THE GREATEST SHOAL ON EARTH!
Extraordinary barely describes the sardine run! This isn’t just another dive expedition, this is a complete immersive experience into one of the greatest underwater phenomenon known that occurs from May to end July along the South African coastline, and found nowhere else in the world. Rivalling the wildebeest migration, it’s the greatest gathering of ocean predators known. Thousands of dolphins drive vast shoals of sardines into densely packed bait balls. Following close behind are seabirds, sharks, game fish, whales, and other marine life with little else but sardines on their mind!
Join me on this once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of what many of the world’s top wildlife photographers and filmmakers consider the most intense and spectacular marine wildlife event in the world.
Watch video below!
7 days 6 divers only South Africa
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive Durban and transfer to to N’taba River Lodge & Spa, a tranquil setting on the Umzimvubu River in Port St Johns, South Africa. It is approximately a 6-hour drive so please arrive before midday. Once settled in at the lodge, we will meet to go over camera gear and photography details. We will also prepare dive gear, and meet with our skipper, dive crew and aircraft spotter pliot – they will share details of what to expect the following day.
Day 2 – 6: Every morning around 07h00 we depart from the N’taba Lodge pier on the river and enter the Indian Ocean. For the next five hours or more, depending on the action, we aim to locate shoals of sardines in order to view the feeding activity of the numerous species. Every day after diving we will meet for a photo workshop session.
Day 7: Transfer back to Durban International airport after breakfast, or to Aliwal Shoal if you are extending your trip to do the shark diving with me.
ABOUT WORKSHOP
This workshop is aimed at enthusiastic underwater photographers whether experienced or novice. There is no minimum camera requirement. The sardine run is one of the most challenging underwater photography events I have experienced – the animals move incredibly fast and it can be very overwhelming to begin with. Having photographed the sardine run a number of times I have compressed the hard lessons I learnt in order to capture great images into the few days of this workshop. By sharing what I do before, in the water, and after, I aim to assist you to improve your results. This underwater photography workshop will consist of 3 modules divided over the period of the expedition.
Module 1: Theory
The aim of this module is to assist you with the basic photography knowledge, or a refresh on what might be a little rusty, or help you to improve your wide angle, underwater action photography. I will assist each photographer based on their photography skills and needs whether experienced or beginner, therefore this module includes but is not limited to:
- A recap of photography fundamentals
- How to shoot fast moving underwater subjects
- Best settings to ensure best results
- Strobes versus natural light
- Composition and moving subjects
- Matching your equipment with your expectations
- Challenges you’re likely to experience and how to solve them
Module 2: Theory comes to life
This module aims to get you out there and shooting and continues throughout the week. I assist you at sea and look at what you have shot, analyse and problem solve, and help you to achieve great results. I allocate time for each student and provide individual review, both at sea and daily after diving. The group image review sessions are a great way to share and learn from each other.
Module 3: Post Processing
Because of the many hours I have spent processing images I am quick to select the best out of hundreds of images, identify problems and quickly fix these with only a few key adjustments in order to transform them into stunning and powerful images. In this module I teach you my tricks. This module includes getting images from your camera to computer and gives you tips necessary to organize, archive, and improve your images. Includes image manipulation using Adobe Photoshop and Camera Raw and/or Lightroom. It is designed for the photographer who already has some basic Lightroom/Camera Raw and Photoshop experience, but it is also very helpful for those working with these software packages for the first time. It is essential to have either Lightroom or Camera Raw and Photoshop installed on your computer. This module includes, but is not limited to the following:
- How I manipulate my images in Camera Raw/Lightroom to enhance images into killer shots.
- Photoshop adjustments – my personal workflow.
- Tips on salvaging images that are over or underexposed, poor composition etc. but great content and worth the effort.
- Copyright and why it is important.
- Preparing images for posting, best settings and apps for social media.
- Preparing images for print.
INCLUDED
- Photography Workshop with Lesley
- Shared accommodation for seven nights on a full-board basis.
- Five sea days
- Cylinder and weights
- Transfers Durban to Wild Coast
EXCLUDED
- Flights
- Airport to Durban Transfers
- Additional dive equipment
- Activities on non diving days
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Single supplement
WHAT TO BRING
Temperature
Water 68 – 72°F (20 – 23°C) Surface 60 – 78°F (14 – 26°C)
- Wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins (can hire)
- Drybag for the boat
- Wet weather gear: jacket, beanie, sunhat for the boat
WHAT YOU’LL SEE
Sharks
- Copper sharks, Carcharhinus brachyurus
- Spotted ragged tooth shark, Carcharias Taurus
- Black tip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus
- Dusky sharks, Carcharhinus obscurus
Cetaceans
- Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis
- Indian ocean Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus
- Killer whale, Orcinus orca
- Brydes whale, Balaenoptera edini
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Pinnipeds
- Cape fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus
Birds
- Cape Gannet, Morus capensis
- Petrels and Shearwaters
- Blackbrowed Albatross, Diomedea melanophiris
- African penguin, Shpenicus demersus
18-25 JULY 2025
Send enquiry for costs.
All photos copyright Lesley Rochat