Explore Protea Banks
Protea Banks, in the KwaZulu-Natal Region of South Africa, is found 7.5km out from Shelly Beach. Lying at a depth between 27 and 40m, and with sometimes extremely strong currents, none of the dives here are suited to inexperienced divers. In fact, many dive centres here will only take divers with an advanced certification and at least 20 dives. There are several dive resorts and centres here but no liveaboards as the sea can be tumultuous. You cannot do a diving course on the site itself.
It is extremely rich in its marine life - the numbers of tuna here are some of the highest in the world, one of the reasons that there are so many sharks found here. The shark diving here is some of the best globally and you can dive cageless, both baited and unbaited, with these giants. The variety and density means that you are almost guaranteed to see them. Certain species like ragged-tooth and hammerhead can be seen schooling.
Top Dive Sites Map
Diving in Protea Banks
Protea Banks diving has some interesting topography. It has a northern and southern pinnacle, which have different marine life and conditions. Other interesting features include caves, swim throughs, gullies and overhangs - as well as a ledge that drops down into the dizzying depths. Drift diving is common as the strong Arghulas current whips past the outer edges of the reef.
The most common reason people dive on Protea Banks is to see sharks. There is a huge variety of species to encounter including tiger and bull sharks. The majority of dives in the area are uncaged as the creatures pose no threat. There is great debate as to whether you should dive baited or unbaited and most dive centres in the area have a specific stance on the issue.
The best Months to Dive in Protea Banks
Protea Banks diving is good all year round due to the tropical climate but the summer months are more a popular time to dive. The air temperatures in the months of November - February are in the high 20s and water temperatures around 27°C. There are often short, heavy downpours. The winter months between June and August have cooler and drier conditions. The air temperatures are in the low 20s and water temperatures drop to around 16°C.
Certain times of the year are optimal to see specific species/sites. The Northern Pinnacle is at its best between May - November, whereas the Southern Pinnacle is perfect from October - April. Tiger sharks are commonly seen between March and June and the Zambezi shark is seen between October and May. The Sardine Run is during June/July.
Statistics
Historical data and trends