Text: Dirk van den Berg. Photos: Dirk van den Berg & Marico Oog. Article from the August 2012 issue of DO IT NOW Magazine.
For the avid diver in Gauteng, driving to the coast for a quick dive is not always feasible. Luckily there are a few fresh water alternatives close by to choose from. Miracle Waters and Bass Lake are probably the most popular fresh water sites, but are often overcrowded and crowded freshwater dive sites lead to poor visibility. So if you are looking for a new and unique freshwater dive experience, then Marico Oog is definitely a must!
Also known as ‘Die Oog’, Marico Oog is situated near the town of Lichtenburg, roughly a two-and-a-half hour drive from Johannesburg. It’s a small natural spring that is surrounded by reeds and filled with beautiful water lilies. The water lilies anchor their roots in the shallow sections of the spring and extend their stems all the way to the surface, where their brilliant white flowers float on the surface. These stems create a remarkable underwater forest, both striking to look at and fun to play in. Hiding amongst the underwater vegetation is a variety of fresh water fish that are extremely tame and allow divers a rare opportunity to get up close and personal. A few fresh water eels also lurk amidst the reeds and lily stems, and although sightings are exceptionally rare the mere possibility of spotting one of these elusive creatures creates a sense of excitement and anticipation.
The Oog is made up of various interlinking fresh water pools that stretch over a number of farms’ corner boundaries. Some of the local farmers have erected fences running through the pools to restrict access to their section of the Oog. Luckily some innovative divers were kind enough to cut underwater entrances into these fences, allowing free access to all the pools – if you are brave enough to tempt the farmers’ ire. That being said, these ‘border crossings’ add to the overall excitement of the dive!
There are also short tunnels or overhangs to explore. These overhangs are large sections of soil that are held together by the roots of the water vegetation, creating a roof of soil under which one can pass through to yet another section of the Oog. Passing through these overhangs is rather exciting, but is only recommended for advanced divers. It also should not be attempted during night dives because the narrow openings quickly become littered with soil fragments, thus drastically reducing visibility. We learnt this lesson the hard way during a night dive while navigating through the overhang. The viz got so bad so quickly that we were not able to see a bright Cyalume half a metre in front of us.
Of all the pools, the largest pool is also the deepest at 14m. The average depth of the other pools is rather shallow at 3-4m, hence good buoyancy control is essential. It is advisable to add one additional weight to compensate for the shallow dive and keep you from bobbing up to the surface every couple of minutes. The average visibility of the spring is phenomenal! On the first dive of the day the viz easily reaches 20m, but can quickly drop to 0m if the spring becomes overcrowded and inexperienced divers kick up debris from the bottom of the spring. To avoid this happening, a maximum of eight divers are allowed in the Oog at any given time. Fortunately, unlike Miracle Waters and Bass Lake, the sediment tends to settle rather quickly, restoring the brilliant viz in just over an hour.
A training grid has been added to the large 14m pool that sits at 4.5m, further helping to minimise sediment that’s kicked up. The grid also affords you the exceptional opportunity to lie on your back and stare up at the clouds through the clear and calm water above. This is even more breathtaking during a night dive, when the clouds give way to the bright night sky and underwater star gazing suddenly becomes possible. Night dives are definitely recommended!
The facilities at Marico Oog are similar to most other inland diving sites; they meet your basic needs, but don’t expect too much luxury. The basics include hot water, showers, toilets and braai facilities. There’s ample camping space, as well as three chalets. If you are not too fussy, then a relaxing weekend is easily achievable. One important thing to remember is that there is no compressor at Marico Oog, so you have to bring enough cylinders with you to cater for all your dives. Your air should last longer than usual as the majority of the diving is shallow and your dive times will be shorter because the entire Oog is only as big as half a rugby field (all ponds combined). Be aware that only MTN users will have cell reception here. A friendly warning: the surrounding roads are unfortunately in a very poor condition and littered with potholes. I hit a pothole on my way back from a dive and wrote off a tyre, so just be careful.
To conclude, I would definitely recommend a trip to Marico Oog if you are looking for a unique fresh water diving experience, or just a relaxed diving weekend not too far from home.
Marico Oog Q & A:
Q: Can anyone dive there?
A: It’s open to everyone and you are not restricted by group bookings.
Q: Do you have to pay to dive?
A: Yes, the day visitor rates are R50 per person and R10 per car.
Q: What accomodation is available?
A: There are various accommodation options including a 5, 3 and 2 sleeper chalet that range in price from R150 to R250 per day plus an entrance fee of R50,p/p, p/d and a vehicle fee of R10 p/v, p/d. Chalets come with beds, kitchen (not stocked), refrigerator and either a bath or shower. Camping options include tents at R70 p/d and R50 p/p, p/d and a once off fee of R10 p/v; or caravans at R80 p/d and R50 p/p, p/d and a once off fee of R10 p/v.
Q: Is this a place for young divers?
A: Yes, divers who are new to the sport and with limited experience will comfortably be able to dive at the Oog. Some diving schools use it to do qualifying dives for Open Water courses. However, only advanced divers should attempt diving through the overhangs.
Q: What other inland dive sites are there:
A: Wondergat (near Mafikeng); Miracle Waters (near Digby Brits); Bass Lake (just outside Johannesburg); Meiringspoort (Oudtshoorn); Komati Springs aka Badgat (25km from Badplaas); Boesmansgat (near Kuruman in the Northern Cape); Bobbejaansgat (40km north of Wondergat) and Wetsgat (east of Pretoria).
Freshwater diving tips:
- Remember to adjust your diving computer to the correct altitude. Most diving computer’s default altitude is set to sea level. Adjusting your altitude will affect your maximum dive times.
Many fresh water dive sites have tunnels, caves and overhangs. These can be very tempting to new and curious divers, but extremely dangerous if the diver has not done the necessary training. Only attempt restricted dives once properly qualified and under the supervision of an experienced guide.- Ensure you have good buoyancy control and don’t fin too close to the bottom of the dive site, as you will kick up silt.
- Dive in winter! The water temperature at inland dive sites drops dramatically during the winter months. Most divers stay away because of the cold, but if you are brave enough and have sufficient insulation against the cold, you are guaranteed to have a great dive. Visibility will be very good, due to the lack of activity at the sites, and chances are you will have the entire dive site to yourself.
- Do your homework. Not all the dive sites are fully equipped. It would be wise to contact the relevant dive site beforehand to determine what facilities they offer. Some dive sites don’t have air fill facilities, while others are fully equipped to service all your diving needs. Also take note of the nearest hospital and decompression chamber. Cell phone reception is also not guaranteed at all sites.
| More info on the Gauteng area |
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