The week that was...

© Robbie Irlam

A wave or two to keep the salt water addiction sufficiently fueled. Also some calm summery days to help you forget that mid-winter is just over a month away. 

JBay on Wednesday © Robbie Irlam

Pipe © Marcus Ducker

It's that time of year again when our finned friends come a lil closer to shore. A surfer at Beachview had a large fellow swim up next to him and give him the eyeball, whilst there was an incident at Nahoon Reef over the weekend. 

A local surfer was struck from below by a shark and sustained minor injuries. Eye witnesses report that he was paddling just past Pinnacle, when he got launched almost a metre in the air out in the packed line-up. 

Luckily his board took the brunt of the damage from the impact, whilst the fortunate surfer just got a few minor cuts on his right side, and the fright of his life.

The journo not getting his headline quite right

Big news this week was the announcement of a new shark cage diving operation for Algoa Bay. Raggy Charters have been awarded a licence and plan to start offering cage diving trips at Bird Island, which is about 60k's across the bay from the Southern Beaches.

Unsurprisingly ou's are not too stoked with the news and most peeps are of the opinion it's a pretty kak idea., despite no concrete scientific proof at this stage that it can lead to an increase in local human/shark incidents.

You can take a look at the in-depth article I wrote about shark cage diving here. 
http://www.millerslocal.co.za/blog/shark-cage-diving-for-algoa-bay

St Francis photag Chris Scott also had a close encounter during the week - a dawn swim out at the beachie to take some shots got the heart pumping when he realised the fin that popped up 5m in front of him wasn't a dolphin. Thankfully the old adage proved true on this occasion - "It's not the one's you see that bite you..."

The theory behind that saying is that as sharks are ambush predators if they were planning to have a snack on you they don't usually cruise past first - you wouldn't see em coming if you were on the menu.

© Chris Scott

Whilst early morning ocean swims may not come highly recommended, you're still able to get some lekker sunrise shots with your feet on dry land.

© At the Beach

© Colin Hilder

Humewood doing it best "I am not a surf spot" impersonation © Ralph West

Cool to see a nice aerial shot of a calm day at Avo's, and the layout of all the reefs and rocks under the break. Just wishing the sand would come back and turn it into a surf spot again. Used to be a super consistent break back in the day, barely needed any swell to break - as long as it was low tide you'd usually find a wave.

Photo Credit unknown

The charts at least show a lump or two for the coming week. Nothing flash, but will keep you wet nonetheless. Winter still hasn't showed it's face, and is long overdue for a solid swell. Can't wait to see one of those purple people eater swell forecasts again...
(an no - this isn't on the cards for this week - although wish it was!)