We don't do generic resort holidays and we certainly don't do sterile luxury cruises. We are a travel club of ocean enthusiasts, divers and wilderness lovers who live for the water, the salt, and the real-world stories found where the pavement ends.
The Artrika Sodwana Bay expedition (October 14 – 24, 2027)
Led by PADI Staff Instructor and regional expert Shaun Humphries, is a partner tour that fits our community's spirit perfectly. We are heading to the wild Maputaland coast of South Africa to dive one of the oldest, most biodiverse reef systems on Earth and wrapping up the mission with an overland safari in Africa’s oldest game reserve.
The Destination: Sodwana Bay & Hluhluwe-iMfolozi.
Sodwana Bay sits inside the boundaries of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Swept by the warm, high-clarity waters of the Indian Ocean, this reef system is home to over 1,200 species of fish, Turtles, Rays and passing Pelagics. Dives here are active, starting with adrenaline-pumping surf launches in custom rigid-hulled inflatable boats.
Hluhluwe National Park. We don't just stay in the water. To off-gas before our return flights, we head inland to the Hluhluwe National Park, Africa's oldest nature reserve. This is the historic sanctuary that saved the Southern White Rhino from extinction. Traveling in open 4x4 vehicles, we'll track the Big Five, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo, across rolling, high-density bushveld.
Expedition Leadership & Basecamp.
Our guide and ambassador for this trip is Shaun Humphries. Raised in South Africa, Shaun has spent decades guiding, diving and tracking wildlife across the region. He brings over 25 years of professional diving experience and a massive, deep-seated knowledge of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Shaun isn't just a tour leader; he’s part of the crew, making sure we get to experience Sodwana like locals.
Our home base is the Sodwana Bay Dive Lodge, an established, relaxed eco-lodge set in the lush coastal forest. Accommodations are comfortable, featuring modern double-occupancy rooms and self-catering chalets. The lodge is equipped with a professional PADI dive center, secure gear storage, and an on-site restaurant serving local South African and international food. It’s a perfect base to sit back with a cold drink, share stories from the day's dives and watch the sun go down.
Day-by-Day Expedition Itinerary.
Note: Dives and excursions depend on weather conditions. This is a real expedition and we stay flexible to ensure guest safety.
Day 1: Outbound Journey - We depart Scandinavia and board our overnight flights to Durban on the eastern coast of South Africa.
Day 2: Durban to Sodwana Bay - Land in Durban, meet up with Shaun Humphries and pile into our private ground transfer heading north. Arrive at Sodwana Bay Dive Lodge for check-in, crew introductions and a gear briefing.
Days 3–8: Sodwana Bay - Enjoy six days of twice-daily boat dives in the Indian Ocean. You will begin on Day 3 by checking your weights and buoyancy before spending the week exploring Sodwana’s diverse underwater terrain, including pristine reefs, nutrient-rich channels teeming with Rays, Turtles, Pelagic life and unique macro-biodiversity hot spots. Between dives, you will have opportunities to explore the local town or relax at the lodge.
Day 9: Big 5 Safari (Hluhluwe National Park) - A full land-based day to "bubble out" and let our bodies off-gas. We'll take an early morning transfer to Hluhluwe National Park for a full-day guided safari in open 4x4 vehicles tracking Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Elephants and buffalo.
Day 10: Homeward Journey - We check out after breakfast and transfer back to Durban International Airport for our return flights to Scandinavia.
Included in the trip:
Flights – Durban round trip
Airport transfer – Sodwana bay dive Lodge
8 nights accommodation in a shared room at Sodwana Bay dive lodge
Breakfast at the lodge
Lunch on diving days
12 boat dives per person including guide, tank and weights
1 full day safari with private car and guide in Hluluwe national park
Ambassador Shaun Humphries
100% Climate Compensated Trip by Scuba Travel
Booking Details
Starting From Sek 39,995.00
Remove 300 plastic bottles from the sea in connection with your trip!
Scuba Travel partners with CleanSea to protect the future of the ocean. CleanSea cleans the sea and coastline from plastic and ghost fishing equipment in Sweden 5 days a week all year round. Through your donation to CleanSea, you help remove 3 kg of litter from the sea. This corresponds to about 300 plastic bottles.
Join us and contribute where you make a difference to the marine wildlife in connection with your trip and you will receive a bracelet from CleanSea as a symbol and thank you!
Gift cost: 300 SEK
Let us know when you book that you want to contribute and how many kilos of plastic you want them to pick up from the sea in connection with your trip. Do you want to know more about the work Clean Sea does for our oceans?, read more here; https://www.cleansea.co/
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