​SCUBA DIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA

From the thrill of getting up close and personal with intimidating sharks in their natural environment, to the tranquility of diving in magical coral gardens, South Africa is a world-class dive destination. Home to a vast diversity of marine species, it caters to all levels of experience and adrenaline seekers. If you’re not sure where to start, here are just five of the top dive locations spread along this spectacular 2,500km stretch of coastline.

ADVENTURE LEVEL:
Moderate
 
TRIP DURATION:
Half Day - Full Day - Multi Day
 
MINIMUM ADVENTURERS:
-

DEPARTURE TIMES:
Trips and Courses Arranged on Request

ATLANTIC OCEAN 

FALSE BAY

False Bay, which is approximately 30km across, is blessed by much warmer seas than the Atlantic coastal side of the peninsula , offering the diver ample variety of ocean life to explore. Dive sites range vastly in bottom composition depending on where in False Bay you choose to dive. A number of sites on both sides of the bay are distinguished by vast, dense and beautiful Kelp forests that house a number of shark species such as Pyjama sharks, Leopard catsharks and shysharks. Kelp forests act as a filter for dirty water so visibility improves drastically.

The beautiful colours of the corals and anemones will amaze you, bright orange and red sea fans sway in the surge. Furthermore, Feather stars in various shades of orange move around on with soft corals in pinks and purples, masking the many Nudibranchs endemic to this region. The friendly Cape fur seal may even make an appearance on your dive. Due to the Cape’s unpredictable water conditions, it’s difficult to predict the best time to dive. The summer water temperatures range from 12˚C to 20˚C with the winter water temperatures being between 8˚C to 15˚C.

dive the capes Wrecks

Although some rusting ship skeletons remain undiscovered at great depths, others lie on shallow reefs, making them easily accessible to enthusiastic shipwreck divers. From Smitswinkel Bay to Glencairn and Miller's Point, there's a choice of different locations in which to indulge in an amazing underwater history session.
​

INDIAN OCEAN

Aliwal Shoal, kwazulu natal

Recognised as one of the top ten dive sites in the world, Aliwal Shoal is famed for its shark sightings, including ragged-tooth sharks, tiger sharks and hammerheads. Located about 50km south of Durban near the town of Umkomaas on KwaZulu Natal’s southern coastline, this ancient sandstone reef within a Marine Protected Area has dive sites to suit all levels. In addition to the thrill of diving with sharks within their natural environment, there are also a couple of fascinating wreck dives to explore.

The sardine run protea banks, kwazulu natal

If you are visiting South Africa in June or July then diving during the annual ‘Sardine Run’ is a must. The sardines migrate east along the coastline from the cold waters around Cape Town to the warmer waters of KwaZulu Natal, accompanied by an incredible spectacle of large marine life coming to feast on this moving buffet. One of the best places to witness this is at Protea Banks circa 160km south of Durban. Situated 7.5km straight out to sea off Shelly Beach, Protea Banks is a fossilised sand dune from which a dive as shallow as five metres will immerse you in all the ‘Sardine Run’ action

sodwana bay, kwazulu natal

100km from the southern border of Mozambique lies Sodwana Bay. This heavily protected marine and coastal reserve is a nature lover’s paradise, both above and below the water. In addition to impressive Zambezi and tiger sharks, expect to see tiger angelfish, butterfly fish and longnose hawkfish amidst a vibrant coral reef. Whether you’re a beginner looking to venture out into the open seas for the first time or an expert looking for a technical diving challenge, Sodwana Bay has dive sites to suit. In the summer months, the water is an enticing 25°C and you might be lucky enough to even see turtles laying their eggs on the park’s beaches.
Whether you are taking your first steps in diving, seeking an adventurous wreck or night dive, or looking to test your limits with, contact us for more information on your next underwater world adventure.