CAPE TOWN, South Africa (11 Dec 2006) -- From next year, recreational scuba divers will need a permit before they enter the water in four of South Africa's marine protected areas, including Table Mountain National Park, Bird Island, Pondoland and Aliwal Shoal. The current exemption for recreational scuba divers expires on 31 December this year, the department of environmental affairs and tourism said in a statement on Monday. Diving businesses exempt However, scuba diving businesses remained exempt from requiring a permit for next year — or until such a time as an operator permit system was in place — provided they obtained such exemption from the department's marine and coastal management (MCM) division. "All affected scuba diving business operators therefore need to obtain an exemption from MCM by applying via email or post...Operators must keep their exemption with them (or a certified copy) and a list of the names of all clients with them on each dive for possible inspection (on the boat, or, if shore diving, in their car)," the department said. Conditions applicable to scuba diving in the MPAs were available on the departmental website www.deat.gov.za or wwwmcm-deat.gov.za, at MCM''s offices situated at 7th floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, and at certain post offices. "Following consultation with scuba-diving representatives, the diving conditions within the MPAs have been relaxed to allow night diving in three of the MPAs under certain conditions (excluding Bird Island where scuba diving is restricted to between 8am and 4pm daily). | | South Africa's new scuba diving permit system will take effect in 2007. "Diver propulsion vehicles and ''shark sticks'' may be used," it said. Recreational scuba divers could obtain the required permit from post offices for an annual fee of R75, and a R45 monthly fee. SOURCE - SAPA |
