alert Network (DAN), a non-profit organization, exists to provide expert information and advice consistent with the current medical literature for the benefit of the diving public. DAN´s historical and primary function is to provide emergency medical advice and assistance for underwater diving accidents, to work to prevent accidents, and to promote diving safety. DAN promotes and supports underwater diving research and education, particularly relating to the improvement of diving safety, first aid, and medical treatment. DAN strives to provide accurate, up-todate, and unbiased information on issues of common concern to the diving public and to advocate for diver´s concerns, primarily, but not exclusively for diving safety. Tel: 0860 242 242 International:+27 11 312 0512 Fax: 0861 FAX DAN (0861 329 326) International Fax: +27 11 312 0054