Scuba-divers and beauties a Shell Festival

PHOTO: JP Venter of the J'Bay Superspar, Catherine Constantinides of Miss Earth SA, Seashell Accommodation's PRO Estelle de Beer, Tourism portfolio councillor Virginia Camealio-Benjamin and Neville Marais of the J'Bay Scuba Club at the launch.

Scuba-divers and beauties a Shell Festival

HUNDREDS of scuba-divers and “green” beauties from across the Eastern Cape will visit Jeffreys Bay from September 30 to October 2 for the annual J’Bay Shell Festival.

The first J’Bay Dive Festival, held in conjunction with Bay FM, and the regional rounds of the Miss Earth South Africa pageant will form part of the 2011 Shell Festival.

At the launch  last week Clr Virginia Camealio-Benjamin, Kouga’s portfolio councillor for Tourism and Creative Industries, said the municipality was very excited to have the J’Bay Scuba Club and Miss Earth SA organisers on board.

“The 2011 Shell Festival is basically going to consist of ‘festivals within a festival’. The response we’ve had to this concept has been fantastic,” she said.

Neville Marais, of the J’Bay Scuba Club, said between 600 and 1000 divers were expected to take part in the first dive festival to be hosted by the town.

“The ocean off our coast is still relatively unexplored, so divers are really looking forward to this opportunity.”

He said eight diving sites had been identified for the festival.

“Only qualified divers will be able to go out on the dives but we will also have a programme aimed at introducing novices to this thrilling adventure sport.”

Also at the launch Catherine Constantinides, a former Miss Earth SA and pageant director, said her company was looking forward to hosting the Miss Earth SA pageant at Jeffreys Bay for the first time.

She said the pageant was about more than just beauty, with the focus on educating young women about environmental matters and involving them in eco projects.

“We are really happy to be part of this greater festival and look forward to strengthening our ties with Jeffreys Bay.”