Day 1
You will be met at Durban International Airport by your guide and transferred by air-conditioned vehicle to Port St Johns, a scenic 4-hour drive through the Transkei. You will be checked in, followed by an afternoon at leisure before dinner and an evening briefing by an expert in the field, including a question and answer session.

Day 2 to 5
Fortifying breakfast followed by a day of extreme adventure on inflatable rubber ducks, guided by our dedicated spotter plane, experiencing the worlds greatest marine event. Subject to conditions, the rubber ducks will return to base between early and mid-afternoon. You will have the option of taking part in any of the additional activities, which our staff will organise on your behalf. If preferred, just kick back and discuss the day's activities and sightings in the bar or at the pool or take a walk along one of the beautiful and unspoilt beaches and reflect quietly on what will undoubtedly be a new highlight in even the most experienced dive career.

Day 6
Enjoy your last breakfast in the breathtaking beauty of Port St Johns and take those last pictures before packing up and departing for your return journey, filled with the wonderful memories of this unique experience and eager to share your stories and photographs - guaranteed to enthral all those back home.

Day 7
Arrive back home.

Our focus is on ensuring the Sardine Run is the ultimate marine experience in ocean enthusiast's book.Uncompromising on safety, education and fun. Our skippers and dive masters have many years experience on South Africa's oceans and our guest lecturers will enthral you with their knowledge of the oceans greatest marine event. Your base at Port St Johns, on the Wild Coast of Transkei, is simply breathtaking in it's natural beauty and accommodation is among the best Port St Johns has to offer.

The sardine run occurs once each year during the Southern hemispheres winter months of June and July where a band of colder water, below 20°C, forms between the coastline and the warm Agulhas current of the Indian Ocean.
 
As with any natural event, it is natures clock that determines the play of events and the quantity of sardines varies over this two-month period. However, one can take comfort from the fact that the predators will be waiting for the arrival of the sardines and the interaction with sharks, dolphins, game fish, seals and the sea birds is likely to occur throughout the entire two-month period.
 
Boats will launch each morning at around 07h30, through the Umzimvubu River mouth and on through the surf to the open ocean. On our launch our skipper will be in radio contact with our spotter plane, which will have been out scouting since 07h00. There will be no delay as we are immediately guided to the action.

The sardines are continually in motion and we will be mobile for most of the day being guided by our spotter plane and the experience of our skipper and dive master. Once we strike action the dive master will determine whether snorkeling or scuba diving is appropriate in the circumstances. As we will be in deep water for most of the time, there will be little, if any, bottom diving, with most dives being mid to shallow big blue dives. The duration of the time spent in the water varies as the action can disappear as quickly as it starts so there is a lot of jumping in and out of the water following the shoal or predators as they move.

The sardines follow a cold band of water trapped between the warm Indian Ocean current and the East Coast of South Africa. Dive's are thus in relatively cold water, for this area of coastline, with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 20°C. Appropriate cold-water dive equipment such as thick wetsuits, gloves, hoods and chicken vests may thus be required.

DIVE BOAT AND EQUIPMENT

Semi-inflatable rubber ducks (RIB's, Zodiac's) are used. The rubber ducks are generally licensed to carry 14 people, 11 of which may be divers. Due to the time spent on board and space requirements necessitated by diving, camera equipment and peripheral requirements, we limit each rubber duck to 12 people. This includes the skipper and SA Scuba supplied dive master, boats are thus restricted to a maximum of 10 guests.

Each rubber duck is licensed with the South African Department of Transport and has a qualified and experienced skipper and dive master on board. There is oxygen, a DAN First Aid Kit and ship to shore radio communication on board. The rubber ducks are skippered by one of South Africa's premier dive concessions with an impeccable safety record.

Cylinders, air fills, weight belts and weights are supplied, where required, as part of the package cost. All additional equipment associated with scuba diving, except for dive computers, is available for hire. We do request that you specifically stipulate any equipment you may require upon application (including sizes).

QUALIFICATION
Bookings are restricted for the Sardine Run to divers qualified as advanced, or equivalent, and above, or confident open water divers with a minimum of 20 logged sea dives. All applicants are required to provide proof of qualification and / or logbooks where required. The activity of the Sardine Run is strenuous and requires sound diving skills, good buoyancy combined with an understanding of, and respect for the sea. It is therefore only recommended for divers in good health and with the above-mentioned experience and qualification.
The emphasis of the trip is on the surface and near surface activity with dolphins, sharks, game fish, seals, whales and birds providing the main drawcards. The diving comprises big blue diving without view of the seabed or reefs, frenetic activity, multiple descents and ascents and all-day boat trips. Fit, confident divers will most enjoy the experience.
 

 The Transkei coast is a place of majestic beauty and unspoilt surrounds. But more importantly for us, it is the first coastal sighting ground of the Sardine Run and allows access to the sardines whilst they are still some way off the coast. It is here, in the clear deeper water, that they are herded by the common dolphins, the architects of the bait-ball formations so prized by photographers and the most spectacular sight of the Sardine Run.
Port St Johns, more so than any other area along the Transkei coast, offers all amenities required to make your stay comfortable, while providing a beautiful retreat from city bustle. The tranquil settings of Port St Johns and the Umzimvubu River provide ease of launch and the ability to take in river trips, game park drives or laid back sun-tanning afternoons on any of the three idyllic beaches. SA Scuba has secured premier accommodation in Port St Johns, in close proximity to the launch site, on the banks of the majestic Umzimvubu River. We have made every effort to keep all potential logistical difficulties and administration to an absolute minimum.
Being in the rustic town of Port St Johns accommodation is not in commercialised high-rise hotels, but is certainly comfortable and the unspoilt natural surrounds of Port St Johns are nothing short of breathtaking. The comforts essential to the drained and weary diver are on hand in the form of warm and comfortable beds to ensure a good nights rest, clean ablution facilitates and hot showers.

MEALS

The Sardine Run is a mind-blowing experience and the adrenalin pumps all day. Large appetites inevitably develop and all meals are thus provided. Before heading out each morning to follow the Sardine Run and the predators that prey on them, a full English or continental breakfast is provided. Packed lunches are taken out on the boats. A 3-course dinner is served in the evening over which the days stories are swapped and the air remains thick with excitement.

We do cater for vegetarians, and request that you stipulate your dietary preferences upon application.