{"id":713,"date":"2014-11-25T10:05:22","date_gmt":"2014-11-25T10:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isibindi.co.za\/\/blog\/?p=713"},"modified":"2023-01-20T10:23:27","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T08:23:27","slug":"cool-surfer-dude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isibindifoundation.org\/2014\/11\/25\/cool-surfer-dude\/","title":{"rendered":"Cool Surfer Dude"},"content":{"rendered":"

Upon arrival at Thonga I ask \u201cWho is the cool surfer dude around here?\u201d Every respectable beach lodge should have one, and Clint Morkel at Thonga Beach Lodge fulfills all the surfer dude-inous criteria \u2013 hair bleached blond from the sun, tanned, fit and with a love of all things marine. I ask about his idyllic day, and with a laid back \u201cHey, yeah, you know\u2026\u201d he describes a day in paradise \u2013 clear, calm waters, launching out on the Ocean Experience boat trip, looking out for the Island Rock dolphins and swimming with them, spotting some whales, coming back to do a dive. Maybe go for a surf or do some kite surfing.<\/p>\n

\"Clint<\/a><\/p>\n

I inquire about his previous experience and as I listen to his ten year resume I find myself thinking that this is not just a laid back strandloper (beach walker). Clint has run the Barra Dive Centre at Inhlambane and he previously ran the Dolphin Swim Centre in Mozambique. I look around at the Thonga Marine Centre, and see further evidence of his professionalism \u2013 rows of dive equipment are lined up in categories and in order of size, labelled and spotlessly clean. A large, flat-screen television plays an instructional dive DVD. Well referenced books on marine creatures and diving maps line the shelf.<\/p>\n

I look at him with new eyes and ask \u201cWhat brought you to work here then?\u201d But the ocean-lover is back as he smiles, explaining \u201cThe water is incredibly clean here and the beach is pristine and it\u2019s one of the only lodges right on the beach. I love all the varied ocean activities. There is a lot of wildlife here too, associated with Lake Sibaya. The people working here are good and they stay for a long time. And the lodge is not too big so you can get a feel for the guests \u2013 it\u2019s more interactive. It\u2019s a cool job,\u201d he ends.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup\u201d I think, \u201cand so are you.\u201d Thonga is lucky to have someone so organized and dedicated to his craft, with the ocean in his heart and eyes.<\/p>\n

\"thonga-beach-aerial-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Upon arrival at Thonga I ask \u201cWho is the cool surfer dude around here?\u201d Every respectable beach lodge should have one, and Clint Morkel at Thonga Beach Lodge fulfills all the surfer dude-inous criteria \u2013 hair bleached blond from the sun, tanned, fit and with a love of all things marine. 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