Explore Durban

Diving in Durban and Umhlanga Rocks offers an exhilarating experience for divers of all levels, thanks to its unique combination of marine life and dive sites. Situated on South Africa's east coast, this region is renowned for its vibrant underwater ecosystems, featuring colorful reefs and fascinating shipwrecks. While the region may not have liveaboard options due to ocean conditions, the variety and accessibility of dive sites make it a worthwhile destination to explore. From boat trips launched in Umhlanga, divers can encounter pelagic fish, including tuna and barracuda, against a backdrop of stunning reefs. One of the most captivating features of diving here is the annual Sardine Run, occurring between May and July. During this event, vast schools of sardines migrate along the coast, attracting a host of predators, including several species of sharks. This spectacle provides a rare and thrilling experience for divers and nature enthusiasts alike. Additionally, the region's waters maintain comfortable temperatures of 20–25°C/68–77°F in summer and 15–20°C/59–68°F in winter, making it a year-round diving haven. Dive centers in Durban also offer courses for all levels, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the underwater wonders of this vibrant area.

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Divemaster

Why Doing Your Dive Master with ScubaXcursion Will Make You the Best Dive Master PossibleBecoming a Dive Master is more than earning a title — it’s about mastering the skills, confidence, and leadership to guide others safely and inspire their love of the underwater world. With ScubaXcursion, your Dive Master journey is built on world-class dive sites, expert instructors, and real-world ocean experience.Based at the beachfront Premier Beach Resort Cutty Sark Hotel and diving the legendary Aliwal Shoal, ScubaXcursion gives you the tools, mentorship, and environment to become a confident, skilled, and sought-after Dive Master.1️⃣ Real Ocean Experience in a Premier Dive PlaygroundAliwal Shoal isn’t just beautiful — it’s diverse, challenging, and dynamic:Reef pinnacles, drop-offs, and swim-throughs for advanced navigationDaily encounters with ragged-tooth sharks, turtles, rays, and pelagic speciesSeasonal opportunities to lead dives during the Sardine Run and shark migrationsTraining here ensures you gain real leadership experience in a wide variety of dive conditions, preparing you for any environment worldwide.2️⃣ Mentorship from Experienced, Safety-Focused InstructorsScubaXcursion instructors are passionate professionals who focus on:Developing your safety awareness and decision-making skillsTeaching effective diver supervision and group managementSharing local knowledge about currents, reefs, and marine lifeProviding hands-on guidance in both training dives and real-world situationsSmall group mentorship ensures you receive the attention and feedback necessary to excel.3️⃣ Comprehensive Training Across All Key Dive Master SkillsThe Dive Master program covers:Advanced dive planning and managementRescue skills and emergency responseLeading certified divers and assisting instructorsEnvironmental awareness and marine stewardshipSpecialty skills like deep, drift, and night divingWith ScubaXcursion, you practice these skills in a real-world ocean environment — not just a classroom.4️⃣ Launches from Beachfront ComfortLearning to manage dives and supervise groups requires seamless logistics. With ScubaXcursion:Launch straight from the Premier Beach Resort Cutty Sark HotelAccess multiple Aliwal Shoal sites dailyFocus on training rather than travel stressEverything you need is right where you need it. 5️⃣ Become a Dive Master Who Inspires ConfidenceGraduates from ScubaXcursion leave with more than a certification:✔ Strong leadership and supervision skills ✔ Exceptional dive knowledge in real conditions ✔ Confidence guiding divers of all levels ✔ Experience in one of the world’s top reefs and unique marine eventsBy training in this professional, ocean-focused environment, you’ll emerge as a Dive Master capable of leading dives anywhere in the world — confident, competent, and respected.

30 March +193 More
€557.69
ZAR 11,000.00

Advanced Open Water Diver

Aliwal Shoal – The Ultimate Destination for Your Advanced Open Water Diver CourseIf you’re ready to take your diving to the next level, there’s no better classroom than Aliwal Shoal. Located off South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, this world-renowned reef system offers the perfect combination of adventure, skill development, and unforgettable marine encounters — making it an exceptional place to complete your Advanced Open Water Diver Course. Why Aliwal Shoal is Perfect for Advanced Training Depth & Topography for Real ProgressionAdvanced training requires varied depth profiles, navigation challenges, and diverse underwater environments — and Aliwal Shoal delivers it all.Dramatic reef pinnacles and drop-offsSand channels ideal for navigation exercisesWreck dives such as the MV ProduceDepth ranges perfect for deep dive trainingInstead of practising skills in a simple reef setting, you’ll apply them in dynamic, real-world dive conditions. Incredible Marine Life EncountersTraining here doesn’t feel like “just a course.” It feels like an expedition.Depending on the season, you may encounter:Ragged-tooth sharks (Raggies)Blacktip sharksRays and turtlesLarge game fishSeasonal pelagic activityLearning advanced buoyancy, navigation, and situational awareness while surrounded by big marine life builds true confidence and composure underwater. Ideal Conditions for Skill DevelopmentAliwal Shoal offers:Warm Indian Ocean temperaturesGood visibility throughout much of the yearLaunch access from the South CoastA mix of sheltered and exposed sitesThese conditions allow instructors to tailor dives to your comfort level while progressively challenging your abilities. More Than Certification – Real ExperienceAn Advanced Open Water course at Aliwal Shoal typically includes:Deep DiveUnderwater NavigationPeak Performance BuoyancyDrift or Shark DiveWreck or Photography specialty diveHere, you’re not just ticking off skills — you’re building experience in one of the most exciting dive environments in the world. A Destination That Feels Like an Adventure HolidayCompleting your Advanced Open Water at Aliwal Shoal means:Diving one of the world’s top reef systemsGaining confidence in bigger water conditionsExperiencing pelagic marine lifeTraining in a marine protected areaIt’s the difference between completing a course… and completing it somewhere extraordinary.

29 March +217 More
€324.48
ZAR 6,400.00

Scuba Skills Update

Scuba Skills Update with ScubaXcursion – Refresh, Rebuild, RediscoverGet back in the water with confidence through the Scuba Skills Update with ScubaXcursion, perfectly based at the Premier Beach Resort Cutty Sark Hotel on the stunning KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.Whether you haven’t dived in a while or simply want to fine-tune your buoyancy and core techniques, this structured refresher program is designed to rebuild your comfort, safety awareness, and enjoyment underwater — before heading out to one of South Africa’s most iconic dive sites, Aliwal Shoal. 1. Classroom Session – Reconnect with the FundamentalsYour experience begins with a guided theory session led by a professional instructor. This interactive classroom component covers:Dive safety principles and equipment setupDive planning and buddy proceduresAir management and emergency protocolsUpdates on best practices and local diving conditionsIt’s the perfect opportunity to ask questions, refresh knowledge, and mentally prepare for your return to the ocean. 2. Pool Session – Regain Confidence in a Controlled EnvironmentBefore heading into open water, you’ll enter the pool to practise essential scuba skills in a relaxed, supervised setting.You’ll review:Buoyancy control and weightingMask clearing and regulator recoveryControlled ascents and descentsBasic underwater communicationThis session rebuilds muscle memory and ensures you feel completely comfortable before your ocean dive. 3. Ocean Dive – Explore the Magic of Aliwal ShoalThe highlight of your Skills Update is a guided ocean dive on Aliwal Shoal — one of the world’s premier reef systems.Expect:Dramatic reef topography and swim-throughsVibrant marine life including reef fish, rays, turtles, and seasonal shark sightingsProfessional supervision with small dive groupsA safe, enjoyable reintroduction to open-water divingThis final dive brings everything together — theory, practice, and adventure — in one unforgettable experience. Why Choose ScubaXcursion?Beachfront convenience at Cutty SarkExperienced, safety-focused instructorsIdeal location just minutes from launch to Aliwal ShoalA welcoming environment for both returning and travelling divers

30 March +183 More
€121.68
ZAR 2,400.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Durban

There are a mixture of dive sites found in Durban - many dives cannot be planned ahead due to the unpredictable weather, so you never know what you’ll get! There are reefs to suit all certification levels at varying depths and difficulties. Some of the most famous diving in the world is found nearby at the famous Sodwana Bay, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. 

Top Wildlife Sightings in Durban

The tropical reefs of Durban are healthy and abundant. They host plentiful, colourful reef fish like butterfly fish, parrotfish, angelfish, groupers, coachmen, paperfish, lionfish and razorfish. They also have rarer species like pineapple fish, weedy scorpion fish and ornate sleeper rays. The macro life on the reef isn’t the best but there are enough shrimp and nudibranch to keep most macro photographers happy. 

The sharks are a big draw in Durban and there are lots to see. Giant bull and tiger sharks are frequent visitors. School of ragged-tooth sharks migrate here annually during the winter months to breed. Blue sharks, guitar sharks, white tip and black tip sharks and hammerhead sharks have all been sighted here too. 

Whale sharks migrate through the area yearly. Dolphins will often skim through the water alongside your boat, and they can be seen hunting at some sites, especially on the sardine run. Humpback whales can be seen (and heard!) during their spring migration to the south. 

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Sand Tiger Shark

2.5k Sightings
J
173
F
42
M
18
A
26
M
170
J
221
J
278
A
274
S
292
O
285
N
337
D
338

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

1.8k Sightings
J
254
F
219
M
153
A
129
M
131
J
110
J
101
A
112
S
123
O
81
N
129
D
212

Green Turtle

1.1k Sightings
J
121
F
107
M
111
A
75
M
59
J
85
J
70
A
90
S
67
O
70
N
80
D
186

Loggerhead Turtle

973 Sightings
J
124
F
144
M
125
A
110
M
56
J
51
J
38
A
69
S
35
O
48
N
19
D
154

Hawksbill Turtle

873 Sightings
J
114
F
99
M
82
A
82
M
36
J
36
J
27
A
40
S
46
O
61
N
89
D
161

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

784 Sightings
J
93
F
96
M
105
A
42
M
32
J
20
J
45
A
30
S
20
O
68
N
83
D
150

Bottlenose Dolphin

718 Sightings
J
102
F
85
M
94
A
49
M
37
J
22
J
33
A
20
S
37
O
44
N
63
D
132

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

529 Sightings
J
58
F
68
M
33
A
51
M
57
J
17
J
45
A
29
S
51
O
11
N
44
D
65

Humpback Whale

350 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
37
J
54
A
64
S
89
O
84
N
19
D
0

Reef Manta Ray

280 Sightings
J
26
F
16
M
11
A
6
M
16
J
30
J
31
A
33
S
44
O
31
N
23
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

200 Sightings
J
39
F
25
M
32
A
16
M
24
J
25
J
0
A
18
S
9
O
4
N
8
D
0

Bull Shark

146 Sightings
J
8
F
15
M
10
A
14
M
0
J
2
J
12
A
11
S
6
O
8
N
11
D
49

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

127 Sightings
J
1
F
8
M
0
A
6
M
15
J
10
J
14
A
20
S
18
O
17
N
8
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

2k Sightings
J
255
F
234
M
155
A
160
M
132
J
84
J
113
A
137
S
96
O
130
N
149
D
335

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

1.9k Sightings
J
310
F
215
M
196
A
83
M
64
J
75
J
88
A
88
S
92
O
119
N
164
D
439

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

1.9k Sightings
J
252
F
250
M
184
A
131
M
119
J
87
J
115
A
98
S
123
O
113
N
133
D
295

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

1.7k Sightings
J
215
F
213
M
169
A
126
M
94
J
91
J
109
A
87
S
123
O
96
N
135
D
276

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

1.6k Sightings
J
207
F
187
M
140
A
114
M
106
J
68
J
110
A
117
S
95
O
107
N
132
D
230

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

1.3k Sightings
J
186
F
178
M
111
A
83
M
74
J
80
J
62
A
74
S
84
O
78
N
108
D
186

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

1.3k Sightings
J
175
F
116
M
119
A
95
M
76
J
63
J
95
A
85
S
78
O
86
N
120
D
192

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

1.2k Sightings
J
137
F
123
M
74
A
73
M
114
J
80
J
85
A
101
S
75
O
70
N
96
D
188

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

1.2k Sightings
J
160
F
165
M
112
A
91
M
82
J
68
J
70
A
60
S
72
O
74
N
70
D
141

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

1.1k Sightings
J
152
F
181
M
98
A
79
M
79
J
59
J
65
A
84
S
66
O
56
N
62
D
141

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

908 Sightings
J
143
F
114
M
80
A
47
M
72
J
61
J
25
A
49
S
61
O
65
N
85
D
106

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

891 Sightings
J
151
F
119
M
64
A
22
M
59
J
52
J
44
A
52
S
35
O
55
N
68
D
170

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

801 Sightings
J
101
F
110
M
52
A
57
M
57
J
24
J
58
A
49
S
57
O
58
N
55
D
123

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

776 Sightings
J
137
F
94
M
49
A
29
M
71
J
45
J
67
A
64
S
52
O
6
N
49
D
113

Whitetip Reef Shark

625 Sightings
J
83
F
117
M
80
A
43
M
19
J
9
J
20
A
48
S
27
O
27
N
49
D
103

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

546 Sightings
J
80
F
74
M
38
A
34
M
57
J
39
J
37
A
61
S
16
O
13
N
24
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

471 Sightings
J
61
F
88
M
26
A
18
M
52
J
15
J
10
A
65
S
16
O
4
N
30
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

454 Sightings
J
42
F
30
M
51
A
34
M
53
J
29
J
37
A
47
S
18
O
2
N
52
D
59

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

360 Sightings
J
50
F
54
M
30
A
27
M
19
J
6
J
32
A
32
S
5
O
7
N
22
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

360 Sightings
J
35
F
41
M
22
A
10
M
40
J
14
J
11
A
31
S
35
O
24
N
36
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

292 Sightings
J
38
F
73
M
13
A
25
M
29
J
9
J
13
A
14
S
13
O
30
N
22
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

252 Sightings
J
24
F
28
M
25
A
30
M
25
J
33
J
12
A
19
S
11
O
21
N
14
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

134 Sightings
J
14
F
27
M
1
A
1
M
33
J
26
J
0
A
1
S
13
O
0
N
1
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

133 Sightings
J
4
F
29
M
0
A
4
M
35
J
5
J
0
A
18
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
29

The best Months to Dive in Durban

Diving in Durban is possible year-round; the conditions vary depending on the season. The warmest months, between November and February, have the hottest air and ocean temperatures – both in the high 20s°C/high 80s°F. There is also increased rainfall during these months, which can affect the visibility on the sites closer to shore as river runoff can muddy the waters. 

During the drier, cooler winters, the waters are usually clearer. The daily air temperatures have an average of around 21°C/70°F. The ocean temperature at this time can get down as low as 16°C/61°F, which would necessitate at least a full 7mm wetsuit, if not a drysuit. 

Dive Centers

Dive Sites