Quarter mile

Last Updated (Monday, 28 September 2009 13:28) Written by Administrator Friday, 31 July 2009 16:13

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¼-Mile

Maximum depth: 13 msunlight on quarter mile

This reef is the closest to the shore, situated just beyond Jesser Point. In summer (December to March) it is host to the pregnant female Raggies (Sand Tiger Sharks).

Wonderful photographs are always produced by divers on this reef, because it is very shallow and photographers are able to take advantage of the ambient light available.

The reef is not a classic coral reef because of it being so exposed and close to the surface, but has large structures of sponges, sea squirts and rocks. When conditions are very good, it is a very rewarding dive, as divers are able to view unusual, not often seen creatures that enjoy the strong surf conditions. Something very surprising on our last dive there was a huge number (at least 40) of Cat-faced Rock Cods, which surprised all of the divers as they are not seen very often.

Above:A picture taken upwards

illustrating the sunlight penetration

Below: Sea Goldies on a rocky ledge covered in

algae, hydroids and small sea weeds

goldies

A large Cup Sponge with a Tiger Cowry cuddling with
a Sea -squirt ridge. 2 Soft Corals in the foreground

090720-Garden-of-eben-quarter-mile-069

Eugomphodus taurus

Raggie

Spotted Ragged-tooth Shark, also called Sand Tiger Shark

Length: 3 meters.

Preys on fish, small sharks and crustaceans.Raggie

They normally live in the cold waters of the Eastern Cape and migrate to Aliwal Shoal for mating. Then the pregnant females move up to the Sodwana Bay area, normally arriving mid-December and staying here for 2-3 months. They then move back to the Eastern Cape, where they give birth to 2 live young.

Raggies are very special sharks. All Sharks have two uteruses, but where the Raggies differ: they give birth to up to 5 babies alive in each uterus. The dominant baby will then eat all its siblings. The mother then continues to lay unfertilized eggs into the uterus to feed her 2 babies (one in each uterus). In spite of all this expenditure of energy to lay the eggs, she hardly eats anything herself during this time. That’s why she has to slow her whole metabolism down and is so relaxed and chilled out when she visits Sodwana Bay.

They also have superb buoyancy control. No sharks have swim bladders so they can only rest at the bottom or keep swimming, Raggies are not bound by this restriction because what they do is swim to the surface and swallow air, so they can hover motionless in the water next to the diver without moving a muscle – except their eyes which they use to study the divers.

Diving with them on Quarter-Mile reef is very controlled and is an absolutely awesome experience.