Easter Weekend 2024

Coral Divers and Sodwana Bay beach

We have already published a couple of posts about our visits to Sodwana Bay. This is our favourite place in South Africa where we go when Berto wants to go scuba diving while I take long walks on the pristine beach and relax with my toes in the pure white sand.

Previous times our visits always fell on December months, but this was our first time in Sodwana Bay during an Easter weekend. Our flight from East London to Durban only took an hour, but driving the 353km/219 miles to Sodwana Bay in a rental car took us more than four hours – Easter traffic!

As we approached King Shaka International Airport in Durban, we could already see from the plane how long the queues of cars on the N2 highway were at the toll gates. However, with loads of patience (and tasty snacks) we reached Sodwana Bay in good spirit.

Long queue at the toll gate

Threatening thunderclouds on our way

Sodwana Bay is on the KwaZulu Natal north coast, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. Our choice of accommodation was Coral Divers in the Sodwana Bay National Park which is situated within the beautiful iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Whenever we arrive at Coral Divers, an absolute tranquility overwhelms us. We were last here at the end of 2021 and definitely missed Sodwana Bay!

Our chalet between the trees at Coral Divers

Home for the next few days

We only had time to drop our luggage in our chalet before Berto went to attend his first dive info session which is held every evening at 18:30 in the communal area. With his dives booked for the next few days, we raised our glasses and cheers on a long-overdue visit to Sodwana Bay.

Cheers!

It was lovely to be back on the beach of Sodwana Bay. After Berto did his first dive, we went for a long walk. It was pure joy to soak our feet in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Coral Divers’ dive operation on the beach of Sodwana Bay

On the beach

And that’s how you relax on the beach

It’s always fun to hop on Coral Divers’ ‘taxi’ which regularly drives between our accommodation and the beach – a tractor with a trailer.

Taxi of Coral Divers

Back at Coral Divers we could cool off in their sparkling pool and then relax with a bottle of wine over a delicious lunch.

Pool and wine – that summer feeling

Lunch

It is important to remember that one should not feed the monkeys (even if they are looking at you with those big pleading eyes). They will not hesitate to grab food that is left unattended.

“Is that now lunch for two or three?”

One of the most enjoyable things at Coral Divers is dinner time. Big fires are lit where everyone can ‘braai’ and this is where strangers soon become friends.

‘Braai’ time

Traditional South African ‘braai’ meal

On the second day of diving we woke up to a thunderstorm. Not that it bothered the divers much – they were going to get wet anyway!

Diving equipment ready to be transported to the beach

Divers on Coral Divers’ ‘taxi’

I first enjoyed an orange juice and muffin in Coral Divers’ restaurant while I waited for the worst of the rain to subside. When I got down to the beach, it looked so beautiful with the threatening thunderclouds that I didn’t mind getting a little wet.

Thunderstorm at Sodwana Bay beach

Berto’s boat comes back from their dive

We ended the evening with a drink we’ve been wanting to have at Sodwana Bay for a long time – Tipo Tinto R&R. It’s a Rum & Raspberry spirit cooler drink that is particularly popular in Mozambique – with a cherry on top. Why does it feel like we’re on an island?

Tipo Tinto R&R

The next day the rain clouds moved away and families took the opportunity to relax in the rock pools. While Berto was diving, I went for a long walk on the beach to the Jesser Point Lighthouse. This is the second youngest lighthouse in South Africa and was first lit in 1986.

Rock pools at Sodwana Bay beach

Jesser Point Lighthouse

Dinner at Coral Divers was once again a wonderful time. Divers showed each other their photos and videos and we sat outside chatting until late. Life is good.

Dinner at Coral Divers

The last day of diving ended on a high note. Berto’s boat came across a school of dolphins as they came back from their dive. The divers swam with them for a while before returning to the beach. And although I didn’t see the dolphins, it was great to go for a long walk on the beach for the last time.

A last stroll on the beach at Sodwana Bay

We booked a table at Mseni Beach Lodge, just a short drive from Coral Divers for our last dinner in Sodwana Bay.

Pool at Mseni Beach Lodge

View (and wine) from the deck of Mseni’s restaurant

The food at Mseni was absolutely delicious! I chose Dorado for my main course and can honestly say I have never eaten such a nice piece of fish.

Starters

Main course – the Dorado (on the right) was amazing

We had such a great meal and couldn’t eat dessert too. But then Berto showed me the dessert menu … Pastéis de Nata. You know me – we simply had to take 2 of these delicious tarts back to our chalet.

Pastéis de Nata

As we ate our Pastéis de Nata in bed that evening, we talked about our amazing time at Sodwana Bay and Coral Divers. This place is very close to our hearts and we hope to return sooner rather than later.

  • In the next two posts we will dive with Berto to look through his eyes at the beautiful coral, colourful fish and other wonderful sea creatures. (You can read about that here and here.)