Sodwana Bay: Difference between revisions
Pbsouthwood (talk | contribs) |
Fix zoom level |
||
(28 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ |
{{Short description|Bay of the Indian Ocean on the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa}} |
||
{{Use South African English|date = May 2023}} |
|||
{{Infobox body of water |
{{Infobox body of water |
||
| name= Sodwana Bay |
| name = Sodwana Bay |
||
| native_name = Sodwanabaai |
| native_name = {{native name|af|Sodwanabaai}} |
||
⚫ | |||
|native_name_lang= |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in South Africa |
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in South Africa |
||
| coords= {{coord|27|32|S|32|41|E|type:waterbody_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}} |
| coords = {{coord|27|32|S|32|41|E|type:waterbody_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}} |
||
| rivers= |
| rivers = |
||
| oceans=[[Indian Ocean]] |
| oceans = [[Indian Ocean]] |
||
| countries= [[South Africa]] |
| countries = [[South Africa]] |
||
| length = |
| length = |
||
| width = |
| width = |
||
| area= |
| area = |
||
| frozen= |
| frozen = |
||
| islands= |
| islands = |
||
| cities= |
| cities = |
||
| embedded = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=point|zoom=9}} |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Sodwana Bay''' is a [[bay]] in [[South Africa]] on the [[KwaZulu Natal]] north coast, between [[Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park|St. Lucia]] and [[Lake Sibhayi]]. It is in the Sodwana Bay National Park, and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, and is a popular [[recreational diving]] destination. The term is commonly used to refer to both the marine reserve and the terrestrial park, as well as the geographical bay. |
'''Sodwana Bay''' is a [[bay]] in [[South Africa]] on the [[KwaZulu Natal]] north coast, between [[Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park|St. Lucia]] and [[Lake Sibhayi]]. It is in the Sodwana Bay National Park, and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, and is a popular [[recreational diving]] destination. The term is commonly used to refer to both the marine reserve and the terrestrial park, as well as the geographical bay. |
||
[[Sodwana Bay National Park]] is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the east coast. Proclaimed a national park in the 1950s, it is frequented by anglers and divers.<ref |
[[Sodwana Bay National Park]] is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the east coast. Proclaimed a national park in the 1950s, it is frequented by anglers and divers.<ref name="Nature reserve" /> Sodwana is situated in the [[Maputaland Marine Protected Area]] and is the only recreational scuba diving area along the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park (now renamed to iSimangaliso{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}) coastline. Classified as one of the top dive sites in the world,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top dive sites in the World {{!}} PADI|url=https://travel.padi.com/dive-sites/world/?ordering=-rating,-number_reviews|access-date=2021-04-30|website=PADI Travel|language=en}}</ref> the park is visited by some 35 000 scuba divers per year. The bay is near the southern end of the tropical western [[Indo-Pacific]] [[marine ecoregion]], and [[Coral reef|reef-building corals]] are present. The {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} reef complex is the habitat of a wide diversity of resident and migratory species. Several submarine canyons cut into the edge of the continental shelf, which is very close to the shoreline. It was in one of these that on 27 November 2000 that a resident population of [[coelacanth]]s was discovered. |
||
[[Sailfish]], [[king mackerel]], [[King mackerel|kingfish]] and other pelagic species of game fish migrate south down the east coast of Africa and since the activities of [[Piracy|sea pirates]] off the coast of north east Africa healthy populations of pelagic game fish again reach all the way south off the coast of South Africa which has re-established Sodwana as a sport fishing destination for pelagic species.{{cn|date=May 2018}} The marine protected area is known for endangered marine [[megafauna]] including [[whale shark]]s, [[great white shark]]s, [[Bull shark|zambezi sharks]], [[hammerhead shark]]s, [[blacktip shark]]s, [[manta rays]], [[orange-spotted grouper]]s, [[potato cod]], critically endangered [[leatherback turtle]]s,<ref name=Sibonya /> [[loggerhead sea turtle]]s, and [[coelacanth]]s.<ref name="Venter et al 1992" /> The discovery of Coelacanths made the region world-famous. In the March 2011 issue of ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]'', a short article titled ''Ancient Swimmers'' appeared, discussing the discovery of |
[[Sailfish]], [[king mackerel]], [[King mackerel|kingfish]] and other pelagic species of game fish migrate south down the east coast of Africa and since the activities of [[Piracy|sea pirates]] off the coast of north east Africa healthy populations of pelagic game fish again reach all the way south off the coast of South Africa which has re-established Sodwana as a sport fishing destination for pelagic species.{{cn|date=May 2018}} The [[marine protected area]] is known for endangered marine [[megafauna]] including [[whale shark]]s, [[great white shark]]s, [[Bull shark|zambezi sharks]], [[hammerhead shark]]s, [[blacktip shark]]s, [[manta rays]], [[orange-spotted grouper]]s, [[potato cod]], critically endangered [[leatherback turtle]]s,<ref name=Sibonya /> [[loggerhead sea turtle]]s, and [[coelacanth]]s.<ref name="Venter et al 1992" /> The discovery of Coelacanths made the region world-famous. In the March 2011 issue of ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]'', a short article titled ''Ancient Swimmers'' appeared, discussing the discovery of [[coelacanths]] in the depths of Sodwana Bay and the surrounding area. A small section of the written article explains that: |
||
{{quote|"Since this chance sighting, ''[[Latimeria chalumnae]]'' have been found in several pockets in and around the Indian Ocean. No one knows how many there are - maybe as few as 1,000 or as many as 10, 000. Because of the depth of their habitat, they have mainly been photographed by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Divers first documented the fish [in Sodwana Bay] in 2000; in January and February 2010, a specially trained team dived to take pictures of [another] small colony in Sodwana Bay, South Africa."}} |
{{quote|"Since this chance sighting, ''[[Latimeria chalumnae]]'' have been found in several pockets in and around the Indian Ocean. No one knows how many there are - maybe as few as 1,000 or as many as 10, 000. Because of the depth of their habitat, they have mainly been photographed by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Divers first documented the fish [in Sodwana Bay] in 2000; in January and February 2010, a specially trained team dived to take pictures of [another] small colony in Sodwana Bay, South Africa."}} |
||
Line 29: | Line 30: | ||
[[Whale watching]] targeting migratory or resident [[cetacean]]s is a local tourist industry.<ref name="Sodwana Bay Lodge" /> [[Bottlenose dolphin]]s live in the vicinity and have been observed to swim with whale sharks. [[Humpback whale]]s migrate through the bay during winter to spring seasons while [[southern right whale]]s and other species are less common. [[Orca]]s may also visit the bay waters.{{cn|date=May 2018}} |
[[Whale watching]] targeting migratory or resident [[cetacean]]s is a local tourist industry.<ref name="Sodwana Bay Lodge" /> [[Bottlenose dolphin]]s live in the vicinity and have been observed to swim with whale sharks. [[Humpback whale]]s migrate through the bay during winter to spring seasons while [[southern right whale]]s and other species are less common. [[Orca]]s may also visit the bay waters.{{cn|date=May 2018}} |
||
The land areas of the [[iSimangaliso Wetland Park]] are home to species of large land animals such as [[lion]]s, [[giraffe]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[hippo]]s and [[rhino]]s |
The land areas of the [[iSimangaliso Wetland Park]] are home to species of large land animals such as [[lion]]s, [[giraffe]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[hippo]]s and [[rhino]]s<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=William |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42659355 |title=Africa's big five |date=1999 |publisher=Southern |others=Gerald Hinde, R. F. Du Toit |isbn=1-86812-779-6 |location=Johannesburg |oclc=42659355}}</ref> |
||
==Climate== |
|||
The climate is subtropical with water temperatures usually above {{convert|20|C|F}}, up to {{convert|29|C|F}} in summer. |
|||
==Ecology== |
==Ecology== |
||
Line 35: | Line 39: | ||
===Terrestrial=== |
===Terrestrial=== |
||
[[File:Ecoregions of South Africa.svg|thumb|upright=2|Map of the Ecoregions of South Africa ]] |
[[File:Ecoregions of South Africa.svg|thumb|upright=2|Map of the Ecoregions of South Africa ]] |
||
{{empty section|date=May 2018}} |
|||
===Marine=== |
===Marine=== |
||
[[File:Ecoregions of SA EEZ.png|thumb|upright=2|alt=Marine ecoregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone |Sodwana is in the Delagoa coastal ecoregion]] |
[[File:Ecoregions of SA EEZ.png|thumb|upright=2|alt=Marine ecoregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone |Sodwana is in the Delagoa coastal ecoregion]] |
||
The inshore waters of Sodwana Bay |
The inshore waters of Sodwana Bay are in the [[Delagoa|Delagoa coastal marine ecoregion]]. |
||
{{expand section|date=May 2018}} |
{{expand section|date=May 2018}} |
||
Line 46: | Line 49: | ||
===Tourism=== |
===Tourism=== |
||
Tourism in this area is based on recreational scuba diving, gamefishing and game park tours |
Tourism in this area is based on recreational scuba diving, gamefishing and game park tours. |
||
====Recreational diving==== |
====Recreational diving==== |
||
{{see|iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area#Scuba diving|Scuba diving tourism|Environmental impact of recreational diving}} |
|||
{{empty section|date=May 2018}} |
|||
A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa, including the [[recreational dive sites]] of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office.<ref name="Gazette 39646 I" /> Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit. |
|||
Several snorkelling spots, and a large number of scuba diving sites are available for recreational diving. Several dive operators are based in Sodwana, and equipment and gas fill are available. Diving conditions are generally good throughout the year, but the best visibility of up to 30 metres is most likely during April to September. In suitable weather night dives can be arranged.<ref name="Nature reserve" /> |
|||
====Gamefishing==== |
|||
{{empty section|date=May 2018}} |
|||
Dive sites are concentrated at the following areas:<ref name="Nature reserve" /> |
|||
====Game park tourism==== |
|||
*Two-mile Reef is the most popular area with depths ranging from 9 metres to over 30 metres at the outer edge. |
|||
{{empty section|date=May 2018}} |
|||
*Quarter Mile Reef is most often dived in January and February when Ragged-toothed sharks congregate. |
|||
*Stringer Reef at a depth of 14 metres is a small reef with great diversity of species. |
|||
*Four and Five Mile Reefs are about {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Jesser Point. They are a bit deeper, and have branching, table and plate corals |
|||
*Seven Mile Reef is the area about {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Jesser Point. There are overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom reefs. |
|||
*Nine Mile Reef is the northern-most reef of the commonly accessible areas. Depths range from 6 to 21 metres. There is a green tree coral at the drop-off on the seaward side of the reef. |
|||
*Coelacanth dives at the canyon require a special permit and certification and competence in trimix diving to depths of over 100 m. |
|||
== Gallery == |
|||
<gallery mode="packed"> |
|||
File:View over Mgobezeleni Lake towards Sodwana Bay.jpg|View over Mgobezeleni Lagoon towards Sodwana Bay |
|||
File:Sodwana Beach.jpg|Sodwana beach |
|||
File:Sodwana Beach ... (Photo JC PLE) - 52313083832.jpg|alt= |
|||
</gallery> |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist|refs= |
{{reflist|refs= |
||
<ref name="Gazette 39646 I" >{{cite journal|url=http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Gazettes/39646_3-2_EnvAffairs.pdf|journal=Regulation Gazette No. 10553 |title=R118. Draft Regulations for the management of the Isimangaliso Marine Protected Area|volume=608| issue = 39646|date=3 February 2016 |publisher=Government Printer |location=Pretoria }}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
<ref name="Nature reserve" >{{cite web|url=http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/sodwana-bay-national-park_activities.html |title=Water Based Activities at Sodwana Bay National Park |website=www.nature-reserve.co.za/ |accessdate=19 March 2021 }}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | <ref name="Sodwana Bay Lodge">{{cite web |website=Sodwana Bay Lodge |url=http://sodwanabaylodge.com/index.php/whale-watching |title=Whale watching |access-date=18 December 2014 }}{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218103712/http://sodwanabaylodge.com/index.php/whale-watching |date=18 December 2014 }}</ref> |
||
⚫ | <ref name="Venter et al 1992">{{cite web|last1=Venter |first1=Pieter |last2=Timm |first2=Peter |last3=Gunn |first3=Gilbert|last4=le Roux |first4=Etienne |last5=Serfontein |first5=Christo |last6=Smith |first6=Pieter |last7=Smith |first7=Erna |last8=Bensch |first8=Martin |last9=Harding |first9=Dennis |last10=Heemstra |first10=Phillip |date=1992 |url=http://www.scienceinafrica.com/old/index.php?q=coelanew.htm |title=Discovery of a viable population of Coelacanths (Latimeria Chalumnae Smith, 1939) at Sodwana Bay, South Africa] |website= |publisher=Science in Africa |access-date=18 December 2014}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218103600/http://www.scienceinafrica.com/old/index.php?q=coelanew.htm |date=18 December 2014 }}</ref> |
||
⚫ | <ref name="Sodwana Bay Lodge">Sodwana Bay Lodge |
||
⚫ | <ref name="Venter et al 1992">Venter |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 70: | Line 91: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
*{{commonscat inline}} |
*{{commonscat inline}} |
||
* [ |
* [https://sodwanabayinformation.co.za/ St Lucia 3974 South Africa Website] |
||
* [https://sodwanabayinformation.co.za/knowledgebase/sodwana-bay-info/ Sodwana Bay] |
|||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070405062915/http://www.lakestlucia.com/ Lake St Lucia] |
|||
* [https:// |
* [https://sodwanabayinformation.co.za/sodwana-bay-bookings/ Diving and Accommodation in Sodwana Bay] |
||
* [https://sodwanabayskipperstraining.co.za/ Coastal Skippers Training] |
|||
{{List of African seas}} |
{{List of African seas}} |
||
{{Recreational dive sites}} |
{{Recreational dive sites|reereg}} |
||
[[Category:Bays of South Africa]] |
[[Category:Bays of South Africa]] |
||
[[Category:Landforms of KwaZulu-Natal]] |
[[Category:Landforms of KwaZulu-Natal]] |
Latest revision as of 06:17, 11 July 2023
Sodwana Bay | |
---|---|
Sodwanabaai (Afrikaans) | |
![]() View of a beach in the bay with a humpback whale in the foreground | |
Coordinates | 27°32′S 32°41′E / 27.533°S 32.683°E |
Ocean/sea sources | Indian Ocean |
Basin countries | South Africa |
![]() |
Sodwana Bay is a bay in South Africa on the KwaZulu Natal north coast, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. It is in the Sodwana Bay National Park, and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, and is a popular recreational diving destination. The term is commonly used to refer to both the marine reserve and the terrestrial park, as well as the geographical bay.
Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the east coast. Proclaimed a national park in the 1950s, it is frequented by anglers and divers.[1] Sodwana is situated in the Maputaland Marine Protected Area and is the only recreational scuba diving area along the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park (now renamed to iSimangaliso[citation needed]) coastline. Classified as one of the top dive sites in the world,[2] the park is visited by some 35 000 scuba divers per year. The bay is near the southern end of the tropical western Indo-Pacific marine ecoregion, and reef-building corals are present. The 50 km (31 mi) reef complex is the habitat of a wide diversity of resident and migratory species. Several submarine canyons cut into the edge of the continental shelf, which is very close to the shoreline. It was in one of these that on 27 November 2000 that a resident population of coelacanths was discovered.
Sailfish, king mackerel, kingfish and other pelagic species of game fish migrate south down the east coast of Africa and since the activities of sea pirates off the coast of north east Africa healthy populations of pelagic game fish again reach all the way south off the coast of South Africa which has re-established Sodwana as a sport fishing destination for pelagic species.[citation needed] The marine protected area is known for endangered marine megafauna including whale sharks, great white sharks, zambezi sharks, hammerhead sharks, blacktip sharks, manta rays, orange-spotted groupers, potato cod, critically endangered leatherback turtles,[3] loggerhead sea turtles, and coelacanths.[4] The discovery of Coelacanths made the region world-famous. In the March 2011 issue of National Geographic, a short article titled Ancient Swimmers appeared, discussing the discovery of coelacanths in the depths of Sodwana Bay and the surrounding area. A small section of the written article explains that:
"Since this chance sighting, Latimeria chalumnae have been found in several pockets in and around the Indian Ocean. No one knows how many there are - maybe as few as 1,000 or as many as 10, 000. Because of the depth of their habitat, they have mainly been photographed by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Divers first documented the fish [in Sodwana Bay] in 2000; in January and February 2010, a specially trained team dived to take pictures of [another] small colony in Sodwana Bay, South Africa."
Whale watching targeting migratory or resident cetaceans is a local tourist industry.[5] Bottlenose dolphins live in the vicinity and have been observed to swim with whale sharks. Humpback whales migrate through the bay during winter to spring seasons while southern right whales and other species are less common. Orcas may also visit the bay waters.[citation needed]
The land areas of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park are home to species of large land animals such as lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos and rhinos[6]
Climate
[edit]The climate is subtropical with water temperatures usually above 20 °C (68 °F), up to 29 °C (84 °F) in summer.
Ecology
[edit]Terrestrial
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Ecoregions_of_South_Africa.svg/440px-Ecoregions_of_South_Africa.svg.png)
Marine
[edit]![Marine ecoregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Ecoregions_of_SA_EEZ.png/440px-Ecoregions_of_SA_EEZ.png)
The inshore waters of Sodwana Bay are in the Delagoa coastal marine ecoregion.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2018) |
Economy
[edit]The local economy is based on tourism.
Tourism
[edit]Tourism in this area is based on recreational scuba diving, gamefishing and game park tours.
Recreational diving
[edit]A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa, including the recreational dive sites of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office.[7] Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit.
Several snorkelling spots, and a large number of scuba diving sites are available for recreational diving. Several dive operators are based in Sodwana, and equipment and gas fill are available. Diving conditions are generally good throughout the year, but the best visibility of up to 30 metres is most likely during April to September. In suitable weather night dives can be arranged.[1]
Dive sites are concentrated at the following areas:[1]
- Two-mile Reef is the most popular area with depths ranging from 9 metres to over 30 metres at the outer edge.
- Quarter Mile Reef is most often dived in January and February when Ragged-toothed sharks congregate.
- Stringer Reef at a depth of 14 metres is a small reef with great diversity of species.
- Four and Five Mile Reefs are about 8 km (5.0 mi) from Jesser Point. They are a bit deeper, and have branching, table and plate corals
- Seven Mile Reef is the area about 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Jesser Point. There are overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom reefs.
- Nine Mile Reef is the northern-most reef of the commonly accessible areas. Depths range from 6 to 21 metres. There is a green tree coral at the drop-off on the seaward side of the reef.
- Coelacanth dives at the canyon require a special permit and certification and competence in trimix diving to depths of over 100 m.
Gallery
[edit]-
View over Mgobezeleni Lagoon towards Sodwana Bay
-
Sodwana beach
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Water Based Activities at Sodwana Bay National Park". www.nature-reserve.co.za/. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Top dive sites in the World | PADI". PADI Travel. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
- ^ "Sodwana Bay National Park, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa". Siyabona Africa Travel. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Venter, Pieter; Timm, Peter; Gunn, Gilbert; le Roux, Etienne; Serfontein, Christo; Smith, Pieter; Smith, Erna; Bensch, Martin; Harding, Dennis; Heemstra, Phillip (1992). "Discovery of a viable population of Coelacanths (Latimeria Chalumnae Smith, 1939) at Sodwana Bay, South Africa]". Science in Africa. Retrieved 18 December 2014. Archived 18 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Whale watching". Sodwana Bay Lodge. Retrieved 18 December 2014.Archived 18 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Taylor, William (1999). Africa's big five. Gerald Hinde, R. F. Du Toit. Johannesburg: Southern. ISBN 1-86812-779-6. OCLC 42659355.
- ^ "R118. Draft Regulations for the management of the Isimangaliso Marine Protected Area" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. 608 (39646). Pretoria: Government Printer. 3 February 2016.
External links
[edit]Media related to Sodwana Bay at Wikimedia Commons
- St Lucia 3974 South Africa Website
- Sodwana Bay
- Diving and Accommodation in Sodwana Bay
- Coastal Skippers Training