After attempting to dive in False Bay and failing miserably because of the ridiculous red tide. The water was so red and there was a foul smell! The red tide extended all the way through false bay.

However, we managed to squeeze a dive in sunday afternoon at Justin’s Caves. Water was 13deg, no swell to speak of, 6-8m vis.

Gas Flame Nudibranch – we only saw one, but apparently there are plenty around.

Well, day two and its our first long boat trip. 35mins in the boat. We were looking for dolphins and whale sharks – we saw none.

Matt made friends with the Potato Bass – it was hilarious. It followed him around the reef. Lots of new nudibranch’s we havent seen before.

The Green Tree is a large coral outcrop with mainly green coral on it. Loads of fish live in and around it.

Have a look here: Sodwana Photos

Well, after a nice early start from Salt Rock (we landed the night before in Durban) we arrived at Coral Divers at Sodwana Bay at 10:30am – there was a mad rush to get onto the tractor for our first dive – tractor leaves at 10:45am. So there was a mad scramble.

I got much underwater camera housing for my Sony T30 the day before (it arrived 5mins before I had to leave!)

First dive was WICKED. Its like diving in a fishbowl / aquarium! Saw a pineapple triggerfish. Moorish Idols. Lots of wrasses, triggerfish, goldies and more.

The wind is PUMPING today. I used Greg’s new (2nd hand) 2006 10m2 Naish Torch (thanks Greg) and he was on his 8m2.

Progress:
I can go upwind now!!!!! This is major progress. It was my backfoot that I wasnt using correctly. I needed to extend my front leg fully and put more pressure on my back heel. This slowed me down when going ridiculously fast and I was feeling the kite and board much better.

Weather Report:
24knots SSE. 18 was predicted – Windguru is giving me a headache! 19deg. Directly onshore. Bluebottles by the million. I got stung like hell on my hands, feet and ankles several times and it hurt for about 2 hours after I got out the water.

So I am trying to organise a 10m2 kite for myself now.. The hunt is on. The debate is what kite to get. I really enjoyed the 10m2 Torch – a C type kite. My main kite is a Naish 12m2 bow kite. So looking at the Torch 2006 kite – I just cant bring myself to pay the new 2007 prices! Also checking out the BestKites, North, Cabrinah.

So i managed to get to the beach just after 6 today.

But… There was only about 10knots of wind – we had hoped it would pickup.

Greg and I flew. Only 1 other person was flying. But there wasnt enough wind to get going. So we abandoned and decided to come back tomorrow.

Weather:
10knots SSE (14 predicted)

Headed up to my holiday house on Langebaan Lagoon on friday. Wind predictions were 16-18knots.

But it was North West and very gusty on saturday and it was raining a bit. It then started pouring and the wind died.

But I got a good session in for about an hour. Greg managed to lose his board! So we spent a while trying to look for it on the other side of the lagoon (about 4km away) but there was no chance of finding it unfortunately. (He has now discovered the value of a board leash)

I appear to be improving, but my upwind skills are not great yet and I am still struggling with it. Greg then did a detour to Suntrax on his way home on sunday and purchased a second hand Naish Torch 10m2. (But still no board!)

Well…. So i left work at 5:20pm and motored to Sunrise beach..

I start setting up and pumping up my kite. And I look over to my car and realise i forgot my board…..

Whats more depressing is that the wind was good!