Thank you to our client Philipp Oppermann for sharing these stunning images captured from sardine run 2018.

A day in the life of our winter months and the annual South African sardine run.

Come and join us during our winter months and experience the great sardine migration .

Contact us https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/ and join us for an experience of a lifetime

The post Adventure dive travel appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

Part 5 in our series………..There is always so much to share and which images & videos to choose from takes a long time.

Book your sardine run ocean safari experience of a lifetime here https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/

The post Sardine run stories appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

sardine run stories in images

is a reflection of the sardine run, with few words, but images that capture what words cannot fully express.

When it comes to sardine run and the winter months along our coastline, words can never express what is felt by anyone with these incredibly special encounters that come in all forms.

Images say it better………………..

We hope you enjoy part 2 in the series of sardine run 2018 stories in images.

If you would like to join us for the 2019 season, booking are open and dates are set https://offshoreportstjohns.com/2019-sardine-run-rates/

Book with us now!! https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/

The post Sardine run stories in images appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

2018 sardine run stories in images is simply an image story of our phenomenal 2018 season in all aspects.

There is no story required here………simply sit back and enjoy our series of sardine run 2018 in images.

Join us for an experience of a lifetime in 2019 sardine run https://offshoreportstjohns.com/2019-sardine-run-rates/

Book with us https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/ for your 2019 sardine run ocean safari experience

The post Sardine run stories in images appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

on day 13 sardine run 2018 with a highly curious, interactive and playful humpback whale, which spent 2 hours with all those on board Offshore 1 vessel, playing, spy hopping, swimming in for closer looks. The most incredible and curious behaviour and a definite once in a lifetime experience for all in the water.

The annual sardine run is not just about sardines, it is about all of these special encounters that take place over the same time.  It is about all the marine life that is in the same place, same time.  It is simply the best marine/ocean seafari for all marine enthusiasts.

If you would like to join us for an experience of a lifetime, https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/

The post Once in a lifetime experience appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

Sardine run 2018 is in full swing with us here in Port St John’s.

Special thanks to John Costello for capturing this magnificent pod of common dolphins charging off to something that only they know, but of course we follow because not only is this massive pod a sight to behold, but they are heading off to intercept food in the form of sardines………..

We are in Day 8 of our season and although certain dates are fully booked, others still have spaces if you would like to join us for an experience of a lifetime.

Get in touch https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/ if you are interested in spending time with an abundance of marine life, in the same place and at the same time.

The post Sardine run common dolphins appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

As promised, here is another part in our series of ocean sightings along our coastline.

The famous Bryde’s whale.

The Bryde’s whale is, simply put, a superb predator with a rather comical name given to it during the annual sardine run.  That being “the stealth mode” whale.

There are many stories at the end of a busy and action packed sardine run ocean day, where the Bryde’s whale has paid divers/snorkelers a visit and the story will start off with something along the lines of … “this Bryde’s whale just appeared out of nowhere”, or “I narrowly missed being swallowed as I saw this large mouth swallow the entire ball of sardines”, or “I saw this shadow appear and it became a whale, in stealth mode, just swallowing all the sardines”, or “I was literally shoved out of the way by this shadow that appeared out of nowhere and mouth open, swallowed all the sardines” and so the stories will go over a few drinks in the evening.

Some interesting facts about the Bryde’s whale:-

• It is a small to medium-sized baleen whale
• There are 2 forms of Bryde’s whales in the South African sub region. An inshore, smaller and an offshore, migratory, larger
• Recent research suggests that the inshore population is probably less than 1000 animals
• The offshore Bryde’s whale is different to the inshore Bryde’s whale by the presence of oval scars all over the body, caused by the cookie cutter shark.
• Bryde’s whales have 3 longitudinal ridges on the upper surface of the top jaw that distinguish it from other similar looking species.
• The upper surfaces of the body and head and the outer surface of the flipper are bluish black, becoming paler on the sides of the body towards a whitish belly.
• The Bryde’s whale gets its’ name from John Bryde, an entrepreneur and businessman from the Norwegians who was responsible for setting up whaling ports designed to capture whales and sell their oil, blubber and other parts for money during the whaling era
• In terms of size, Bryde’s whale males tend to be slightly smaller than their females i.e. 15m (female) and 14.5m (male). The inshore Bryde’s whale is smaller at 14m (female) and 13m (males). Weight is max 20 tons although the inshore Bryde’s whale weight is likely to be around 15 tons.
• They have slender bodies, narrow pectoral fins and the ventral throat grooves extend as far as the navel.
• While searching for food these whales can dive underwater for up to 20 minutes before resurfacing for air
• Being part of the baleen whale suborder, Bryde’s whales do not possess teeth but are equipped with baleen plates that have bristles attached to them to allow the whale to filter prey from the water

WHAT DO THEY EAT you may ask?

The two populations off South Africa appear to have different diets.  The offshore population feeds on both krill and offshore fish and the inshore population feeds on small pelagic shoaling fish such as anchovies, sardine and massbankers.  Unlike other members of this group, the inshore population of Bryde’s whale is found close to the coast and feeds in relatively shallow water, often in association with other species such as common dolphins, cape gannets and Cape fur seals. They are often found in areas that have abundant supplies of fish and other prey.  They capture their food by looking for large shoals or gatherings of potential prey and then swim through them and engulf whatever is available.  Talk about being one to upset a party???? Just when you are watching the most amazing bait ball of sardines and the camera is out and ready to film, the Bryde’s whale has been known to blast in from nowhere and gobble the entire shoal right in front of disbelieving eyes!!!

They have also been spotted hunting and stealing prey that other marine animals have worked hard to herd together and obtain.

WHERE DO THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME AND WHERE DO THEY GO TO?

The inshore Bryde’s whale is resident over the Agulhas Banks and is commonly encountered in bays along the south-east coast, especially in the autumn months.  Its distribution seems to be concentrated between East London on the east coast and False Bay in the west, with only occasional sightings beyond this range.

The offshore Bryde’s whale occurs along the west coast of Southern Africa in waters beyond the continental shelf i.e. 400m depth contour.  The SE Atlantic population is thought to move as far north as Gabon and then south to about 40 deg S.

HOW DO THEY COMMUNICATE & HOW SOCIAL ARE THEY?

They are often found travelling either alone or in smaller groups of between 2-4 whales.

They are largely solitary but can be found in smaller groups during feeding and mating periods but there is no evidence of an organized social structure.

Unlike other species of baleen whales, Bryde’s whales tend to move in irregular patterns both surfacing and changing direction for no particular reason, making their patterns unpredictable and unusual. They do not appear to dive to any great depth.

Little is known about how they communicate but it IS known that, like other species within the baleen family, Bryde’s whales communicate using low-frequency sounds which often resemble the sound of someone moaning. In some cases the sounds may come in short bursts which last less than half a second, while others are longer and more drawn out. Many people ask what the meaning is of their communication calls.  While some facts are unknown, their calls are most likely used to communicate desire to mate, to alert others of nearby danger, to find other members of a group or pod or to let others know of nearby food among other survival based communication.

WHAT IS THEIR LIFESPAN & REPRODUCTION

The average gestation period for the Bryde’s whale is approximately 11-12 months.

The South African inshore Bryde’s whale is polyestrous (has more than one period of estrus per year and calves have been recorded throughout the year in coastal waters.  The offshore Bryde’s whale has an extended breeding season i.e. not clearly defined like in migratory baleen whales such as humpback & southern right whales), that spans the austral spring and summer.

When first born, they measure an average of 3-4 metres in length. After birth, the female will nurse her calf for 6-12 months or until the newborn is able to hunt and survive on its own.

Sexual maturity for the Bryde’s whale is between 7-14 years, at which point they reach their matured size and may begin mating and bearing offspring of their own.

There is not enough information about their lifespan.

WHAT ARE THEIR THREATS?

This species has not been hunted as intensively as the other baleen whales, but as the populations appear to be localized, the effect of relatively small catches on each population may be considerable. In past years these whales were caught off West Africa, Brazil, South Africa, particularly on the west coast and in Japanese waters and around the Bonin Islands.  Small numbers have also been taken off West Australia and around New Zealand and Japanese catches resumed in the North Pacific in 2000 under “scientific permit” for up to 50 whales per annum.

VIEWING BRYDE’S WHALES

The inshore Bryde’s whales can be viewed year round along the South African coastline, with the highest encounter rate reported from the coast east coast in the autumn months.  They are commonly encountered during the Sardine Run.  The offshore Bryde’s whales can be viewed in offshore waters of the west coast of South Africa in summer.

IUCN STATUS

Offshore Bryde’s whales – insufficient data

Inshore Bryde’s whales – vulnerable

Get in touch with us https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/

Special thanks to Seafari marine mammal tracking Bryde’s whale sightings for the extra information on these spectacular whales.

The post Bryde’s whale sightings appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

Take a look at this little taster video clip to get a small glimpse of what we do and what goes on during June/July months.

In a nutshell, the months’ of June/July, possibly as early as late May and into August, are special months along our coastline. Not only is it a special time for the famous little silver fish known as sardines, which come in different varieties and with the accompanying predators, but also for the annual humpback whale migration. It is all about the abundance and variety of marine life being in the same place and at the same time.

From as early as late May, we start to see the arrival of the humpback whales on their upward northerly direction to the warmer waters of Mozambique & Tanzania.  From September until November, early December, we sight the whales on their homeward southerly direction migration.

Our coastline offers spectacular and dramatic scenery together with an area rich in history and culture with its’ people and this, coupled with all the marine action and the excitement and anticipation of visitors, makes this time of the year our absolute favorite.

Some days are more exhilarating than others with our surf launches linked to the winter cold fronts that pass by our area and affect our surf conditions.

Highly experienced skippers and in-water dive guides tackle whatever Nature has on offer for the day and all in all, not knowing what will happen hour to hour, never mind day to day, is what makes this incredible marine event even more of a thrill and experience.

If you are a nature lover, an ocean enthusiast, a topside or underwater photographer, this is for YOU!!

It is, by far, the experience of a lifetime!

If you are keen to experience this incredible event on the marine calendar, get in touch with us for more information and availability

The post Sardine run along our coastline appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

The annual Sardine Run off the Wild Coast of South Africa is like nothing on earth!

Whales, dolphins, sharks, seals, gannets…are just a few of the usual suspects that pitch up for the easy pickings. And the sardines just keep coming. Being herded and feasted upon mercilessly.

Rob and Debbie, the team who run Offshore Africa, https://offshoreportstjohns.com have been taking eager guests out to see the action right up close, for over a decade. They are the only local operators in Port St. Johns, the gateway to the sardine run and they operate from the nicest place. Right on the river. Boats moored out front ready to go!

On the most recent Sardine Run, in 2017, Rob and team got a few more camera angles for us to enjoy. And put together this cool and quick “Sardine Run day out” compilation.

The Sardine Run Experience with Rob and Debbie and the Offshore Africa Port St. Johns team…

• flexible accommodation & time frame options
• safe boats and highly experienced skippers and crew
• local knowledge
• perfectly maintained equipment
• beautiful location
• a highly personal & flexible offering
• A combined experience in the industry in excess of 30 years

And to really top it all off, you are in Port St. Johns. One of the most picturesque and interesting little towns in all of Africa. It’s history is as colourful as the surroundings. Set at the mouth of the mighty Umzimvubu River, at the base of a huge gorge, this town is full of stories!

There are many things to do in between outings to sea. Hikes and tours. Amazing views from up at the airstrip and all over. Coastal drives. Nature reserves. River cruises.

The team at Offshore Africa can help you arrange any of these fun things to do in and around Port St. Johns. And anything else you might need on your trips out to sea and back with them.

Trips are tailor made to suit you, your time and your budget.

You can learn all about the Sardine Run with Offshore Africa, by clicking here. This is a nicely detailed document that should answer all your questions.

Bookings have been opened up for the 2018 Sardine Run, so get in touch!

Click on over to our Contact page here.

Catch up with us on Facebook by clicking here.

We are on YouTube here.

Post prepped by…

The post Video: a Sardine Run day out appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.

Sardine run featuring our Cape Gannets is the first part in a series about the Sardine Run with information and images that we are sharing with you.

Not only is it knowledge that is being gained, it also assists in understanding how vital the sardine run period is for many of our ocean inhabitants.

Sardine run featuring our Cape Gannets

The Cape Gannet seabird is undeniably another major predator on the annual sardine run https://offshoreportstjohns.com/product/the-sardine-run-6-nights-5-days/ and one of our absolutely favourite in water and underwater encounters.

During the annual sardine run ocean safari, so many people focus on the common dolphins and, at times, the excitement of witnessing the super pods of common dolphins. We are in awe as to the different species of sharks and of course the ever famous silver fish aka sardines, in various species. But not everyone realizes just how incredible the Cape Gannet bird is in the greater scheme of the hunt. Not everyone understands just how hugely skilled and talented these birds really are…….

To explain………..The Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) is a large seabird of the gannet family.

They are easily identified by their large size, black & white plumage and distinctive yellow crown and hind neck.  Never mind their beautiful blue eyes too.  The pale blue bill is pointed with fine serrations near the tip, perhaps because of the depth and speed of the gannets’ dive when fishing.  Gannets hit the water at speeds of between 40kmph & 120kmph.  Its’ beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced.  Facial air sacs under their skin cushion the impact with the water.

They are easy to identify.  At closer range, the very distinct golden crown and nape of the neck area, dark bill makes identification easy.  Juveniles and the immature birds are dark brown with a pale bill.

Cape Gannet pairs may remain together over several seasons.  They perform elaborate greeting rituals at the nest, stretching their bills and necks skywards and gently tapping bills together.

Cape Gannets begin breeding in August/September.  Both parents are actively involved in the incubation phase which lasts 42-46 days until hatching.  They use their foot webs to incubate the egg.  The foot webs, which are richly irrigated with blood vessels, are wrapped around the egg.

The hatchling is black, naked & blind, weighing only about 70g.  But within 3 weeks its body mass is one third of that of an adult.  At 8 weeks the chick outweighs the adult and this remains until it becomes a fledgling at between 95-105 days of age.

These birds are not only powerful flyers but incredible plunge divers too.  They are able to plunge dive from a considerable height and are capable of diving to 20m in depth.  In watching these birds, we often find that the higher up they plunge dive from, the deeper the food source is.  The closer to the water surface they plunge dive from, the closer to the surface the food source is.

Their breeding range is restricted to Southern Africa in islands off Namibia and South Africa.  They normally nest in large and dense colonies on flat islands or on flat ledges of the steeply sloping Mercury Island off Namibia.  The largest colony of Cape Gannets, with over 140 000 birds, is found on Malgas Island (Langebaan) South Africa.  We also have a large colony on Bird Island (Lamberts Bay) South Africa.

In all respects, the Cape Gannet is a highly skilled acrobatic hunter and is incredible to witness underwater.  Not only does it sound like a gun fire when it plunges at speed into the water, it is almost comical looking once underwater, having lost its beautiful colourful appearance and the beautiful blue eyes are almost dark in colour when underwater. Flapping its wings to chase after fish, first 1 and then another and capable of ingesting more than 1 sardine on 1 dive before popping back to the surface, makes this bird incredibly unique in many ways.

Aside from all these acrobatic and hunting techniques, they are not scared to be part of the madness on a bait ball or fast moving action, where sharks, dolphins and sardines chase at high speed to grab their meal.  They are in on the action and play their vital role amidst all of the chaos.

So take a closer look at these birds with a renewed bit of knowledge about them and their fascinating capabilities.  They are comical to watch and yet highly skilled hunters in their own right and certainly not afraid to be part of all the chaos that takes place in the water.

The post Sardine run featuring our Cape Gannets appeared first on Offshore Africa Port St. Johns.