7/19/2015 - Penguins, sharks and chum - a true team building experience.

We had a quick breakfast at the hotel in the morning, as we were being picked up at 10 AM. We had asked to be picked up early so we could go see the penguins! The beach in Simon's Town has a large colony of penguins living on it where you can go and see them up close in their natural habitat. It was just 60 Rand (about $6) to get admittance, and we spent time and got plenty of pictures and videos. We even saw another chameleon, for the second time this trip, and baby penguins nestled under a parent or two

 

  

We went back to the pier, and had a quick minute to eat something. We got some fish and chips (available just there), and ate hurriedly - myself, Erik and Miles. Leah, Maria and Nelia chose not to eat just before getting on a boat. I was worried, too, but was also hungry.

  

We boarded, and were introduced to Lana, Brandon, and the skipper/captain, whose name I don't remember. They explained that there were no guarantees, that they can't control nature, etc., and we took off for the 25 minute boat ride to seal island. There were already boats there when we arrived, and the crew picked a spot to anchor and ready the cage. They showed us Sam, the board cut to look like a seal carcass outline, and explained they would be using 'chum' - a mixture of tuna and other fishy bits and pieces, to help attract sharks via smell. It smelled a lot like fishy poop. Besides chum and the decoy, they also had a large tuna head on a rope. 

   

 

Everyone suited up, which included a very-well-covering neoprene suit, plus a weight belt, and really good goggles. The suits were still wet from the morning excursion, and hard to pull on as they were long and tight. The first group consisted on Leah, Erik, Miles and one other guy. The sharks showed up immediately, and got very close. It was frightening and exciting all at once. Meanwhile, the boat rocking and the tight suit were not helping the fish settle well in my stomach. I was scared, but when the first group got out, I was determined to go in as I'd been waiting more than 6 months to do this. Two teenagers, a brother and sister from Chicago, got in first, then myself. The suits kept us warm in the cold winter water, enough where we only knew it was cold if we put our hands in. I was breathing heavy at first, but Nelia suggested Erik and Miles come in with me as well. They helped me calm down and I got my bearings with the goggles fogging, and getting my underwater camera ready. Soon, there were sharks again and we got great views and great pictures, including watching a shark grab Sam right in front of us and thrash the board around in frustration. When the crew up top on the second deck saw sharks approach, they would tell the cage to get ready, then scream, 'DOWN! DOWN!' when they should be in view. They also gave directions on which way to look - ie to the right, left, beneath us, etc.

  

  

Maria had decided she didn't want to do it, and instead watched from up above - she said the view was great up there, and got some excellent videos, too. Nelia had not wanted to do it from the beginning, but decided she wanted to as long as she could be put in the cage between Erik and Miles. She did it, but did not go underwater.

Near the end of our turn, Miles, Nelia and Erik got out, and I held out just long enough for them to get out before I threw up in their corner of the cage, opposite the other two people behind me. I aimed out of the cage, and the crew thanked me for the extra chum. I cleaned the wet suit, then climbed up with the others. We all needed to help one another in pulling off our wet suits. 

   

  

Some of the others were cold, but once the wet suit was off, I found the temperature just perfect for drying off my bathing suit and enjoying the sea air. We all took towels and turns in the changing room. By the time I went in, the crew was nearly ready to leave and did so while I was changing. Lana had warned us not to go up top or down below if we were feeling sick, and I started feeling sick in the middle of changing. Once more, I held out until I was dressed, out of the changing room, out of the main chamber, and aiming off the side of the boat before I vomited again. Erik soon followed my example. It was a lovely and proud trip back, which included seeing sharks breach in reaction to Sam dragging behind us and being jiggled a bit by Brandon. We saw them breach twice. The crew told us to count ourselves lucky as they had not seen a breach in 3 weeks. I don't know if that was true, but considering we thought there would be little chance of seeing it at all, let alone during an afternoon dive, we were really happy - and tired. 

Inevitably, Erik falls asleep on a bumpy speedy boat ride back to shore.

We drove back to our hotel in Cape Town and took time to freshen up and shower and rest before heading for dinner. We got a recommendation from the front desk for a restaurant that had sushi but also other things at the waterfront (where everyone has been telling us we must eat), and walked down about 25 minutes or so. It was in the mall, and it took us a few minutes to find exactly where the restaurant was with the help of a few different people's directions, but we had a table within 10 minutes and had a great last dinner together, reflecting on the day and the whole trip. Tomorrow, we part ways.