Spring has
sprung in the wonderful city of Cape Town. Everywhere there is a patch of grass,
there are thousands of flowers popping up, ranging in colours of yellow, white,
purple, red and orange. What a spectacular sight... What a spectacular promise
of new life and sunshine. If you are in Cape Town, I would suggest taking a
drive down the West Coast and maybe visiting Darling, which is the home of
flowers. You would never think that our beautiful Cape Town could get any
prettier, but alas, she has brought out her colour palette.
Aren’t we so
fortunate as South Africans to celebrate our Heritage Day with a lekker braai?
Foreigners wouldn’t understand it, but nothing is more South African than a
braai (BBQ overseas). Wors, braai broodjies (BBQ’d sandwiches), potato salad,
garlic bread, chops, pork rashers, pap and sauce... the list goes on of all the
yummy local food that makes up a braai. Mmmmm, my mouth is watering as I think
of it. Besides the delicious
food, the atmosphere of a braai adds to the splendour. Everyone stands around
the braai and chats and laughs with a beer in hand. Good times with good people
is how I would describe it. A braai is so special because it brings people and
families together in a casual, fun environment. I would say that as a foreigner
visiting our wonderful country, you haven’t experienced South African culture until
you have joined in on a braai.
Great white sharks are the creatures we fear most when
swimming in the ocean. We have all read numerous attack stories in the media
and have seen their pure strength and aggression on film.The fact that they are so powerful, large and
ominous is probably why great white shark diving has become such a popular
attraction around the world. Everybody wants an experience that is once in a
lifetime and will get their adrenaline pumping and that is precisely why I have
always wanted to do it. Two weeks ago, my wish came true and I got to look a
great white in the eye!
My boyfriend and I woke early on a Friday morning and made
our way to Gaansbaai, the home of shark cage diving and one of the most popular
spots in the world to view these predators in their natural habitat. As we began
the boat trip, our nerves and excitement were charged up. We finally dropped
anchor at a place called Shark Alley and then the sightings began (after the
chum was thrown in the water)! I will never forget the first time I saw a great
white shark in real life.
It was as though all the fear and anxiety was replaced with
pure excitement as we donned our 35mm thick wetsuits and jumped in the cage.
Despite the icy water, I couldn’t get enough. As you submerge your head you are
faced by these magnificent beasts circling the cage and swimming past to see
what all the fuss is about. To my surprise they weren’t scary at all, just
graceful and magnificent in their size. They are truly beautiful creatures,
although I will admit that I would risk facing them without a cage.
The whole idea of a shark’s fin protruding out of the water
when they swim was dispelled as this is not the case. One of the guides told us
that if a great white wants to attack you, you will not see it approach you as
it breeches from way below you. The tour operators are trying to save this
creature by showing people that the “Jaws” perception is incorrect and that
these are placid creatures who do not just attack for blood. In fact, great
whites are very curious and because they do not have hands, they feel with
their mouths and that is where the problem lies. Their rows and rows of serrated
sharp teeth act like a knife and fork to human flesh and that is why you don’t
want them to “feel” you!
All in all, it was an awesome experience and something to
cross off my bucket list. I would recommend it to anyone! There is nothing more
honest and real than staring a 3 meter monster in the eye and living to tell
the tale! It is something I would like to do again one day.
