Surfing at Muizenberg
One of my favorite parts of living in Cape Town is the accessibility of some world-class beaches on the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Muizenberg is a quick and beautiful train ride from where I live, making it an easy afternoon adventure. With a number of surf shops offering rentals, lessons, and hot showers along the beachfront, there is an infectious energy to get into the frigid water and relish in the power of the ocean. A haven for beginner to advanced surfers and regular beach bums, Muizenberg certainly offers something for everyone.
From reading various other blogs and travel websites, I've learned that surfing around Cape Town is best in the winter for several reasons including diminishing crowds at the lineup. The water is a bone chilling 57°F (14°C) which merits a cozy 5/3mm wetsuit, but I've made it a habit to go out at least once a week. While I was in Durban, I got myself a 2/2mm shortie which was perfect for the weekend, but I'll get great use out of it for when I return to the warm summer shores in the States.
South Africa, especially the Cape Peninsula, is notorious for the omnipresence of great white sharks. However, the Shark Spotting Programme is the only program of its kind in the world which aims to protect both beachgoers and aquatic life. The program balances the needs of both people and white shark conservation by "pro-actively reducing the interaction and conflict between recreational water users and sharks." Over the past few years, Cape Town has experienced an increase in the number of great white sharks sighted in the in-shore zone. In response to these events and the increased fear by water users, particularly in False Bay (where Muizenberg is located), the Shark Spotting Programme evolved as a community driven effort to improve the safety of recreational water users.
Additional advantages of the program are job creation and skills development for disadvantaged groups, environmental education and awareness to the public, and collection of data to contribute to the knowledge base of white shark coastal occurrence. While the program has its limitations (detecting threats in poor visibility, human error, operating hours), Shark Spotters has proven to be an efficient shark warning and safety system at appropriate beaches in the region.
Maintaining a respect for the ocean and all which inhabit it are critical parts of surfing and general coastal culture. It's imperative to understand that as humans, we enter the depths of another world where we are purely visitors. Living by the sea for most of my life has ingrained in me a deep appreciation for the water that mustn't ever be taken for granted.
