I grew up across the road, and railway line, from Dalebrook tidal pool in Kalk Bay.
As kids often our early morning “shower” would be a dip in the pool and then we’d head off to school. This beach was our front garden while the mountain was our back garden. I have many wonderful memories of this beach so it was with renewed pleasure that my daughters asked one day if they could go for a swim before school. We now live in Noordhoek on the other side of the mountains so it’s a bit of a drive, however, we made a plan and the girls have been going practically every morning since even during holidays and have no problem getting out of bed earlier than usual. We swim, enjoy the views and the sun for a while, maybe pop into Salt for a coffee/hot choc and croissant and then we drop them off at school.
There is an amazing group of early morning swimmers who are regulars through winter, summer, autumn and spring, rain, wind and sunny, still days. Some very special friendships have developed within this group of people with the pool as the common attraction. It’s such a pleasure to walk through the subway (tunnel) and to be greeted by the regulars, or to sit, with tea in hand, after a swim and greet those still arriving. It’s a special place, at a special time of day with special people.
I have, on most, mornings taken my camera with me. There is almost always something to photograph whether it is the beautiful sunrises, clouds, whales, dolphins, birds, (I missed the otter that was spotted one morning) yoga classes, or just the beautiful early morning light. I’ve been sharing these photos on my Instagram and Facebook pages and after a conversation in the pool today I thought it would also be good to have a collection of the photos in one place and so this page has been born. (Thanks Blanche and John. :-)) I will continue to update this gallery as and when I have new photos to share so please do revisit.
The view heading down the subway and under the railway line
The pipe at a wide aperture.
Surf report
Anthony, the “official” water temp recorder. Thank you. 🙂
Gerald
What a way to start the day.
Can never get tired of this view
Bliss
Stretching or diving?
This was taken while I was coaching photography on Kalk Bay harbour looking on to Dalebrook and the early morning swimmers.
A bit of editing for effect.
Incoming Spring storm.
Rain on the way.
Ahh….
Thank you.
Ahh….
Gentle morning offshore wind looking towards St James
There is always some action of sorts in False Bay.
Summer South Easters can bring blue bottles ashore and sometimes into the pool.
Early morning yoga
Early morning yoga
Years past there was no kelp along this stretch.
Wildlife. 🙂
How clear is the water….
Spring or autumn with a water temp of around 17 deg C.
High tide washed beach.
Oyster catches and boats. I’ve counted up to 20 in this flock at times on these rocks.
High tide and no swell encourages a swim behind the pool.
High tide and no swell encourages a swim behind the pool.
Thank you seagull. 🙂
High tide and no swell encourages a swim behind the pool.
High tide and no swell encourages a swim behind the pool.
A still, cloudy morning.
Flat and glassy
I love the reflective ripples on the water in front here.
Summer time and the sun is high
The pipe. Dalebrook gets it’s name from the little stream that runs down this pipe from the mountains.
Looking towards Simon’s Town
A bit too cold for some to get wet.
Hey, a pic of me. Thanks Lucinda. 🙂
Friendships
20 deg water at 6:30 in the morning.
Jumping into the last day of primary school
Blessed
High tide and onshore winds
Birthdays celebrated.
Morning glare
Done and dusted.
The crew on a chilly winter’s morning. I spent 30 years in the top flat seen here in the background.
Friends
Clean beach without footprints after a high tide though the night
Winter chills
Oh, the chair. The beach cleaners bring the chair out each morning. Sometimes someone takes a seat, other times it too just enjoys the view.
A light South Easter
It can be a challenge photographing down here because of the angle of the sun and the glare. This leads to lots of silhouettes.
Morning wash
Introducing friends to the ritual.
A South Easter ruffles the bay
A peaceful, safe environment to start the day.
Passing summer rain clouds
Passing summer rain clouds
Clouds always make for interesting photos
The morning after the South African hard lockdown, February 2021.
The morning after the South African hard lockdown, February 2021.
Things you see at the sea.
Good practice at photographing silhouettes.
Good practice at photographing silhouettes.
My daughter’s birthday at the ebginning of March. High tide.
My daughter’s birthday at the ebginning of March. High tide.
Feel it
Highlighting a blue bottle in the early morning light.
Are you ready? Are you ready? 1, 2, 3……
It was someone’s birthday I think.
And go…..
And then there were two…
One of my favourites
Summer mornings
Summer mornings
Summer mornings
February and the sun is moving towards the East.
Morning glow. I had a “moment”the other day while in the pool with my daughters….”this is us, playing on the beach, in the pool, before school.” .
Golden pond
And then there is the tide, sometimes high, sometimes low. High tide makes for interesting swimming.
Good morning
Time to actually swim.
Such a healthy way to start the day
Special times
Sun, sea and a splash
Sun worship
Friends who enjoy waking up early before school and/or holidays.
Friends
Friendships
Autumn or spring as the sun is further towards the north.
Besides photographing I do actually also swim. 🙂
Contemplation
Doing the toe dip test….
An extra special morning when this pod of dolphins hung around just offshore feeding.
An extra special morning when this pod of dolphins hung around just offshore feeding.
An extra special morning when this pod of dolphins hung around just offshore feeding.
Some time after sun up on a cloudy morning.
A bit of effects added.
Often the light, before sun up or on cloudy days, lends itself to b&w.
Close to mid summer when the sun rises around 05:30.
You can tell if it is summer or winter depending where the sun rises – this is close to mid summer.
Some days the cormorants fly west to east and some days east to west.
Morning gatherings are becoming popular.
Little Pearl making her way out past The Reef.
Rough morning…..
High tide and biggish swell.
Limited seating when the tide is high.
“Nobody was harmed in this exercise.” Big seas and high tide.
Limited seating when the tide is high.
There are groups that gather at St James and swim every tidal pool along the False Bay coast in a morning. I think there are 12 between St James and Cape Point.
The top flat on the lhs – No 3. My home for 30 years.
There are times we arrive in the rain and then the rain shower passes us by leaving spectacular cloudy effects.
