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Published: March 6th 2013
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We were in Cusco on a Monday morning...and ready to re-settle in our flat on Monday night. Than Tuesday morning, I left for 2 weeks to Africa...via Sao Paolo and Johannesburg...direction Kinshasa. Everything should have gone smoothly, but it simply didn't.
Congo, aka DRC is seemed to be ranked 192nd for "ease of doing business" by the UN...out of 192 countries....yes, doing business or simply travelling here is actually more complicated than trying to reach places like Afghanistan or Iraq....even if most of Congo is actually way safer. There is no Embassy of DRC anywhere close to where I live...so forget about applying directly for a visa. The solution is actually pretty simple...you've got the right paperwork and "they" apply for you for a "visa on arrival", valid 7 days once you enter the country...visa that you than extend for your stay. Well, for this, somebody needs to be at the airport to great you with all the original documents. This guy is call you "protocole". And big mistake, it's the first time I'm coming in the country entering by Kinshasa...my "protocole" simply didn't show up...and after 45 minutes, due to traffic or which ever reason....he was still
not there and I was put on the flight back directly to Joburg. No stamp on the passport, not really denied to come back...but still put back on the plane...trust me, not the best experience.
So now when it comes to DRC and visa issues...I could write a nice book, but that won't be done here...
Couldn't find a rental car available in Joburg, but managed a good last minute deals for a two nights stay in a proper hotel. And yes, two days later I was back in Congo, this time in Lubumbashi....with a very warm welcome from the immigration. Well....as we could say....at the end of the day, it's the end result that counts....even if it took a little longer than anticipated. I have also to admit, being some kind of seriously experienced travellers does help.
That day in Kinshasa I would have loved to work for a big NGO or a multinational. These guys have minders, babysitters to make sure everything go smoothly, from the minder...to the expensive SUV and the fancy villas! They speak of adventures, even if they are taken by the hand on every step.
Well....I co-own my business....and I can only count on myself, but more important, a network of great people and friends I can count on...specially in this part of the world!
So I made it to Congo....for 10 days of great fun....and yes, some serious work too. As some people living in DRC would put it like....we know why you love this place so much, it's because you only spend 4 times two weeks per year here...that could be true! Not going to write much on my DRC stay....beside the fact that I love to be here, and that I do kind of belong to the place after more than 3 years coming here on a regular basis. Don't forget, it's all about the people...and yes, lots of friends!
After my little DRC stay, its straight to the south....south of Durban for one of my favorite dive site....Protea Bank. And trust, me, I can pack some serious fun in just 54 hours!
Kym and Tristan from Aquaplanet just ended days with a russian group....and yes, we share the same views on russian diver groups....So on this Monday morning, it was just Tristan
to skip the tender, and Kym and I in the water. Yes, the people at Aquaplanet have become great friends too....who else would go out with a single customer!
This is the tiger shark season. If you want to see them, book a baited dive....but I hate baited dives...I'm for natural....meaning...the only baits are the divers. So no garantee for a tiger shark....it's the lucky draw. First dive was pretty boring. We saw just a single oceanic black tip racing below us...I thought this may have been my first ever dive in Protea Bank without a single shark....but not this time!
We also saw 2 white spotted eagle ray, a school of barracudas and some kingfishes...nothing to dream about!
Than came the second dive...first a nice round rubbontail ray, than a huge and way too friendly potato bass. The potato bass was so friendly that when I started to chase the tiger shark, he went into jaleousy mood and started to chase me too...fun!
Yes, the tiger shark was there. Not massive, but big...easily 3 to 4 meters big guy. Ok, tiger sharks are very opportunistic...meaning...they could bite
at anything. But I wanted my good picture...so being only two of us...I went for the chase...and yes, that's an impressive shark! Sadly, the encounter lasted for a maximum of 20 seconds....but it was amazing...two divers...no bait...and the tiger shark! Now you may ask...will I start to chase the great white the day I'll face him in those waters....it does happen here, maybe once or twice a year...
Than at 15 meters deep the fun really started. I have only experienced this once here, on my first ever dive....4 to 5 oceanic black tips going at us...for a good 10 minutes. These guys are fast, curious, and yes, went pretty intimate with us. Bear in mind, an oceanic black tip is a good 2-3 meters long, and for me, this is the "Ferrari" of the seas...so when they come at you, you need to remind yourself that the shark is only...curious...
Oh, and Kym and I being the only two in the water, we made sure we stay together. If you read my last post back in November 2012...Roland, the owner of the other company operating from Shelly Beach lost 7-8 divers for 4
hours. Last week, they only lost the dive master...don't ask me how...but they found him nearly 40km away....7 hours later...PS...Kym never lost anybody!
After two dives both well below 30 meters, I went to play golf. 18 holes, carrying my bag at Southbroom. The place is going to welcome the Women South African Open next month, and I love the course.
End of the day, nearly dead after a very short night, 2 dives, 18 holes of golf...the best way was to head as usual for C-Bali on the beach for some seafood...and an early night!
Next morning....the wind of was up, they closed the bay...no launch means no diving. Sad but true, it would have been my 500th dive. So now I have the option to come back here two days in end of May....or wait early June for dive number 500th....with a potential of more than 200 sharks...somewhere else amazing on earth!
So no dive on the second day, I took it pretty relaxed and went to play 18 holes at Selborne...love the course...and it's way better than trekking when you carry your golf bag around
18 holes here.
I'm finishing writting this in Sao Paolo airport waiting my flight home to Buenos Aires. From tonight, no more planes for a full month...and back to enjoy a lot fo Argentina! And for Shelly Beach, if I'm not back end of May, it will be November for the hammerheads!
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