Before the Port Elizabeth Harbour was built in the 1930's, boats in need of repaired were serviced at the Humewood Slipway. The boat would sail in between the pillars and then got pulled onto the slipway using a steam pulley. Today the slipway is a very popular snorkeling site and are used by scuba diving schools for their students' first shore dive. Humewood Beach right next door is the oldest Blue Flag beach in South Africa and currently one of three in Port Elizabeth.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Humewood slipway
Before the Port Elizabeth Harbour was built in the 1930's, boats in need of repaired were serviced at the Humewood Slipway. The boat would sail in between the pillars and then got pulled onto the slipway using a steam pulley. Today the slipway is a very popular snorkeling site and are used by scuba diving schools for their students' first shore dive. Humewood Beach right next door is the oldest Blue Flag beach in South Africa and currently one of three in Port Elizabeth.
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Thanks for the explanation. I was wondering what those pillars were in the water. I thought it was an old, abandoned dock.
ReplyDeleteThat water looks lovely!
The slipway area is generally a very safe area to learn to snorkel or scuba dive. There are some wonderful reefs within 100 metres or so of the end pillars of the slipway. These beautiful reefs have an abundance of sea fans, anemones, colourful sea weeds and small fish life. Depth varies down to about 8 metres further out. So if you can hold your breath, equalise properly it is worth a visit.
ReplyDeleteDammit, here I am stuck at work and you're tempting me with places I'd rather be. You going to be taking some pics of the corporate ironman this Sat?
ReplyDeleteI remember a notice board put up around the time of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, telling about the slipway. I wish I could swim and snorkel to see those reefs you all lyricise about!
ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this explanation. This morning I was specifically looking for an explanation for these pillars. I always assumed that it must have been an attempt to build a Shark pier. And then the municipality decided to build the pier on a place further south. :-)
Best regards from Holland.
Look at the colour of the water! Like the unusual perspective that the wide angle gives.
ReplyDeleteI have a few photoes from right after the 1968 floods that destroyed Humewood Beach (and many parts of PE). If you're interested, I can send it to you; let me know. Amazing contrast with today's tranquil scene.
ReplyDelete