Insane Diving in Aliwal Shoal South Africa! (You Won't Believe What We Saw)

My name is Rachel and currently I'm on the east coast of South Africa diving on the incredible Alleywell shore. In my previous video I faced my fears and get in the water with tons of sharks. Instantly my body is just saying like oh. But in today's episode we are exploring more of this wild offshore reef. Buckle up because it's gonna be a fun one. This was like one of the most insane dives I have been on. Good morning. We've got to start the day with a cup of coffee because it is very early. It is only half past five in the morning. I'm really excited for today to see what we're going to be getting up to in the water because yesterday was the first day start of this place and I've got to say it was pretty insane. That was a great dive. Are you ready? Okay back at our station. I know the two of you dived yesterday so I'll assume you've dived on a boat like that before. Yeah. And I know when last you dove. We're diving today with the spotted ragged tooth. You might know them as sand tigers and grey nurse sharks. This top shark is actually the one that we're probably going to see the most of which are the raggies because they all come and congregate around this period of the year to mate. So it's going to be really cool. We saw them on our first dives yesterday but today we're going specifically to see if we can find a large amount of them. With the briefing done we can head out to start our early morning dive and with this comes the joys of enjoying the beautiful sunrise. For every day of diving we need to drive down towards the beach. The conditions of the ocean are going to determine how the boat will be launched and looks like today we are launching straight from the beach. Now unfortunately we can never film the launches but it's quite the adventure at Ali Walker's. You're launching either from the river or straight from the beach. Yeah there are whales everywhere. Just hoping that we can see one breach. We might not see the whales but as we head down there is no shortage of ragged tooth sharks. In my previous video I shared how my experience went encountering these animals for the very first time. But before we dive into these creatures a bit more you might be wondering where is Aliwall Shoal and why is it such a special place? Alliwall Shoal is a breathtaking offshore reef located about five kilometers off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa near the town of Oomka Maas where we are staying at Blue Ocean Dive Resort. The reef is part of the larger Alliwall Shoal marine protected area with various restricted and controlled zones. It is home to tons of marine life ranging from pelagic fish to reef fish, different shark species varying with the times of year, turtles, dolphins and during specific months humpback whales and manta rays. The dive we are doing now is on the dive site called North Sands and it doesn't disappoint with colorful fish lurking everywhere around the reef. But Robbie definitely knew where to take us for the raggies as there are loads here on North Sands. All for good reason though. These sharks are here for mating. We need to be mindful with our interactions though as these sharks don't control their buoyancy like many other sharks. Most shark species have a fatty liver that makes sure they can keep the correct buoyancy in the water. Raggies however need to go to the surface to gulp air to store in their stomach and then come back down. This means if they get a fright they could lose their buoyancy and have to go back up to the surface which could make them a target for larger predators. But this way of controlling buoyancy with the air in their stomach is also the reason they can hover the way they do. Many other sharks need to be continuously swimming where the raggies seem to be these almost mystical slow-moving creatures until they hunt. With our jackets to keep us warm. How was that dive? Oh so many raggies that was unbelievable. It was insane and also like we went into the cave system and it was like you're in a freaking aquarium. It's just the currents that you know were like whoo so when I came back on the boat I was like yo I don't know if I'm feeling sick or not but I'm not sick. We do also have hot chocolate with the guys over there. For those who are bulletproof I'm gonna wait a moment just to make sure that I'm not chumming the fish. We got sardines and shark over there. It's a marlin. So many whales at the same time like the GoPro is obviously not getting the best of footage but there are tons around us. We got some male slapping his fluke. We got loads and loads of bats going everywhere. It's actually pretty insane. For our second dive of the day we are off to a dive site that Callum and I will have become quite familiar with over the course of our days at Alleywell Shore called Raggies Cave. But despite visiting multiple times this place never gets old. This specific dive felt very playful with different types of fish popping up everywhere. Of course we are accompanied again by the raggies but seeing species like a giant moray eel and this little nudibranch, Alleywell has tons of nudibranch species, definitely made for a lovely dive. As an open water diver I was worried I would potentially not be able to see most of the cool species at Alleywell but boy have these dives proven me wrong. Both open water divers and advanced divers will have an absolute blast here on the shore. That was great. Another good dive huh? Yeah it was very nice. Another good dive. That feels weird. Before we head off the boys help our skipper get the boat back into the water and then we call it a day. Back on land, back in my room and it smells pretty good in here but I'm really happy with how this morning went. Those dives were fantastic and I felt super comfortable in the water doing all of the exploring but now I'm also happy to be back to freshen up. We launched this morning I think at about 7 and I think now it's it's probably just before 11 so it was a very nice morning but I'm staying here at Blue Ocean Dive Resort and this is like your one stop for anything to do with diving in Alleywell shore because they've got everything in one place so I'm going to start off by giving you guys a little room tour so that you know what to expect if you do come and stay here. Don't mind the mess but this is my bedroom. I've got two beds. Callum's got a double bed. Then you definitely have enough space here so I've got coffee, I've got tea, everything which is great for those early mornings. Enough space to hang my stuff. I've got some of my gear drying here on the floor. You got a separate toilet on this side and then over here you've got a bathroom and what I love about this is obviously if you've got two beds or a double bed I do think you'd be staying here with like two people in a room but what you then also got is your own shower each so there are two shower heads here, two knobs so you've also got enough space for two people to have separate showers which I think is really nice so you don't have to share the space but this is definitely where I'm jumping in now to rinse off all that salt. Definitely all freshened and feeling good but this place is definitely a one-stop for any diving adventure on Alleywell Shore. It houses so much inspiration for any diver that wants to come and explore Alleywell Shore because it's just covered in all these beautiful photos but you can sleep here, you can dive here and you can eat here which makes everything super comfortable especially if you're going to be doing some multi-days so I want to show you guys around the place a little bit. I'm going to start you guys off in the dive center. This is basically where you're going to get your own box, your own area so every morning they set up your BCD and stuff like that so it's really easy for you to just come downstairs, grab your stuff and then go onto your dive but the setup is really nice. We have specific charging stations here for any of the gear. You get tags to put on your gear as well so nothing gets lost and they always know what stuff belongs to you. Out here is where all of the magic happens after your dive. So as you walk in from your dive basically you're going to come here and you're going to put like snorkel masks and stuff and then they've even got a setup here for the camera housing specifically and then as we walk through here this is where you're going to be able to clean yourself and all of your gear. Changing rooms slash showers and then here we dunk all of our wetsuits, spray them down, hang up the boots and then hang up the wetsuit which makes it very easy in the morning to find all your stuff again because I know exactly where my boots are and exactly where my wetsuit is hanging but you can imagine if you're going on a day dive and you're coming back from the ocean it's so nice to be able to hop into a hot shower and then go to wherever you're staying but it's also nice for us because we're staying upstairs but we also get to have a quick rinse down before enjoying the hot shower in our room. Besides sleeping and diving, Blue Ocean also has their own restaurant slash pub which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ideal for the meals pre and post diving and it's also a great place to grab a cold beer and it definitely gets lively in the evenings here. Big bonus though they have a wood fire oven in which they make their pizzas and if that doesn't make a person happy I don't know what will. As Callum and I settle in for the afternoon we have our dive debrief with Robbie. Do you guys know that there's between a school of fish and a shoal of fish? So essentially if you're referring to a shoal of fish, a shoal would be different species like together in one group or school same species and they all move within uniform using that lateral line to tell them where to go. So now we can start correcting people. Our day for today is going to be completed with a beer and an afternoon nap but I'm really excited to see what tomorrow has in store for us for more diving on the shore. You may have guessed it but it is another early wake up and an instant coffee for me and then time to go get Callum. I think he is feeling the early morning as well but it is all worth it. Once the boat is loaded we head back down to the beach and honestly the second the sun hits the face and the salty air of the sea hits the nose I am awake and ready to go. Today we're doing another beach launch but I've got to say the waves look the most intense that they have been over the last few days so when you're going out this becomes pretty hectic so I'm hoping fingers crossed nothing too rough. Cal give me your camera. You got it? As we head out for this day of diving there is an electric energy in the atmosphere. I don't know exactly what it is but the shoal is calling us. I can feel that today is going to be epic. I feel so grateful to be diving on the shoal again. This place continues to leave a lasting impression on me. Every dive has been nothing short of magical offering encounters and moments that humble me and deepen my love and connection to the ocean. Alliwell Shoal is a powerful reminder of the ocean's magnificence and how much we stand to lose if we fail to protect it. Sharks and rays are experiencing devastating population declines, overfishing and bycatch are depleting fish stocks, sound pollution is disrupting whale communication, plastic waste including discarded fishing gear is choking marine ecosystems and warming ocean temperatures are altering migration and behavior patterns for countless species. These are just a few of the harsh realities marine life faces today highlighting the urgent need for action. While change requires commitment from governments and industries there is hope. More people are waking up to the ocean's plight and there are meaningful steps we can take as individuals too. One of the most impactful is to make responsible choices like choosing responsible dive operators. For me Blue Ocean Dive Resort has been a good example of this. They have always emphasized marine safety, diver education and respect for the underwater environment during our stay and dives. That dive was amazing. There were so many, so many ruggies and also what blew me away is you could actually hear the whales as we were under the water. It was just absolutely magical to hear something like that but overall I think this dive went pretty well. The current was quite strong so I was like watching the sharks sway while I was swaying. It's like very meditative but back on board for now. Time back on the boat before we head off to our second dive. Hot chocolate. Cheers Turner. It is our last dive of the day and out of all the dives this is my favorite. There is this electric-like atmosphere during this dive as if we could be bumping into anything. The water feels strangely moody because of the slightly lower visibility but this has just added to the crazy sensation I'm experiencing. I have a weird adrenaline on this dive and I'm not sure how to put into words why I'm feeling this way. We have a great group of people in the water and there are tons of fish everywhere. Some curious potato bass have come to investigate and also the ruggies are present. Alleywell shore feels like the place where literally anything is possible. A wild piece of coast that keeps you wondering what will emerge from the blue next. The energy here is untamed and raw. It's this unpredictable magic that makes alleywell shore unforgettable. A big thank you to my travel and dive buddy Callum for helping me capture its beauty by being my second underwater videographer. This video wouldn't be the same without his help. Well Callum has just finished up his pee behind me. This was like one of the most insane dives I have been on. It didn't matter where you looked. There was just so much going on. My mind is absolutely blown. What a great great dive site. I can't even put into words how this experience was because no words will do it justice. These South African waters are so wild and anything is possible here on the shore on any given day. This place is full of surprises and you can see anything from sharks to rays to dolphins to whales to nudibranchs to fish and it is absolutely crazy the experiences that we've had in just four dives. I also want to do a special thank you to Blue Ocean Dive Resort for hosting us. Their instructors and dive masters are incredible and very knowledgeable. They also were great in keeping us calm in the water and guiding us through this whole experience and that is definitely what made the experience because having that human element while being out in these rough waters has been truly amazing. Now guys if this is not yet on your diving bucket list I would say add Alleywell Shore soon. Thanks for watching this video guys and I hope to see in the next video. Bye. During my days here at Alleywell Shore I also had the opportunity to conquer my fear of sharks. If you're curious to see how that went check out my previous video.