Pilot Whales stranded at Kommetjie beach

My shark trip this morning was touch and go as the weather wasn't looking so good. I told my guests I would contact them early in the morning if we would go to sea. So,when I woke, I headed off to Muizenberg. Even though the weather wasn't looking bad, the swell was very big, and I was not going to take the boat out.

On the way home, around 7.45ish, I got a call from a paramedic buddy of mine. Pilot whales had beached themselves off Longbeach, Kommetjie. I phoned my crew, and asked if they wanted to assist me in helping out. "Yes, of course", they said, and I raced to my boat to get wetsuits.

When we arrived there where dozens and dozens of whales on the beach. Being still early, there where only about 30 people around. We started to move them back into the water, and getting them to try swim out to sea.

You need to get them with their dorsal fin upright. If they are on there side, they lay on there lungs suffocating. By moving them closer into the sea, we were successful in getting many off the beach.

By now many people where there, all eager to help. There was the NSRI, Sea Rescue, the police, marine biologists,local surfers and everyone gave a helping hand. With more and more coming onto the beach, it also started to get out of hand. Some where pulling them by there tails and pulling them on there side.

The NSRI, and the police cordoned off sections to try do some crowd control. I saw some young girls crying, as seeing these whales die was emotional.

After about 2.5 hours in the freezing cold, I called it quits. I tried to help, but to be honest, most will return and die. Only a handful will make it. No one really knows why they beach? Some say its because of illness, or one is in distress and so being in a close community they all follow suit.

Karen arrived later and took some pics. The dogs being none the wiser, seemed to be having a great time.

A few hours later, I phoned to see what the latest update was. A flat bed truck was on its way to take some whales to False Bay, where they would be taken into the deep sea. A good few were dead, and more had returned to the beach.

We don't see Pilot whales in False Bay. We get them offshore, and have seen them on many of our Pelagic Blue and Mako shark trip. By the looks of it, I think they were short tailed Pilot whales, but don't quote me on that.

Please feel free to leave a comment.

Holiday Season swimming precautions

16 men on a dead mans ship...Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum

With the holiday season here,everyone and their granny is heading off to the beach!

With more bathers,surfers and water sport users in the water,water accidents dramatically rise. Most of these are alcohol related.

Our shark spotters that sit on the mountain are constantly on the alert patrolling the surf zone for great white shark.

However, people must be aware that although the shark spotting programmes are considered very effective, they can never be 100% effective, and people must still use the sea at their own risk.

Considering the number of people who use the ocean on a daily basis, the actual number of attacks by Great White Sharks is extremely low. People are not the natural prey of the Great White Sharks. Cape Town has experienced 6 attacks in the last 5 yrs, and everyone entering the ocean must do so at their own discretion, knowing that they are entering a wild environment in which sharks naturally live.

We are entering their territory; they are not coming into ours.

Shark safety tips

If people exercise caution and are aware of their environment, the risk of attack can be lowered further. Here are some tips in reducing the risk of attack:

* Do not swim, surf or surf ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby.
* Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers.
* Do not swim if you are bleeding.
* Do not swim near river mouths.
* Do not swim, surf, surf ski at night.
* Do not swim near river mouths. Do not swim, surf or surf ski near where trek-netting,fishing or spear fishing is taking place.
* Do not dive for rock lobster using live bait.
* If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no mountain watches are present, consider using another beach for the day.
* Obey beach officials if told to leave the water.
* Consider kayaking or surf skiing when far out to sea, in a group.
* Pay attention to shark signage on beaches.

I hope that you find this information helpful and you act responsibly in the water.