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So I decided to go down to SA to meet Jay (that did the divemaster with me in Tofo) for the Sodwana shootout. It took me 23 hours and 4 buses, 1 taxi , 1 normal car and 3 blown tires to make it almost all the way. The first tires blew so violently that the it slit a hole in the bus, injuring one of the passengers and making sure the rest of us were black with road dust by the time we got to Maputo!
I took the road through Swaziland which is such a scenic route and I stayed at a lovely backpackers, the same one me, Jim and Suus stayed at in November. After 2 more buses and numerous hours at the border i made it to Hlue Hluwe (brilliant name). I just had time to eat a toasted sandwich in Wimpys and then Jay and two friends came to pick me up. An hour later we finally made it to Sodwana Bay!
We did 6 dives over 3 days and it was fabulous!! The visibility was great and the corals amazing. The water was not too bad but the wind was very chilly, you could
my 2nd entry
wide angle category as well but no win definitely tell it is winter..
Over the first 2 days we took loads of photos and then entered a couple each into the competition. Obviously as fairly new and inexperienced photographers we didnt expect anything but still went to the pricegiving ceremony. There we were and they were announcing the winners of each category and all of a sudden my photo of a turtle was on the big screen - I won 1st place!?!? How crazy is that? I won a new camera and housing, a very good underwater strobe and a few more things - bloody fantastic! Definitely a trip worthwhile.
On the last day we left and drove through Hlue Hluwe Imfolozi game reserve. Great little safari. We saw Rhinos, Elephants, Zebras, planty of bucks, baboons, buffalos and a couple of giraffes trying to gett jiggy with it..hilarious!
I was supposed to go back to Tofo that day but ended up having to go down to Durban as there was no transport. I stayed on the floor in the classroom of Calypso, where Jay did his instructor course. It seemed a world of bother to figure out how to get back so in the meantime I
did a few dives. The visibility kind of sucks there but wow, the wreck dives rocked! Brindle bass and Zambezi sharks, wohoo!
Until next time - look after yourselves - and check out my photo at www.shootout.co.za
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ali
non-member comment
well done
Freda...I absolutely love this photo...you are soooooo talented...well done for winning...XXXXXXXXX