I was born and raised in a part of Cape Town that some people affectionately call the "deep south" (as its right on the southern tip of Africa). While I very much believe that Fish Hoek and the surrounding coastal towns may easily be some of the most beautiful places in Africa, I especially steer clear of swimming at the False Bay area beaches nowdays....
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Why? Well, mainly because the water is usually icy enough to give you an ice-cream headache, I'm a rubbish swimmer (think doggie paddling), there are Great White sharks that swim there - AND occasionally I read an article like THIS one (and more recently, THIS one).
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Now, please don't get me wrong, I truly love sea creatures (except maybe creepy eels) and I fully understand that sharks are not just evil, man-eating monsters (even though Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" almost made me think so)- but growing up near the beach most of my life and hearing shark attack stories has definitely given me a healthy respect for the ocean and its inhabitants.>
While I realise I probably have more chance of being killed by a faulty toaster than a shark, I still think i will be staying out of this ocean ;).
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Cold Cape Water = Wetsuit
ReplyDelete'Rubber' Seal Decoy used to attract GWS to view boats - made out of 14mm wetsuit material.
Wetsuit = Seal????????
GWS eat Seal!!!!
;)
I surf, Brazen, and a healthy respect of the Ocean and it's creatures is good...either in or out the water. :)
Yeah - the ocean is a little dodgy for me too. I mean - I think it's beautiful and all. But scary!
ReplyDeleteThe water in Muizenberg isn't THAT cold. Not in summer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, heard bout the shark incident. Won't stop me from surfing.
I haven't been in the ocean since my 13th birthday...when I saw Jaws. I wouldn't even turn my back to the deep end of our pool for fear a shark would come up through the drain. It's unrealistic but, hey, I was 13! ; )
ReplyDeleteCam - lol. True. :)
ReplyDeleteSleepyjane - Im so with you
Sid - you are braver than me
JJ in LA - when i was younger i thought similar things. I dont think its unrealistic, its just overly cautious .hehehe ;)
I grew up there too. SO not swimming anytime soon either! Great post. Beautiful picture (of the beach).
ReplyDeleteIn this heat, I might just be willing to brave the oceans.
ReplyDeleteYou're missing out!! I actually went to Fish Hoek beach on sunday and I haven't been there for years, normally go to beaches closer to town. Anyway the water was a beautiful turquoise blue and so warm and you could honestly do laps, perfect!
ReplyDeleteLana - I love Fish Hoek beach, I just wont swim there. Splash myself and walk along beach - Sure...but swim...no thanks.
ReplyDeletescary hey?? poor guy!!
ReplyDeleteand, perhaps, poor sharks... everytime there is a shark attack we get a bunch of crazies contacting us and saying all the sharks must be killed for eating seals and people.
The way I see it, we are kind of going in their territory... and it's not like humans are all that tolerant of animals in human territory (think the poor escapee hippos who consistently get shot when all they want to do is frolick in freedom).
anywhoooooooo
the water is hot , right?
ReplyDeletethis Cape means a lot for the Portuguese
Francisco - No, the water is rather cold in False Bay area of Cape Town
ReplyDeleteoh this is so funny. when i was living in south africa, we would go to muizenberg all the time + go swimming. and one time, there WAS a shark sighting and apparently there was someone running up and down the beach with a flag...however me and my friend were totally oblivious! another friend had to come out and get us! ahhhh!
ReplyDeleteThat is freaky scary!!! I love the ocean, but I refuse to swim in it!!
ReplyDeleteI heard about that. But still won't stay out of the ocean myself. I'm such a water baby. I just don't get to GO to the ocean enough.
ReplyDeleteThanx for sharing the links! =D
think i'd rather be killed by my toaster thanks
ReplyDeletewheelboy - Id rather not be killed at all.hehehe..but if I must pick Id also go with toaster rather than shark.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine how traumatised the peeps are that actually saw this prehistoric sized monster hunt down a human being!?! There is no one at Fish Hoek or Glencairn beach today, not a soul even so much as walking through the little waves that lap softly on the shore!
ReplyDeleteGreat to discover your blog, and stoked that you're also living behind the lentil curtain! Thaya x
do you know about box jellyfish and irukandji?
ReplyDeletealmost invisible and way more deadly.
Trust. I'm obsessed.
With you on the doggy paddle. I have tried swimming the ‘proper’ way, with the head popping out ever so slightly to get some air, and I almost drowned. Friends might laugh at me, but I’m quite happy paddling around. As for the beach, I’m sticking to ankle deep =)
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Kzn. So when people said "Fish Hoek is the warm side" I would tell them that, no - the warm side is on the other side of the country, actually.
ReplyDeleteFish Hoek and Muizenberg are fab swimming beaches... Warmest in Cape Town.
ReplyDelete