Dive Review of SEAL Expeditions/Mbotyi River Lodge in
Africa/East Cape, South Africa

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SEAL Expeditions/Mbotyi River Lodge: "Sardine Run 2017", Jul, 2017, by John Yavorsky, NJ, US ( Top Contributor 35 reports with 14 Helpful votes). Report 9775 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Best for experienced divers with strong swimming ability and able to climb into "rubber ducks" (RIBs) without ladder. Can be very cold in July (winter in SA, 49F at dawn) and rubber ducks can be very wet and cold with splashing waves, rain and wind in open boat all day. They had foul weather gear for over wet suits but didn't always have big enough sizes; best to take your own coat. Also sun can be brutal for 6+ hours in open boat: bring hats, gloves, lotion, towels, dry bag. Best sardine run in 10 years. In week got on SCUBA twice, 52 min. and 10 minutes for fantastic videos of sardine bait balls with dolphins, sharks and birds diving into the bait balls. It's very tough diving but can be fantastic. Note that Rubber Ducks launch from beach into surf, which is an adventure in itself.
Websites	SEAL Expeditions Mbotyi River Lodge
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	25 liveaboards and dozens of land-based world wide.
Closest Airport	Durban	Getting There	fly to durban, SEAL will arrange van transport to Mbotyi
Dive Conditions
Weather	windy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	66-70°F / 19-21°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	5-30 Ft/ 2-9 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	mostly snorkeled bait balls
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Best to pack very light and use small camera and available light as you are swimming with moving bait balls.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of SEAL Expeditions/Mbotyi River Lodge in Africa/East Cape, South Africa

SEAL Expeditions/Mbotyi River Lodge: "Sardine Run 2017", Jul, 2017,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of SEAL Expeditions/Mbotyi River Lodge in
Africa/East Cape, South Africa