TWO YOUNG CAPITEC PROFESSIONALS PLUNGED INTO A NEW WORLD WITH SCUBAXCURSION & BECOME INSTANT AMBASSADORS OF OUR MARINE LIFE

One’s choice of service providers makes all the difference in a challenging economic climate. From small companies to large corporates, Capitec has a business banking solution to suit all needs.

Part of living better is discovering treasures you already have but weren’t aware of. With that in mind, Capitec’s Esona Ndongeni and Chandre Matlala went adventuring beneath the surface with scuba diving centre ScubaXcursion.

The KZN based, family-friendly business and proud Capitec merchant is located close to Aliwal Shoal, one of the top 10 dive sites in the world and has made it their mission to bring South Africans closer to our rich, ocean heritage.

Chatting to co-owner Maaike Boers, we discover that the Scottburgh centre’s background stems from her and hubby Nico’s passion for the sea and wanting to introduce the general public to the ocean and the world that lies beneath by providing a range of diving courses and charters. With students ranging from 10-years-old, all through to 72-years of age, we’d say they’ve been successful in achieving that.

How this proudly South African business has navigated the perfect storm of the pandemic has much to do with their strong and personal banking relationship.

“What really appealed to me about Capitec is that they really asked the right questions and made sure that I had the right product for our business. Along with the personal contact, we have local area representation so when you phone them, you get an answer within the same day,” comments Maaike Boers, Co-owner of ScubaXcursion.

Capitec fosters a culture of collaboration, supporting small companies to large corporates. Capitec has a business banking solution to suit all needs.

“I was very impressed with Capitec when lockdown hit because I had an SMS from them to say – we’re here for you and we’re supporting you. This was welcome for a business that had to completely close during that time,” adds Maaike.

As well prepared as they were, Esona and Chandre were impressed with themselves for just going for it – diving the Indian Ocean for their first time ever.

ScubaXcursion offers trips daily where dive skipper Ashley Smit has fantastic reveals in store. Making their way down to Aliwal Shoal, they stopped at a dive site called Chunnel Cave where Chandre and Esona were led by a dive master and fortunately got to experience the resident pods of Dolphins, turtles and reef fish.

The area boasts a versatile and inspiring dive experience with beautiful reef structures and an unprecedented abundance of underwater species. The dive site is named after the Aliwal, a ship that almost collapsed at this location in 1849 and the area is best known for its grey nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles, moray eels, hammerheads and whitetip reef sharks.

The two new snorkelers took in the experience with all five senses and became instant fans.

“The ScubaXcursion team is great. They literally hold your hand in the water if you need it,” exclaims Chandre Matlala, Communications & PR Specialist at Capitec.

“We saw sharks, dolphins, turtles and little fishies. It was so cool”, comments Esona Ndongeni – Content, PR Marketing and Production specialist at Capitec.

And just like that, in the space of a morning, the two young banking professionals had plunged into a new world and became instant ambassadors for South Africa’s unrivaled marine life.