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Algoa Bay, coastal region of Nelson Mandela Bay, boasts 40 km of magnificent beaches. With its perfect
combination of warm water, calm sea and fair breezes, it is one of the best sailing venues in the world
and a mecca for all beach and water sport enthusiasts. Water temperatures vary between 18 and 21 degrees
Celsius during summer and 14 to 19 degrees Celsius during winter. The sea conditions are generally calm
in the bay, except when the South Easterly wind is blowing. Most beaches are patrolled by fully trained
professional lifeguards during the summer season. A variety of beach areas exists that can be visited
and enjoyed by sunbathers or swimmers.
South Africa is the first country outside of Europe to win Blue Flag accreditation for its beaches as
Humewood Beach (Port Elizabeth) has been awarded "blue flag" status for the 2002/3 season. The Blue
Flag is an international award given only to those beaches that meet excellence in safety, amenities,
cleanliness and environmental standards.
King's Beach is a magnificent 1,6 km wide expanse of golden sand extending from the harbour wall to
Humewood. The beach is ideal for safe swimming, body surfing, sunbathing and long beach walks, and
includes facilities such as a supertube for the adventurous, a snack bar, parking area, change-rooms
and a lifesavers' centre.
The popular Hobie Beach, in the vicinity of Shark Rock Pier and the Boardwalk, is the venue for the annual "Splash Festival",
as well as the Beach Volleyball and World Boardsailing Championships. The beach, a favourite for swimming, sunbathing and body
surfing, also offers sheltered rock pools with interesting inter-tidal sea life. Pollock Beach, or the "Pipe" as it is known
locally, is favoured by surfers because of its excellent waves and surfing opportunities.
As one travels along Marine Drive to the picturesque seaside village of Schoenmakerskop, 24km away, there are picnic
spots, coves, rock pools and holiday resorts with safe bathing located along the rocky section of the shore. Pods of
dolphins have frequently been sighted in the area. Sardinia Bay, situated between Schoenmakerskop and Sea View, is
accessed by traveling along Sardinia Bay Road. This popular beach has picnic facilities and is regarded as one of the
best walking beaches with miles of unspoiled coastline. Fishing is not permitted as the coast has been declared a Marine
Reserve, but snorkeling and scuba diving are allowed and prove to be quite popular. Sardinia Bay is also the starting point
of the very popular eight-kilometer Sacramento hiking trail.
The "Northern beaches" is the term used for a vast stretch of sand dunes and shores which provide superb angling
and swimming opportunities. The area includes the following: New Brighton Beach, a large unspoilt beach located
just before Bluewater Bay. It has a promenade with cafeteria and children's' playground, change rooms,
lifesavers' tower, and offers good swimming and angling opportunities.
Bluewater Bay has a magnificent stretch of beach; Facilities include a car park, children's' playground and
ablution facilities, good swimming, fishing and surfing opportunities.
St George's Strand and Wells Estate, which is the closest beach to Joorst Park Holiday Resort, is accessed by travelling
along the N2 towards Grahamstown and taking the St George's Strand turn-off, opposite Wells Estate.
Apart from offering good swimming opportunities, the area has some fine sand dunes, attractive picnic spots, a large
children's' playground and a car park. Chalets and campsites are located at the nearby Joorst Park and St George's
Strand Holiday Resorts. Nelson Mandela Bay is known as the "Water Sport Capital of Africa" and offers national and international water sport
events throughout the year. Surf lifesaving, rubber ducking, jet skiing, canoeing, boardsailing, surfing and power-boating
events are held on a regular basis. Windsurfing, diving, swimming, sailing, fishing and angling are popular recreational
activities on the coastline.
There are three windsurfing options in "the Bay", namely Flat Water River Windsurfing and "Wild Side" Windsurfing
while Dufour Park, situated on the Swartkops River, is the ideal site for flat-water conditions. There are also
excellent conditions for wave sailing at the Swartkops River Mouth. While the South West wind creates side shore
starboard sailing opportunities.
Hobie Beach, situated just off Marine Drive, is excellent for both long-board and short-board sailing. Boardsailers must,
however, ensure that they do not sail within the bathing area. When the South East wind blows, a large shore break is
created. When the South West wind blows, the bay is generally calm and flat, although there is usually a small to
moderate shore break. Millers Point, opposite the Humewood Golf Club (along Marine Drive), is excellent for side /
onshore windsurfing. Boardsailers should, however, beware of the rocks at low tide.
Noordhoek, situated approximately eight kilometres from Hobie Beach, (Marine Drive), is totally exposed to ocean swells and
is described as "an awesome" site by experienced boardsailers. This is for "hard core" windsurfers who appreciate
excellent reef breaks and cross-shore conditions. It is important for boardsailers to check out the tides before
going windsurfing.
Apart from the fact that "The Bay" and surrounds offer some of best boardsailing conditions in the world, the area is also
excellent for bay and river sailing, as well as top quality wave riding and jumping recommended for experts only!
The diving sites in the Bay are of world-class quality with beautiful reefs, shipwrecks, a variety of fish and colourful soft coral
species. The protected warm waters of Algoa Bay provide scuba divers with the most exciting and diverse range of dive
sites in the country. Reefs and pinnacles range from depths of ten to thirty meters, especially round the Cape Recife
area, and visibility of up to 30 meters has been recorded.
Sea-Island, Cruises and Sundowner Cruises are on offer in Algoa Bay which enables one to see Cape Fur Seals,
numerous sea birds, numerous shipwrecks and sometimes even pods of dolphins or whales.
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For more detailed information specific to this attraction, please click on a link below:
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 Beaches Diving Fishing / Angling Marinas / Boating
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