Live is full of challenges and new beginnings!
This truth was brought home to me rather forcefully after a recent medical check-up, which indicated that having a heart and lifelong passion for sharks does guarantee the heart to tick smoothly forever. I am feeling well, am up and about but was advised to relax, exercise regularly and not too strenuously but sadly also to stop diving altogether!
This will effectively end the exciting diving chapter in my life. Although Jane and I had intended to retire from our guided tour operations during 2008, this earlier, even if only by a few months, enforced retirement came as a bit of a shock to both of us. However, it opens great opportunities for us to pursue our many other joint interests, in particular the outdoors, wildlife and shark protection at a more intense yet relaxed pace.
With great thanks we look back at an exciting diving and tour-operational career where we made many, many good and personal friends from the world over and managed to impart and share our passion for sharks, the marine environment, wildlife and the people and challenges of Africa.
Where it concerned shark protection, I, ever the “diplomat”, also made a good many enemies, some becoming good friends, now sharing our passion; others still have to see the light and the need for urgent and rigorous shark protection worldwide to prevent a major marine ecological disaster!
While we will discontinue our own tours and dive guiding with immediate effect, we will gladly assist our many loyal friends and ex-clients (same thing!) to arrange a special positive touring, diving and shark experience in Southern Africa. On request we will recommend suitable partners and operators that share the same passion as we do for guests, service, sharks and the environment.
This enforced change is also an opportunity to reflect on my shark diving experiences spanning more than 2 decades:
· Some 25 years ago in 1981 I was privileged to lead the first CHARTERED dive to the Aliwal Shoal and likewise the Protea Banks in 1991.
· Having been a Sergeant Police Diver with my own section for 8-years added experience and dives. By now these have accumulated to 4083 logged dives or 3964hrs 10 minutes underwater, plus, less precisely, an additional 500 unlogged dives. Sharks and I were able to observe each other at close quarters during 900 hours of these dives.
· In this period I introduced some 7000 divers to sharks. Most converted to ardent shark enthusiasts by the experience after some initial reservations!
Following and sharing my passion was recognised by three international awards and a KwaZulu Natal conservation award in recognition of my environmental, marine pipeline clean-up and shark conservation efforts and contribution to the establishment of the Aliwal-Shoal Marine Protected Area.
Sharkproject, an international initiative for the protection of and research into sharks made me an honorary member and their Shark Ambassador to South Africa. This association with an organisation and friends sharing my passion and commitment to shark protection worldwide is very rewarding and I will continue to support this cause with undiminished enthusiasm.
Some highlights in my diving career:
· NAUI and SSI Instructor with Platinum Pro 5000 status and Department of Tourism Scientific Diver.
This will effectively end the exciting diving chapter in my life. Although Jane and I had intended to retire from our guided tour operations during 2008, this earlier, even if only by a few months, enforced retirement came as a bit of a shock to both of us. However, it opens great opportunities for us to pursue our many other joint interests, in particular the outdoors, wildlife and shark protection at a more intense yet relaxed pace.
With great thanks we look back at an exciting diving and tour-operational career where we made many, many good and personal friends from the world over and managed to impart and share our passion for sharks, the marine environment, wildlife and the people and challenges of Africa.
Where it concerned shark protection, I, ever the “diplomat”, also made a good many enemies, some becoming good friends, now sharing our passion; others still have to see the light and the need for urgent and rigorous shark protection worldwide to prevent a major marine ecological disaster!
While we will discontinue our own tours and dive guiding with immediate effect, we will gladly assist our many loyal friends and ex-clients (same thing!) to arrange a special positive touring, diving and shark experience in Southern Africa. On request we will recommend suitable partners and operators that share the same passion as we do for guests, service, sharks and the environment.
This enforced change is also an opportunity to reflect on my shark diving experiences spanning more than 2 decades:
· Some 25 years ago in 1981 I was privileged to lead the first CHARTERED dive to the Aliwal Shoal and likewise the Protea Banks in 1991.
· Having been a Sergeant Police Diver with my own section for 8-years added experience and dives. By now these have accumulated to 4083 logged dives or 3964hrs 10 minutes underwater, plus, less precisely, an additional 500 unlogged dives. Sharks and I were able to observe each other at close quarters during 900 hours of these dives.
· In this period I introduced some 7000 divers to sharks. Most converted to ardent shark enthusiasts by the experience after some initial reservations!
Following and sharing my passion was recognised by three international awards and a KwaZulu Natal conservation award in recognition of my environmental, marine pipeline clean-up and shark conservation efforts and contribution to the establishment of the Aliwal-Shoal Marine Protected Area.
Sharkproject, an international initiative for the protection of and research into sharks made me an honorary member and their Shark Ambassador to South Africa. This association with an organisation and friends sharing my passion and commitment to shark protection worldwide is very rewarding and I will continue to support this cause with undiminished enthusiasm.
Some highlights in my diving career:
· NAUI and SSI Instructor with Platinum Pro 5000 status and Department of Tourism Scientific Diver.
· South Africa’s first underwater marine and shark diving Guide and the first trainer and assessor for Underwater Marine and Shark Diving Guides.
· Appointed as an NGO for Coastwatch, the WESSA marine lobby committee and SATSA for marine ecotourism.
· I serve on various environmental watchdog forums and committees, such as the Provincial Coastal Committee, for coastal and marine issues and the SAICCOR LAF and UIC LAF for marine effluent pipe issues.
Although now “beached” on medical advice, I intend to continue to follow my passion of shark, marine and environmental issues as an NGO.
Not being able to continue my underwater shark behaviour observations is saddening but should give me plenty of time to finish my book of observed shark behaviour gathered over the last 26-years and during the over 900-hours logged with shark only, thus sharing my experience with a much wider audience, so watch the press! J
Having spent years of time and experience to be accredited as South Africa’s first trainer and assessor for Underwater Marine and Shark Diving Guides, shark enthusiasts have not seen the last of me!
I will continue to personally offer my exciting and informative Underwater Marine and Shark Diving Guide Training and Assessment Courses on a regular basis. The associated underwater work will be done in conjunction with qualified underwater marine and shark diving guides that meet my requirements.
With these courses and the awareness generated therewith, I hope contribute to:
· A reversal of the damage done by inconsiderate cowboy divers and operators that have effectively chased the sharks from the Aliwal Shoal, depriving many future divers of a mind blowing and enlightening shark experience.
· Persuading the Recreational Diving Industry of having a representative body for Dive Charter Boat Operators and Dive Resorts and for them to employ accredited Underwater Guides to comply with the South African 2nd Tourism Act for the benefit of their clients and the marine environment.
Well-qualified Shark Underwater Guiding professional will contribute significantly to a safe, sustainable, INFORMED, interactive experience with marine flora, fauna and sharks for the sustained benefit and enjoyment of the diving industry, clients and the environment.
See you soon on one of these courses, well worth it even if you only want to use this knowledge for your increase personal enjoyment and understanding of sharks!
Cheers for now!
Andrew C. R. Cobb 21/11/07
THETA Trainer: #COB001C
THETA Assessor: #613/A/000B52.2005
Tel/Fax: 027 (0) 31 91642390
http://www.adventurescuba.co.za/
Provider AQN: http://www.aqn.za.org/
1. SATSA – NGO - Coastwatch NGO
5 comments:
Dear Andy,
all the best for your new phase of life. The sharks need you! Big Hug. Mica
Good luck with the new relaxed life style.............We're sure the sharks will miss you.
Take care
Karl & Sally Svendsen
Zanzibar
Hi Andy and Jane,
My name is Bill Marsten, I took your Shark Diving class back in 2001.
I just read on your website that, because of health issues, you will not be diving again. I wanted to say thank you for introducing me to Shark conservation and to thank you both for your hospitality while I was in South Africa.
Best wishes to you both.
-Bill-
Howzit Andy – its been a long while since we last spoke or dived together. I have been living in Sydney for 10 years now having last dived with you in March 1998. I am not sure if you remember me – I periodically dived with you for the previous 6 years or so having done my shark course around 1994 and my DM’s course some time before that – around 1992 or so if I remember correctly. Your garage served as our class room. I dived mostly with Clive Joss who you may remember lived in Clansthal (his wife Sharon was teacher at Umkomaas Junior School).
Time has since changed much in our lives, I live in Sydney, Clive and Sharon in the Gold Coast near Brisbane – and we don’t dive much anymore – more is the pity.
I read your web site by pure chance today and noted your decision to stop diving albeit for medical reasons. What a pity – I am sure you must miss it having been such an important part of your life. I assume you will continue with the overland tours. Best of luck for the future.
I still do a fair bit of paddling offshore and my shark experience has held me in good stead to date. There is no shortage of shark presence in and around Sydney and we regularly see Zambezi’s (Bull) shark in the larger bays and inlets – often chasing and beaching fish on the exposed bays (look on www.googlemaps.com.au and search Broken Bay north of Sydney to see the satellite images of the bay (Refuge Bay / America Bay / Flint and Steel etc). The sightings always bring back to mind the Protea Banks dives we did many years ago.
If ever you happen to find yourself over here let me know – would love to catch up and have a beer or two to reminisce.
Look after yourself and take it easy.
Cheers and best regards
Grant
Hi Andy,
You have spoilt us all these years with your presence , your business and your knowledge.
We truely miss you.
Concerning your underwater guiding course, i have done it, i have enjoyed it and i am proud of having had you as my teacher.
At the end of the day i am a legal underwater marine and shark diving giude. And that's what counts.
Good for you that you came up proactive and designed the relevant course.
Sorry for all the other agencies who can't get further than bickering.....
All the best to you and Jane and don't forget to visit us.
Roland and Beulah
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