Protea banks

The Protea banks is a reef about 7 km off the shore of South Africa near Margate. the reef lies at a depth of between 27 and 40 meters, being 6km long and 800m wide. Protea Banks is one of the richest tuna grounds in the world, which is one of the main reason why there are so many Zambezi Sharks patrolling the reef. The high tuna population has also enabled generations of fishermen to make a living at Protea.[1] Other fish species that can be observed in the reef include Scalloped Hammerheads, Great Hammerheads and Barracudas.[2] Since its proclamation in 2019, locals are expecting for the Protea banks to bring new economic opportunities, with the expected boom in tourism to the area.[3]

The main attraction of this area is for scuba diving, owing to the large numbers of bull sharks and tiger sharks there.[4][5] Just past the Sand Shark Valley, divers can sometimes encounter as many as 60 Giant Guitar Sharks, as well as many Ragged-Tooth Sharks. During their breeding period, the Ragged-Tooth Sharks can be seen in numbers of 100, or ever 200. Described as friendly and inquisitive, this shark breed is a favorite among divers.[6]

The Protea Banks is divided into two pinnacles:

Northern Pinnacle

This part of the reef is known for its magnificent topography and is a preferred diving destination in the winter months. The reef has two caves used by Ragged-Tooth Sharks on their annual migration and congregation route. During spring and summer, large schools of Hammerheads can be seen on this side of the reef.[7] The best times to dive the Northern Pinnacle is in the months between May and November, with a maximum depth of 36 meters.[8]

Southern Pinnacle

The Southern Pinnacle is home to the Zambezi Shark, large specimens of which can be observed in the months between October and May. Towards Easter, Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks can also be seen in the area. One of the most popular spots to start a diving trip is the Southern Cave, which is home to large populations of reel fish. The overhanging rock known as Kngfish Guly is known for its large shoals of Kingfish, Yellowtail, Kaakap, Sea Pike Tunny, Potato Bass and more. The Sand Shark Gully, home of the Giant Guitar Shark, lies at 40m depth.[9]

Sardine Run

The Protea Banks is a popular destination among tourists wishing to observe the annual great Sardine Run, occurring during the months of June and July. This is when massive schools of sardines migrate from the colder waters around the Cape to the warmer waters of Kwa-zulu Natal. The sardine run usually starts north of Port Elizabeth and moves up the coast. As no one can predict the exact time of the run, it is a matter of luck for divers to be able to witness the Sardine Run.[10]

References
  1. "Diving Protea Banks". www.afridive.com. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  2. "Protea Banks - Shelly Beach - Aqua Planet Dive Centre". www.aquaplanet.co.za. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  3. "Protea Banks". Marine Protected Areas South Africa. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  4. "Scuba diving, protea banks with African Dive Adventures". Proteabanks.co.za.
  5. "About African Odyssea". africanodyssea.co.za.
  6. "Ragged-tooth shark". Aqua Planet. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  7. "Protea Banks-Northern Pinnacle". www.afridive.com. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  8. "Protea Banks". south-africa.greatestdivesites.com. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  9. Coles, Russell J. (1919-05-07). "The Large Sharks of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. The White Shark or Maneater, Tiger Shark and Hammerhead". Copeia (69): 34–43. doi:10.2307/1436356. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1436356.
  10. "Watching the huge yearly migration of Sardines during the Sardine Run obviously attracting many predators". south-africa.greatestdivesites.com. Retrieved 2019-07-15.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.