Explore Rocky Bay/Landers

Rocky Bay and Landers Reef, located on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, offer a unique and mesmerizing diving experience. Accessible by a boat ride from the charming town of Park Rynie, this dive spot is renowned for its vibrant coral gardens and diverse marine life. The underwater terrain is nothing short of spectacular, with a dramatic array of pinnacles, boulders, crevices, and gullies. Divers can explore intricate sand patches that intersperse the reefs, providing a beautiful blend of textures and colors beneath the waves.

What sets Landers Reef apart is the sense of discovery it offers. With its deep caves and overhangs, the site invites adventurous exploration and is often regarded as one of South Africa's most picturesque dive locations. Despite its rich natural beauty, the area remains a hidden gem, often undisturbed by the typical crowds of recreational divers. This serenity allows divers to fully immerse themselves in the aquatic splendor, making it a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you're a seasoned diver or a curious novice, Rocky Bay and Landers Reef promise an enchanting journey into the marine wonders of South Africa.

Courses and Events

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

14 February +68 More
EUR 316.91
ZAR 6,000.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Rocky Bay/Landers

Rocky Bay and Landers offer some of the most thrilling dive experiences for enthusiasts. Among the top dive sites is the famous wreck dive at the "Emerald Ship", where divers can explore a sunken vessel teeming with marine life. The vibrant coral reefs surrounding the wreck are home to colorful fish and occasional visits from dolphins, making it a must-see for underwater photographers. For those who prefer shore dives, "Turtle Cove" presents an excellent option. Known for its gentle sloping reefs, this site is ideal for observing turtles and tropical fish. The area is also popular for night dives, where divers can witness the mesmerizing spectacle of bioluminescent plankton. Both liveaboard and shore dive options are available, providing flexibility for travelers keen to explore the underwater wonders of Rocky Bay and Landers.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Rocky Bay/Landers

Rocky Bay/Landers is a vibrant marine habitat that attracts divers with its diverse reef life. Common reef fish include parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish, which can be seen year-round. The bay's rocky structures provide shelter for these species, making them a frequent sight for divers.

Seasonal highlights in Rocky Bay/Landers include sightings of graceful sea turtles, predominantly during the warmer months when they come to feed and nest. Reef sharks and rays are also notable visitors; although less common, they are typically encountered during late spring and summer. These larger species enrich the dive experience, offering thrilling encounters for those visiting at the right time of year.

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: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
100 Sightings
J
16
F
25
M
7
A
6
M
7
J
8
J
1
A
6
S
10
O
5
N
7
D
2

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

Total number of species: 3

iStock/Dimitrios Stefanidis

Sand Tiger Shark
74 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
2
J
5
J
8
A
11
S
7
O
16
N
14
D
6
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
55 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
1
A
4
M
0
J
7
J
5
A
3
S
6
O
3
N
1
D
12
iStock-ShaneGross

Loggerhead Turtle
49 Sightings
J
2
F
12
M
2
A
6
M
3
J
6
J
0
A
2
S
3
O
2
N
0
D
11

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
45 Sightings
J
2
F
14
M
1
A
0
M
2
J
12
J
0
A
4
S
3
O
4
N
1
D
2
AdobeStock-Magnus

Humpback Whale
25 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
7
J
9
A
5
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
20 Sightings
J
1
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
1
J
1
A
2
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
3
Tobias Friedrich

Bottlenose Dolphin
17 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
9
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0
iStock/HakBak1979

Bull Shark
13 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
3

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

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
10 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1
Show More

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
185 Sightings
J
15
F
37
M
15
A
15
M
9
J
12
J
12
A
15
S
3
O
20
N
9
D
23
Alamy-Steve Woods Photography

Oceanic Blacktip Shark
153 Sightings
J
21
F
20
M
22
A
15
M
9
J
4
J
13
A
14
S
5
O
4
N
12
D
14

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
128 Sightings
J
10
F
34
M
10
A
11
M
7
J
11
J
9
A
5
S
4
O
11
N
6
D
10

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
109 Sightings
J
8
F
27
M
10
A
6
M
6
J
11
J
6
A
4
S
5
O
15
N
4
D
7

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
98 Sightings
J
8
F
24
M
9
A
3
M
4
J
14
J
10
A
8
S
2
O
13
N
3
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
93 Sightings
J
11
F
25
M
10
A
4
M
1
J
9
J
7
A
9
S
3
O
5
N
1
D
8

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
91 Sightings
J
9
F
21
M
10
A
12
M
2
J
8
J
4
A
9
S
1
O
5
N
3
D
7

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

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
78 Sightings
J
11
F
24
M
4
A
3
M
7
J
4
J
8
A
4
S
4
O
5
N
4
D
0

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
68 Sightings
J
2
F
27
M
9
A
10
M
2
J
10
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
6
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
66 Sightings
J
6
F
11
M
11
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
5
S
4
O
0
N
7
D
20

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

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
61 Sightings
J
1
F
21
M
11
A
3
M
3
J
9
J
0
A
5
S
3
O
4
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
58 Sightings
J
10
F
16
M
3
A
3
M
1
J
10
J
0
A
6
S
3
O
4
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
56 Sightings
J
1
F
13
M
8
A
0
M
5
J
7
J
6
A
6
S
3
O
7
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
46 Sightings
J
3
F
21
M
1
A
0
M
2
J
7
J
4
A
0
S
1
O
6
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
45 Sightings
J
2
F
9
M
0
A
0
M
7
J
10
J
5
A
9
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
43 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
0
A
4
M
1
J
5
J
4
A
1
S
1
O
4
N
4
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
32 Sightings
J
3
F
18
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
4
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
24 Sightings
J
3
F
8
M
1
A
0
M
3
J
6
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
23 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
6
J
1
A
4
S
3
O
1
N
1
D
2

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
23 Sightings
J
1
F
7
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
7
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
5
D
0

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
22 Sightings
J
2
F
8
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
1
N
2
D
1
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
21 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
2
A
0
M
2
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
19 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
7
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
1
A
1
S
2
O
2
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
15 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
2
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
10 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Rocky Bay/Landers

Rocky Bay/Landers offers year-round diving opportunities, with each season bringing unique conditions. Water temperatures range from 18°C–24°C/64°F–75°F in the summer, cooling to 12°C–16°C/54°F–61°F in the winter, providing a comfortable environment for divers with suitable gear. Visibility is generally good, ranging from 10 to 30 meters/33 to 98 feet, though it can be reduced during stormy weather.

While diving is possible throughout the year, the best conditions are typically found from late spring to early autumn. During this time, calm seas and mild currents enhance the diving experience. Winter months may bring stronger winds and currents, making some sites less accessible. Overall, careful planning and monitoring of local weather forecasts are recommended for optimal diving experiences in Rocky Bay/Landers.

Dive Centers

ScubaXcursion, Nicho Boers

Green Lane, 4180 Scottburgh, ZAF

MISS BEHAVIN’S MERMAIDS

129 Galway Street, 4180 Scottburgh, ZAF

Dive Sites

ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Canyons (★4.3)

Canyons is an advanced dive site with a maximum depth reaching 34m and average depth around 27m. One of the main and most spectacular features of Canyons is a large mushroom rock with a big green coral tree that seems like it was delicately placed there decorated with sea goldies.
ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Castle (★4.2)

This site is named Castle because of its pinnacles and castle like structures with swim throughs, gullies, and overhangs to explore. Maximum depth is 25m and the top of the reef is 12m deep.
ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Landers (★4.3)

Landers has multiple dive locations that each form a dive of its own. You can dive Landers reef numerous times and each dive will be different from the one before. This site is best described as an underwater playground; unlimited crevices, holes, and gullies each filled with marine treasures.
ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Butchers (★4.4)

Butchers is a unique reef structure made up of large boulders. This mountain like landscape is full of gullies and crevices to explore. Maximum depth is 27m with the reef top at about 19m.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Cowrie (★4.2)

Cowrie forms part of the southern reefs of Aliwal Shoal with a maximum depth of 27 meters and the top of the reef at 20 meters. The distance from the southern to northern pinnacles is around 120m. This reef is perfect for macro photography.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Msea Hammer (★4.7)

Maximum Depth 40 meters. Average Depth 22. Swim Throughs , Caves, Gullies and Crevices. Regular sightings of Scalloped hammerhead Sharks, Oceanic black tip sharks , large grouper and reef structure decorated with a great variety of colourful Nudibranch.
Mares

Eelskins (★4.1)

This dive site is an average depth of 13m and a maximum depth of 19m and is only accessible by boat. The entry into the water once at the dive site is a negative entry method.