Rocky Bay/Landers
The Rocky Bay area is truly one of the best-kept secrets in the world of South African diving.
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.
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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 approx.: 3
iStock/Dimitrios Stefanidis
Sand Tiger Shark
2.5k Sightings
J
174
F
42
M
18
A
30
M
176
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 approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
1.8k Sightings
J
257
F
219
M
160
A
153
M
149
J
110
J
101
A
112
S
123
O
81
N
129
D
213
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.2k Sightings
J
123
F
107
M
116
A
97
M
70
J
85
J
69
A
90
S
67
O
70
N
80
D
186
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
1k Sightings
J
124
F
144
M
131
A
133
M
70
J
51
J
37
A
69
S
35
O
48
N
19
D
154
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
905 Sightings
J
114
F
99
M
82
A
95
M
55
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 approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
790 Sightings
J
93
F
96
M
108
A
44
M
33
J
20
J
45
A
30
S
20
O
68
N
83
D
150
Tobias Friedrich
Bottlenose Dolphin
734 Sightings
J
102
F
85
M
95
A
54
M
48
J
22
J
32
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 approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
551 Sightings
J
58
F
68
M
44
A
58
M
61
J
17
J
45
A
29
S
51
O
11
N
44
D
65
AdobeStock-Magnus
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
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
285 Sightings
J
26
F
16
M
12
A
10
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 approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
231 Sightings
J
39
F
25
M
37
A
31
M
35
J
25
J
0
A
18
S
9
O
4
N
8
D
0
iStock/HakBak1979
Bull Shark
148 Sightings
J
8
F
15
M
10
A
16
M
0
J
2
J
12
A
11
S
6
O
8
N
11
D
49
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
129 Sightings
J
1
F
8
M
0
A
8
M
15
J
10
J
14
A
20
S
18
O
17
N
8
D
10
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.
