Scuba diving in South Africa

Scuba diving in South Africa

South Africa will ensure that its funding for poor students as well as strong performers at the country's universities and colleges increases every year, says Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande. He was speaking at the Cosatu ... Many ... SA 'Will Keep Growing Student Funding'

(www.abndigital.com) In the United States, it is thought that a student loan bubble is about to burst and has the potential to be worse than the housing crisis of 2008. This is as student loan debt approaches trillion which is more than what Americans are borrowing on their credit cards. The same may be happening in South Africa, and ABN's Nonkululeko Moeketsi investigates.

http://steelgrillrestaurant.com// South Africa's Student Loan Bubble

If it's variety you're after, you've come to the right place. South Africa has an enormously long coastline ranging from about 35°S to 27°S, which isn't quite within the usual range for tropical diving.

But the Mozambique Current flows down our east coast, bringing warm tropical water with it, and at Sodwana Bay we have the most southerly coral reefs in the world.

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Here you'll find the full complement of pretty colourful fish and some great nudibranchs, including the outrageous Spanish dancer.

Whale sharks, turtles, dolphins and ragged tooth sharks are often seen in specific areas.

As you head down the coast the underwater environment changes gradually until, once you reach Cape Town, you're diving in chilly but beautiful kelp forests. There are three major types of kelp, and a short portion of the Western Cape coast is the only place in the world that they all grow together.

If you've always shunned cold water diving, consider it. Sure, you have to don a thick wetsuit with constraining hoodie and gloves, but it's worth it. Diving in kelp is like walking in a forest - you float beneath the canopy and admire the surprisingly colourful reef life.

Off Cape Town, divers regularly see anemones in colours ranging from electric blue or deep red to pale pink, nudibranchs of almost every colour you can imagine, and a range of small creatures in and around the bright orange and sulphur yellow sponges.

There are dive schools in almost every centre, with a surprising number in landlocked Johannesburg, where people do their training before heading down to Sodwana Bay for their qualifying dives.

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There is even an inland dive resort near Johannesburg, where students can do their first dive or two in a disused quarry. Komati Springs is a much deeper disused quarry in Mpumalanga province, where rebreather, mixed gas and deep diving courses are run.

Take careful note of your no-fly limits, however. A flight from sea level to Johannesburg can take only an hour, but you gain about 2 000 metres (7 000 feet) in altitude - that's without even considering the flight.

This represents a major risk, so adjust your itinerary to include a day of sightseeing, shopping or beach lounging between diving and travelling to Johannesburg.

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Question by Moonfairy: Student Loans in South Africa? Where can I apply for a student loan? I've already applied once at FNB and they denied it because of the new credit law. If I apply at another bank, will they do the same? Are there any companies that specialise in student loans like overseas? Best answer for Student Loans in South Africa?:

Answer by working gal
There's a company called Eduloan that specialises in student loans. But first try applying for financial aid from the university you're applying to. This is cheaper, because the interest only begins when you graduate. Find out about bursaries from the financial aid office: if this is postgraduate study, there are lots of bursaries you could qualify for (although some are reserved for South Africans). If you can get someone to stand surety, you ought to be eligible for a student loan at a bank. Phone a bank and ask exactly what the requirements are to qualify for a student loan. Then maybe there's something you can do to meet those requirements. Also, bear in mind that you only need to pay the deposit up-front. The rest of the fees you can pay at the end of the year (you don't get your qualification until you've paid them). So that gives you a bit more time to come up with funding. Whatever you do, don't go to a loan shark (the kind of 'instant cash' shops you see in the city centre). They charge exhorbitant interest, and take your ATM card (with pin) and ID book until you pay back the full amount - and they can send thugs round if you don't pay. If there really is no other option, you can postpone registration at university for another year (your acceptance will still be valid) and work to save up.

Answer by MB1810
My sister is currently studying at Potchefstroom with a student loan from standard bank. The banks usually requires some form of surety that the loan will be paid once you have finished your qualification, in my sisters case my parents signed as surety for her loan and are currently paying only the interest portion of the loan. In addition to this you need to prove to them that you are serious about your studies, by giving them good matric results or results from another tertiary institution, because many students call it quits after the first year because of too much pressure.The loans from standard bank amounts to a Maximum of R30 000, which basically means it's just enough to cover your course, your lodging will have to be financed by another means unless you can obtain a scholarship from the university. I suggest you try the other local financial institutes before turning to an overseas company.

Answer by Anria A
Do not trust an overseas company that will give you a loan, they are loan sharks and the interest will kill you. No respectable UK or US bank will loan to an SA student unfortuneately. As said in a previous answer, try Standard Bank. It is best if you go with your parents, and you need proof that you can pay it back, eg good matric results will prove you wont leave the course half way through, and if your parents have a house, that is insurance for the bank that, if you dont keep up the repayments, they can sell the house.

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