Western Cape
Expect some heavy currents and amazing shark encounters, as well as wonderful wrecks providing artificial reefs in Western Cape.
Explore South Africa
South Africa offers a spectacular diving experience, renowned for its diverse marine life and unique underwater adventures. With over 2735 kilometers (1700 miles) of coastline spanning the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, divers can explore a variety of environments, including vibrant reefs, dramatic walls, and intriguing wrecks. The famed Sardine Run is a must-see event, where millions of sardines migrate along the coast, attracting dolphins, sharks, and seabirds in a breathtaking display of nature's splendor. The country's waters are home to an array of creatures, from the majestic great white sharks to colorful coral reefs teeming with life.
South Africa's diving opportunities are as varied as its landscapes. Most diving is conducted by boat, but there are excellent shore dives as well. For those seeking a thrilling liveaboard experience, the region offers options that allow exploration of remote dive sites. Divers can enjoy year-round diving, with conditions and temperatures varying across regions. In Sodwana Bay, warm waters and vibrant coral reefs provide an ideal setting for open water certification, while the cooler waters of the East Cape cater to those interested in cold water diving and dry suit specialties. With numerous dive centers and resorts offering comprehensive training, South Africa stands out as a premier dive destination, promising adventures for divers of all levels.
Power Plug Type
D, M, N
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DC, Cir, Plus
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff & Guides / Tipping is expected in restaurants and for tour services; amount may vary based on service quality.
Currency
ZAR
Dial Code
+27
Electricity
230 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+2
Places to explore
Courses and Events
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
Top Wildlife Sightings in South Africa
South Africa’s vastness makes diving incredibly diverse. From great whites, tiger sharks, whalesharks, mantas, dolphins and turtles, to schooling fish, sardines, colorful reef fish and tiny macro life like nudibranchs, the entire coastline benefits from species that live in the tropical Pacific seas, and species that are found in the Mediterranean.
The east coast of South Africa is warmed by the Mozambique current which nourishes thousands of species of coral, fish and water mammals. The west side is colder, and offers mesmerising kelp forest dives, especially near Cape Town.
On the Indian Ocean side, divers can spot lots of life, including reef fish, dolphins, sailfish, whale sharks, ragged tooth sharks, manta rays, turtles, humpback whales. Two, Five, Seven and Nine Mile Reefs are great dive sites to encounter these creatures.
Gansbaai area offers great white shark cage diving, started offering cage diving with the sharks. Mossel Bay, between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, also offer cage diving with great whites, and the best time to do so is during winter.
Cage dive with ancient cow sharks at Seal Island in False Bay. These are the most ancient sharks still alive today and are incredible to dive with. As well as sharks, the waters around the island host numerous whales each winter, including humpbacks, Bryde’s and Southern Right whales, and megapods of common dolphins and two famous orcas Port and Starboard. All of which you can see from dive or whale watching boats, or watch from shore.
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
2.6k Sightings
J
325
F
215
M
171
A
231
M
233
J
143
J
157
A
159
S
185
O
186
N
209
D
407
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
2.5k Sightings
J
172
F
36
M
21
A
27
M
170
J
231
J
274
A
257
S
292
O
298
N
338
D
351
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.2k Sightings
J
157
F
73
M
95
A
99
M
77
J
93
J
84
A
84
S
63
O
100
N
107
D
213
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
1.2k Sightings
J
169
F
75
M
60
A
91
M
113
J
80
J
83
A
63
S
69
O
121
N
82
D
165
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
1.1k Sightings
J
111
F
80
M
43
A
96
M
149
J
42
J
81
A
81
S
78
O
73
N
100
D
159
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
1.1k Sightings
J
126
F
112
M
108
A
128
M
67
J
61
J
68
A
71
S
47
O
52
N
36
D
189
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
833 Sightings
J
116
F
63
M
68
A
92
M
39
J
38
J
29
A
34
S
43
O
67
N
89
D
155
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
767 Sightings
J
99
F
84
M
93
A
45
M
33
J
20
J
42
A
28
S
21
O
68
N
85
D
149
Tobias Friedrich
Bottlenose Dolphin
714 Sightings
J
97
F
67
M
88
A
48
M
39
J
23
J
35
A
23
S
39
O
55
N
67
D
133
AdobeStock-Magnus
Humpback Whale
413 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
38
J
73
A
73
S
104
O
96
N
25
D
1
iStock/HakBak1979
Bull Shark
285 Sightings
J
30
F
34
M
6
A
17
M
13
J
18
J
17
A
15
S
13
O
16
N
31
D
75
