Beach bum bliss

Delightfully unpretentious and pretty close to paradise

 

Picture the communal bliss depicted in Alex Garland’s now-famous The Beach and you’ve arrived at something very similar to the laid-back atmosphere that permeates the picturesque Coral Divers resort in Sodwana Bay.

First prize is, of course, the pristine beach and the colourful reefs that crown this part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park coastline, but when it reaches the time of the day for a little downtime, the cosy log cabins that are dotted around the Coral Divers bar, restaurant and reception areas provide all of the creature comforts your heart could desire.

Lazy  loungers on  shady  wooden decks beg for a cup of coffee and a good book, while the outdoor en suite shower and crisp white linen gently  hint at that holiday staple  – the afternoon nap. Should the soothing seclusion start to wear off, then the bustling  Coral Divers communal areas are bound to provide a welcome distraction. Divers and dive masters are constantly popping in and out of the dive shop, checking their gear and chatting to anyone who will listen,  while other guests who have taken an afternoon off from the ocean are likely to be found  enjoying  the refreshing fresh-water swimming pool and outdoor restaurant area.

The accommodation options at Coral Divers vary from camping and safari tents to standard and en suite log cabins. Similarly, the catering options include a plentiful breakfast and dinner buffet or an undercover braai area in the boma for those who have chosen self catering. The result of this easy ebb and flow of activity is a thoroughly relaxing atmosphere – guests are encouraged to come and go as they please (breakfast, for example, only ends at 11am, so if you choose to sleep in nobody is going to judge or hurry you) and tailor their diving and other outdoor interests as it pleases them.

A day out on the ocean will take the wind out of even the most avid party animal’s sails, so after the 7pm dive meeting (this is when  the following day’s dives are planned, and more importantly perhaps, stories and sightings of the day are enthusiastically shared in any and all languages) most guests stick around for another cold beer or two at the bar and then make their way pack to the comfort of their cabins or campsites. 

Coral Divers has all of the best features of a good backpackers venue (good company, good venue, eclectic and hippy-ish decor) but with none of the dodgy stories sometimes attached to such places. The only unpleasant part of a stay at Coral Divers has to be the departure. Just three short days spent at this charming establishment will   bring out the beach bum in the best of us, and as we reluctantly set the GPS and started to make our way, even our ever-nippy Ford Fiesta 1.6 Sport seemed reluctant to pull away and leave the breezy sea air behind. 

This article first appeared in CitiVibe in The Citizen on Friday 16 September 2011.

Enjoy Makhasa Game Reserve and Lodge (Hluhluwe) and Coral Divers (Sodwana Bay) for the ultimate bush-beach escape:

*The Bush & Beach full package includes six nights, six meals, five dives  and three game drives for only R2 100 per person (save R2 490).

*From Monday to Wednesday, stay at Coral Divers for two nights, three dives for R450 per person or three nights, five dives for only R600 per person (this applies to tented accommodation, upgrades are available)

*Offers valid until December 16, 2011

*For more information contact the central booking office on 033-345-6531, e-mail info@makhasa.co.za or visit www.coraldivers.co.za / www.makhasa.co.za.