Dive Plett

Sardine Run Port St. Johns

Port St Johns, The Jewel Of The Wild Coast

Port St. Johns is situated in the heart of the wild coast and offers a unique beauty to the Sardine Run experience.

Port St Johns is a quaint coastal town in South Africa and is known as the Jewel of the Wild Coast. The Wild Coast is a stretch of 250 kilometres of coast which gained its name by its inaccessibility and reputation for ship-crushing waves. Today the Wild Coast is still relatively untouched and offers rich experiences and adventures.

The Port St. Johns Sardine Run Experience

The Sardine Run is more about the migration of various predators moving along the South African coastline following sardines than the sardines themselves. It’s about encounters with humpback whales, dolphins and observing gannets plummet into the water, while schools of sharks glide by.

It’s also about the crew and fellow divers who share this experience with you. Spending hours at sea together and interacting with marine animals of this magnitude is a rare and special experience…being alongside a school of thousands of dolphins or staring into the eye of a humpback whale will be a life-changing experience you’ll never forget.

Always Be Ready

One can come across sardine run action quite unexpectedly and it is important to always be ready to respond. The crew will do their best to manoeuvre the boat and anticipate the marine animal activity and it is therefore essential to be ready to jump into the water at a moment’s notice. If luck is on your side you will get to experience the run at its peak.

It is easier to get on and off the boat quickly with snorkelling gear as the skipper needs to keep moving to stay with the action. It would be beneficial to have some free diving skills.

A combination of shared aerial information, local spotters, fishermen and ocean users in the area to locate information regarding Sardine Run action.

Sardine Run Port St. Johns Tour Information 2024

DEPARTURES

7 Night / 5 Day Package — 2024

R 46 950 p.p.s
Single Supplement: R 4 950
17 June – 24 June
24 June – 01 July
01 July – 08 July
08 July – 15 July
15 July – 22 July

ITINERARY

Arrival: Arrive and transfer to Port St. Johns. Check into the hotel for 7 nights.

Meet up in the early evening for a full expedition briefing and to meet the crew.

5 Sea days:

After breakfast you will embark the boat (8m semi-rigid RIB) directly in front of the hotel.

Spend the full day out at sea looking for Sardine Run action.

Ocean Safari. Lunch is provided on the boat.
Return to hotel at approximately 3 pm to relax and enjoy dinner at the resort

Rest/ Sightseeing/ Cultural Day: 

Spend the day relaxing at the hotel & enjoying the facilities or alternatively join the Pro Dive crew on a half day excursion where you will get to explore the area, visit a local school & community.

Departure: Check out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
NB: Please enquire if you would like to extend your package eg. Additional Sardine Run Days, Cape Town Great White, Shark Diving Aliwal Shoal or the Kruger National Park

ACCOMMODATION

Nestled between towering cliffs and set in amazing Tropical gardens on the banks of the Umzimvubu River, N’taba River Lodge offers the finest mixture of Wild Coast hospitality and hugely comfortable rooms.

The 4-star lodge is a nature lover’s dream… just enjoying the river flowing past. With the diversity of the rugged landscape, the sheer beauty of the area and dense vegetation that surrounds the lodge, bird watching enthusiasts will be held a captive audience throughout their visit, not to mention the opportunity for amazing photographs.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Tour Includes:

  • 7 Nights’ Accommodation
  • Breakfast & Dinner Daily
  • Lunch packs on diving days
  • 5 Days at Sea (weather permitting)
  • 8m Semi Rigid Dive Boat
  • (SAMSA Licensed 40 miles offshore)
  • Hire of 12L Tanks and Weight belt
  • Airfills
  • 1 open day: optional sightseing / cultural day
  • Experienced Skipper & Guide

Tour Excludes:

  • Flights (Recommended flights into Mtatha Airport – only 2 hours from PSJ)
  • Airport Transfers – quoted on request (Umtata, Durban, East London)
  • Drinks
  • Equipment Hire
  • Travel & Dive Insurance
  • Additional sightseeing & activities
  • Tips/Gratuities

ADD ONS

Aliwal Shoal Extension  

Please contact us for a quote on any of the below extensions or for a tailor made extension of your choice.

Spend a few days Aliwal Shoal, one of South Africa’s premier dive spots where sightings of Ragged Tooth sharks are common and the possibility of other large pelagics such as, sea turtles, potato bass and numerous game fish can be seen.  Extremely popular with divers is the baited shark dive where you will be surrounded by anything from 20 – 80 bold Oceanic Black Tip sharks and might even have other species such as Tiger or Bull sharks come close.

Package Includes:

  • 3 Nights’ Accommodation at Scottburgh
  • Breakfast Daily
  • 3 Reef Dives
  • 1 Baited Shark Dive
  • Hire of Tanks & Weights
  • Diving Permit Note:  transfers/car hire on request.

Cape Town Extension     

Please contact us for a quote on any of the below extensions or for a tailor made extension of your choice.

A visit to South Africa would not be complete without a stop in Cape Town – the “Mother City”, known to many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  An awesome 4 night extension that can be added on to any of the standard South African ages where you will get to experience Great White Shark Cage Diving, Penguins & the scenic beauty that Cape Town has to offer.
Tailor made packages are also available.

Package Includes:

  • 4 Nights’ Accommodation (Close to the Waterfront)
  • Breakfast Daily
  • Full day Great White Shark Cage Diving – Gansbaai (incl. lunch & refreshments)
  • Full day scenic tour of Cape Town including Cape Point Nature Reserve
  • Free Day for sightseeing, visit to Robben Island, shopping etc.Note: transfers/car hire on request
  • Conservation Fee

Kruger National Park Extension

Please contact us for a quote on any of the below extensions or for a tailor made extension of your choice.

The Kruger National Park is world famous for the Big 5, travelers from all over the globe come to pay a visit to one of our national parks to tick the box for this bucket list destination. Our country works very hard at preserving its wildlife, and we work with renowned safari lodges and suppliers to ensure your holiday will be one that will never be forgotten.
Tailor made packages are also available.

Package Includes:

  • 3 Nights’ Full Board Tented Accommodation at Rhino Post Safari Lodge
  • 6 Game Drives with optional bush walks
  • Qualified Ranger & Tracker Note: transfers/car hire on request

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When is the Best Time?

Port St. Johns: Mid June – end of July

Is it Guaranteed?

Like any wildlife encounter it is not guaranteed, however a day out on the ocean can bring about anything anytime and you are sure to be rewarded with awesome encounters with marine life.

Scuba or Snorkel

We do both – whether you are a snorkeller or a diver you can still partake in the action.  However, it all depends on the size of the baitball and how fast it moves as to whether we use scuba or snorkel.. Your skipper will be your guide and advise you what to use.

Minimum Diving Certification
Like any adventure the more experience you have the better, however we can cater for all levels of experience. It is however mandatory to have a diving qualification to use scuba, where for snorkelling no experience needed.  On your first day, if the conditions allow we will be doing a check dive to make sure that you are comfortable with your equipment, have proper buoyancy control and to familiarise yourself with the conditions.

Water Temperature & Wetsuit Requirements

The water temperature varies between 14 & 20 degrees Celsius and we recommend 5mm- 7mm wetsuits, including a diving hood & booties.  Dry suits are not ideal as they create drag on the surface of the water when snorkelling and are quite cumbersome when it comes to getting on and off the boat on a regular basis.

Diving Equipment

We provide 12L tanks Din/Int and weights and have all the other equipment available for rental.

Rebreathers are not recommended as they are cumbersome & not practical for staying with the fast moving action.

Full Gear:  R690 per day

Wetsuit: R150 per day

Fins, Mask, Snorkel & Booties – R80 per item per day

BCD &  Regulator – R120 per item per day

Computer – R150 per day

HOW TO BOOK

HOW TO BOOK

Please contact our travel department on info@prodivetravel.co.za.

We can then finalize all the necessary details that we need in order to book you onto this amazing opportunity to see the Sardine Run.

In order to finalize, we will request the following from you:

  • Booking Forms to Be Completed
  • A 30% Deposit is required to confirm your booking
  • Balance payable 60 Days prior to departure

Cancellation Policy:

  • Deposit is non-refundable.
  • Less than 60 Days = 100% cancellation fee applicable

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