Who are Andy and Jane?
Andy Cobb and his wife Jane run an incoming safari-tour company, for scuba divers, specialising in tailor-made, fully guided, informed and sustainable interactive experiences with marine flora and fauna and notably SHARKS. Likewise sustainable interactive experiences with African wild life and an introduction to Zulu culture with Andy as your GUIDE. Jane sees to the administration, quotes and bookings and accommodation bookings.
The South African Tourist Services Association (SATSA) accredits their Company for which Andy serves as an NGO on many conservation and environmental panels. Andy is passionate about the African and marine environment and is only too happy to share his knowledge.
Andy (NAUI Instructor #8075 – SSI Divecon Instructor #DCSI50SA – SSI Pro 5000 Diver and, S.A. D.O.T. Scientific Diver) is a legend in South African diving circles. He started diving in the days when you literally had to make your own dive equipment, and has dived continuously for more years than most divers have been alive. Andy is a past chairman of the Kenya Divers Association and was a South African police diver for 8 years. Andy took the first chartered boat of divers and pioneered diving on the Aliwal Shoal since 1981 for groups and likewise pioneered diving on the Protea Banks since 1991.
Andy is an outspoken campaigner on Marine Environmental issues
and is active in marine conservation forums and is a lobbyist against unsustainable forms of fishing. In September 1998 Andy was nominated for the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation award, in recognition to outstanding commitment and contribution to the natural environment
of KwaZulu-Natal.
Andy was a Trustee on the Aliwal Shoal Forum to have the Aliwal Shoal made into a Marine protected Area (MPA) and likewise a Trustee on the South Coast Marine Pipeline Forum, to clean up marine outfall effluent pipelines. Andy is an NGO for SATSA / Coastwatch on the Provincial Coastal Committee that monitors coastal and marine issues off KZN and on the Coastwatch Committee, the marine lobby group of WESSA.
Sharks are one of his passions and he is active in the conservation of sharks. He is a member of the IFAW Africa Shark Conservation
Working Group, an honorary member of the Sharkproject and the South African Ambassador of the Sharkproject.
He is registered with KwaZulu Tourism and accredited Underwater Marine Guide, Shark Diving Guide and Nature Guide. Likewise he is registered with THETA as a trainer and accredited by SAQA as an assessor for Underwater Marine Guides, Shark Diving Guides.
Since 1985 he has been recording shark data for the Natal Sharks
Board and has over 800 hours logged diving with shark only and introduced over 7000 divers to shark and changed their attitude
towards sharks.
As an educationalist Andy's Marine Environment, Shark Diving,
Advanced Shark Diving and wreck diving courses are sought after.
The International United Diving Instructors awarded Andy in August 1996, “The Best Shark Diving Instructor” and Honorary Instructor certificate. Andy ran the first course for 30-Shark Dive Masters at Sodwana in 1999. Andy’s courses are an experience more than just a course; as such an experience will enhance diving enjoyment, safety, and awareness of the marine habitat and its flora and fauna for a holiday to remember.
The Sharkproject has approved Andy to run SharkCollege. This course with add on tours after diving with the sharks is a unique holiday.
Andy is interviewed on shark issues for radio and newspapers and has featured in many magazines and TV documentaries, featuring marine issues such as in 1999 the BBC filmed his Advanced Shark course for their series “Shark Summer”, under a section related to “Shark Encounters”, with Michaela Strachan as the presenter.
My Accreditation Numbers:
- BSAC Resort # 425
- SATSA Membership # 766
- Guide Registration with KZN Tourism # KZN/0201
- NAUI Instructor # 8075
- SSI Instructor # DCISI 50 SA
- DOT SA Scientific class 4 diver # 4706
- THETA Trainer # COB001C
- SAQA Assessor # 12126
