14-Day / 13-night Sardine Run Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1 :

Arrive at Durban International Airport and Transfer to Blue Ocean Dive Resort in Umkomaas

When you arrive at Durban International Airport [KSIA / DUR] [or other pick-up points as required], we will meet you and transfer you to Blue Ocean Dive Resort which is situated in the diving village of Umkomaas about 80km south of Durban International Airport and about 50kms south of Durban.

When you arrive at Blue Ocean Dive Resort you will be checked into your room, then you can spend the day relaxing on the beach or around the pool and get to meet the team. In the late afternoon we will give you a briefing about the shark diving at the Aliwal Shoal. In the evening enjoy dinner in the on-site restaurant. Overnight Blue Ocean Dive Resort, Aliwal Shoal, South Africa including Breakfast.

Day 2 :

2 X Dives at Aliwal Shoal

The diving today will give you a chance to check your gear and get your weighting comfortable. Our shark dives during the Sardine Run take place on the reefs of the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa. During winter the reefs are home to hundreds of Ragged Tooth Sharks as well as a number of other shark species including Blacktip Sharks, Dusky Sharks, Copper Sharks [Bronze Whalers] and on occasion Tiger Sharks & Bull Sharks.

Day 3 :

Transfer to Accommodation in Port St Johns 10h00

After a leisurely breakfast and packing up your belongings and dive gear, (check that you have everything you need) you will then be transferred to Port St Johns [about a 4-hour drive].

Once there we check in to our accommodation, situated on the bank of the Umzimvubu River in Port St. Johns.

Day 4 – 13 :

10 full days Ocean Safari

Each morning we receive updates about the Sardine Run movements. We launch the boats around 7am and spend the day out at sea diving the Sardine Run. Get up close & personal with many species of marine animal including birds, dolphin, game fish, whales & sharks and millions of sardines.

The Sardine Run offers activity from the boat as well as in the water. We enter the water as many times as possible during the day, sometimes just on snorkel and other times on scuba, depending on how fast the action is moving and how comfortable the animals are as sometimes the bubbles from scuba diving chases the action away.

The Sardine Run is amazing, you are often surrounded by hundreds of dolphins, sharks, diving birds, whales, game fish, seals and millions of sardines. During the Sardine Run, the annual Humpback Whale migration passes Port St Johns, offering some amazing up-close sightings of the Humpback Whales in the water, close to the boats and when the whales are breaching!

In the late afternoon we return to shore where you can enjoy a local excursion, relax, take in the views, go for a walk or go have a meal. Overnight in Port St Johns, South Africa.

Day 14 :

Airport Transfers to Durban International Airport or extend your stay with an optional Big5 Safari

After breakfast you depart at 8am and transfer to Durban International Airport or chosen optional add-on Safari.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING FLIGHTS

Please Note : On the final day of your package you will arrive at Durban Airport at about 14:00 [2PM].

Domestic flights need to depart after 15:00 [3PM] & International Flights need to depart after 16:00 [4PM].

If you cannot get suitable flights, we can arrange overnight accommodation and airport transfers the following day.

Excluded

• Flights
• Airport Taxes
• Visas
• Passports
• Personal/Travel Insurance
• Tips / Gratuities (optional cost at guest’s personal discretion)
• Dive equipment

Dive Sites

• Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
• Port St. Johns, South Africa

Accommodation

• Blue Ocean Dive Resort – Aliwal Shoal
• Spotted Grunter Resort – Port St Johns

Booking Conditions

NOTE: BEFORE BOOKING FLIGHTS, PLEASE CONFIRM AVAILABILITY FOR THE DATES YOU REQUIRE

We do try to keep the availability up-to-date but sometimes due to logistics we are not able to keep the availability current.

Once we receive your enquiry, we will confirm availability by email and send you all the booking information.

To confirm your booking we require a 30% non-refundable deposit.

Final payment is required 6-weeks before the start date of your Sardine Run package. We accept credit card payments & bank transfers.

Exchange Rates – latest exchange rates www.xe.com

NOTE: THE NON-DIVER PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE GOING OUT ON THE BOAT

Sardine Run Transfers

NOTE: OUR SARDINE RUN PACKAGES INCLUDE ALL TRANSFERS!

Don’t be caught out by Sardine Run packages that don’t include ALL TRANSFERS.
Port St. Johns is 5-hours south of Durban and private transfers are expensive.
Our packages INCLUDE all transfers & transport that you will require during the Sardine Run.

When you arrive at King Shaka International Airport (Durban) (or other pick-up points), we will meet you and transfer you to our Resort & Dive Centre where you will overnight. The following morning, you will dive on Aliwal Shoal before we transferring to Port St. Johns.

The roads to Port St. Johns are fine for driving during the day but are not very safe at night due to the number of people and animals on the road as well as large pot-holes and lack of lighting which makes driving unsafe. The roads are through some very rural scenic areas and as we approach Port St. Johns, the views are amazing.

Flights & Airport Transfers

There are many daily flights to Durban International Airport (KSIA / DUR), some are direct international flights (Emirates via Dubai, Qatar via Doha, BA via Heathrow, Turkish Air via Istanbul).

There are daily flights to Durban from Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT)

Our packages include all transfers from Durban Airport to our Dive Resort and to Port St Johns for the Sardine Run.

ARRIVAL DAY: DAY-1 OF YOUR PACKAGE

• If you need to arrive at a different times, let us know so we can arrange this for you.
• Please Note : If your flight is delayed, please contact us so we can re-arrange your transfer!

DEPARTURE DAY: FINAL DAY OF YOUR PACKAGE

• Please Note : On the final day of your package you will depart at 08h00.
• Flights need to be after 3PM for domestic and 4PM for international flights.
• Domestic / International Flights need to be planned accordingly to allow for check-in requirements of the airline!
• If you require additional accommodation we can arrange the accommodation for you.

Directions to Blue Ocean Dive Resort, South Africa

Our packages include ALL transfers during your stay with us so you don’t need to worry about how you will be getting to Umkomaas, however if you are wanting to arrive by car, we have plenty of parking at our Dive Resort.

Arriving by road from the North (Durban side)

Our Lodge is situated 50kms south of Durban and about 50-minutes south of Durban International Airport. Heading SOUTH on the N2, take the Mnini / Umgababa (Junction 128) off-ramp. At the top of the off-ramp turn LEFT towards to ocean. Continue straight to the Stop Street (T-Junction) and turn RIGHT. Continue straight along the road with the ocean on your left for about 8.5km. Turn LEFT at the Umkomaas turn-off, then at the Stop Street turn LEFT go under the bridge and at the first road turn RIGHT. We are immediately on the LEFT.

Arriving by road from the South (Port Shepstone side)

Our Lodge is situated 50kms south of Durban and about 50-minutes south of Durban International Airport. Heading NORTH on the N2, take the Umkomaas / Craigieburn off-ramp. At the top of the off-ramp turn RIGHT towards to ocean. Continue straight to the Stop Street (4-way stop) and turn RIGHT. When you see the soccer field on your right, turn LEFT at the next Stop Street. Continue down the hill and just before the bridge turn left into Reynold Street. We are immediately on the LEFT.