When all else fails and the South-Wester blows

I should learn from my own mistakes. Looking after your fitness includes getting your calves and ankles used to your fins!

Looking at the weather, it became obvious that a big SW was on the way. It arrived during the early morning putting paid to diving Aliwal. The only area left for a dive would be Limestone. This is a comfortable shore entry but is a heavily utilized reef. Took along 1.0m & 0.8m guns, 10m rope to float and wire stringer. Was using the new Omer Ice fins, Cressi Minima and the new vampire barbs on the spears.

Swim out was uneventful, saw some goatfish and mullet, hardly worth any effort. The mask was spectacular, sealing efficiently. I did take the time to clean it with dishwasher liquid beforehand so misting was not a problem. The 1.0m gun was attached to the rope, also attached large fishhook to gun end to allow anchoring on reef. 0.8m gun left hanging off float. Had my torch on elastic strap on left wrist allowing ease of use. The approach would be to systematically scour the reef edge for caves holding a suitable target. I started on the S seaward side. The reef is perhaps 8m at its deepest which makes the almost mindless search of the caves more comfortable.

The routine was to dive to the reef and swim along looking for any openings. When an opening was found, hook the buoy to the reef and fetch the 0.8m gun. Dive to the opening using the torch to look in for any suitable quarry. I was lucky to find a Yellowbelly Rockcod after several dives to a very small opening, less than 10cm high. It opened into a substantial cave behind. The fish was summarily dispatch in its hole. I left the fish in the hole after shooting it and hung on the surface for several minutes to allow it to die. Fish in caves do have a habit of wedging themselves and this time just leaving it ensured an easy retrieval. At least the day had not been a waste. This fish’s hole held a huge number of large crayfish but they are out of bounds on Limestone.

The viz, which had not been great to start with was deteriorating. During a lapse in concentration I drifted off the reef, took time to get back. Found interesting caves, dived with gun facing caves, only to look up and see a big Natal Stumpnose looking at me. It beat a hasty retreat. I should have followed but my ankles were screaming with pain after 6 hrs of finning.

Decided that a comfortable warm environment was better than the nasty sea conditions developing and called it quits.