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The Spotted Grunter
We are the only locally based registered Professional Sardine Run operator based in Port st Johns with our own accommodation. You dive with us and stay with us!
The Spotted Grunter Resort, our piece of heaven, is nestled between two mountains, Mt. Thesiger behind us and Mt. Sullivan across the river.
These two mountains form the gates at the river mouth that flows into the Indian Ocean. Port St Johns is really known for its fishing (Grunter, Salmon or Kob and Garrick).
At our resort, we offer a variety of facilities, accommodation and amenities suitable for friends and families looking for a getaway.
Our Accommodation
Our resort accommodation is three star, fully equipped, log cabins with surrounding entertaining facilities such as braai areas, a bar area, restaurant, security guard and more.
Our log cabins are fully equipped with microwave ovens, gas stoves, cutlery, crockery fridges and aircons.
We provide bath towels and toiletries. There are fans and heaters in the cabins. We have safes in some of the cabins for your valuables. We provide tea, coffee, sugar and creamer in all the cabins.
For the land-loving travelers
Ditch the scuba gear, dust off your boots and embark on an unforgettable safari!
In addition to breathtaking scuba diving experiences at Aliwal Shoal and the Sardine Run in Port St. Johns, we also offer incredible Big 5 Safari Packages!
Embark on an unforgettable full-day safari through Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, Africa’s oldest game reserve – and keep your eyes peeled for the magnificent Big 5! Immerse yourself in the wonders of iSimangaliso Wetland Park with either a half or full-day tour – gate fees and a delicious picnic lunch included! Top off your experience with an exhilarating 2-hour boat cruise and witness hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat.
- 2 Night 3 Day Package from R12,065.00 pp
- 3 Night 4 Day Package from R14,250.00 pp
- 4 Night 5 Day Package from R18,430.00 pp
** Prices Up to 31 October 2025
Book your Adventure now!
- Full and exclusive to Sardine Run aerial support (spotting) with our aircraft & pilot.
- Accommodation at Spotted Grunter – Dinner + Bed + Breakfast basis
- Ocean days (weather permitting)
- Cylinder / air & Weights / belt
- Packed boat refreshments
- Diver permit to dive within Pondoland marine protected area
- Drinks / items of a personal nature
- Meals (excl. Dinner + Bed + Breakfast)
- Dive gear rental – MUST be pre booked. R150.00 per item, per day
- Additional chargeable land-based activities i.e. guided hikes / cultural tours / afternoon flights
- Diver / travel insurance, Air fares / taxes & Passports / Visas
- Gratuities for staff – at your own discretion
- WIFI
- Drying room for wetsuits
- Shower rinse-off at boat jetty area
- Walking distance to convenience shop / liquor store / fuel station
- Swimming pool
- Family room and Twin bed rooms available
We are your hosts, tour guides and dive guides for the duration of your Sardine Run trip.
What you can expect
You can look forward to exciting surf launches, up to 8 hours a day at sea searching for the annual Sardine Run migration. Port Saint Johns is nested in the heart of the wild coast therefore the landscape from sea is spectacular. Whales breaching really close, mega-pods of common dolphins, brydes whale, occasional sightings of orca and mola-mola can be expected. You’ll pass sites such as blow-hole and waterfall bluff, amazing offerings by nature.
Our accommodation in Port St. Johns has direct access into the Umzimvubu River where we launch our boats from, so there is no daily travelling to the launch site and makes for a much more comfortable [and dry] start to your day.
After the diving enjoy some fantastic walks, visit some local attractions or relax in the awesome restaurant & bar area over-looking the river.
What a typical day looks like
Typical Day at Port St. Johns
Breakfast
We meet at 6am for breakfast and receive updates about the sardine run action and the day’s conditions so we can decide where the best diving will be. Once breakfast is finished, we kit up for the day’s action. The dive team is there to help you with all your diving needs, to brief you on your days diving and the action you are likely to see.
Sardine Run Diving
We launch from the Umzimvubu River in Port St. Johns operating north or south depending on where the sardine run action is. Most of the day is spent at sea, we want to be on the water at 6h30 am and back by about 2pm. The day is ruled by the Sardine Run activity. We enter the water many times during the day. Sometimes just on a snorkel and other times scuba, diving the baitballs, it really depends on how fast the action is moving.
We follow the common dolphins as they work together to create the bait balls and then the action begins, the dolphins, birds, sharks, and Brydes whales all enjoy a huge feast. The noise of the diving gannets is amazing as they surround the boat, diving for the sardines. The action is amazing, and you are often surrounded by hundreds of dolphins, sharks, diving birds, whales and more. We also have many opportunities to watch the Humpback Whales on their annual migration.
Rest of the Day
In the late afternoon, we return to the accommodation, where you can choose to relax, download photos & video footage or you can opt to go sightseeing in the afternoon. We are always available to take you on local excursions to show you more of the area. Our dives are for advanced divers and the depth varies from around 15 to 35 meters depending on the dive sites.
The Evening
In the evening we enjoy dinner at the restaurant. Have a drink with your new dive buddies and discuss the day’s Sardine Run and diving events. Finally, you retire to your bedroom with en-suite facilities and enjoy a relaxing night’s sleep. Ready for the next day’s diving.
What the Sardine Run is about
Every year from around February to August the South African Coast is enriched with life. This is a result of the annual migration of sardines. Starting at the west coast of South Africa in around February and moving along to the east coast of South Africa through the months until around August when they disappear.
During the Sardine Run, as the colder water moves up the east coast of South Africa, the sardines follow the currents and their food source, bringing a huge diversity of predators with them including many species of whales, shark, dolphin, game fish, sailfish, penguins, seals and more. The annual Humpback Whale migration passes Port St. Johns, offering some amazing sightings of the Humpback Whales, in the water, close to the boats and when the whales are breaching!
Many theories exist about the Sardine Run [water temp. etc] and many people have different ideas on what creates the ‘perfect’ Sardine Run, however from our experience we have seen great action on days when the conditions are not ‘perfect’ and quiet days when they are. The bottom line is that the only way to experience the Sardine Run is to enjoy what you see everyday!
Whilst the Sardine Run can never be guaranteed, one thing that is guaranteed with our Sardine Run packages is that you WILL see whales, sharks, 100’s of dolphin and marine birds which are on most people’s bucket list.
Who should join
Apart from our Sardine Run packages being aimed at divers, snorkelers looking for pure adventure are welcome too. Getting up close and personal with sharks, game fish, seals, penguins, sardines, mola-mola and, on occasion, orca and many species of marine-birds and marine mammals.
Water temperature is around 18 – 21 degrees Celsius so a 7mm wetsuit will suffice. This is because a lot of the action is experienced on snorkel. As a result dry suits cause drag and you could miss out on the underwater feeding frenzy and baitballs. Therefore dry suits are not entirely suitable.