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South Africa

Divesites
114
Centers
25
Courses & Events
92
Wildlife
43
© AdobeStock/Florian

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

Dive Sites

Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Moray Eel

2.6k Sightings
J
287
F
209
M
171
A
231
M
233
J
143
J
153
A
159
S
184
O
186
N
209
D
407

Sand Tiger Shark

2.5k Sightings
J
162
F
32
M
21
A
27
M
170
J
231
J
273
A
257
S
292
O
298
N
338
D
351

Green Turtle

1.2k Sightings
J
144
F
65
M
95
A
99
M
77
J
93
J
84
A
84
S
63
O
100
N
107
D
213

Octopus

1.1k Sightings
J
138
F
73
M
60
A
91
M
113
J
80
J
83
A
63
S
69
O
121
N
82
D
165

Wrasse

1.1k Sightings
J
94
F
77
M
43
A
96
M
149
J
42
J
81
A
81
S
78
O
73
N
100
D
159

Loggerhead Turtle

1k Sightings
J
105
F
102
M
108
A
128
M
67
J
61
J
68
A
71
S
47
O
52
N
36
D
189

Hawksbill Turtle

821 Sightings
J
108
F
60
M
68
A
92
M
39
J
38
J
28
A
34
S
43
O
67
N
89
D
155

Eagle Ray

729 Sightings
J
75
F
70
M
93
A
45
M
33
J
20
J
42
A
28
S
21
O
68
N
85
D
149

Bottlenose Dolphin

701 Sightings
J
90
F
61
M
88
A
48
M
39
J
23
J
35
A
23
S
39
O
55
N
67
D
133

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

Bull Shark

279 Sightings
J
25
F
33
M
6
A
17
M
13
J
18
J
17
A
15
S
13
O
16
N
31
D
75

Parrotfish

2.9k Sightings
J
301
F
247
M
193
A
250
M
250
J
150
J
161
A
168
S
188
O
225
N
239
D
499

Angelfish

2.8k Sightings
J
274
F
230
M
198
A
246
M
245
J
156
J
172
A
157
S
208
O
242
N
234
D
473

Butterfly Fish

2.7k Sightings
J
244
F
203
M
154
A
224
M
262
J
125
J
176
A
185
S
182
O
250
N
238
D
422

Stingrays

2.5k Sightings
J
342
F
208
M
209
A
142
M
121
J
94
J
107
A
106
S
122
O
188
N
226
D
602

Grouper/Basslets

2.4k Sightings
J
253
F
208
M
157
A
198
M
226
J
110
J
137
A
174
S
120
O
173
N
184
D
428

Clownfish

2.3k Sightings
J
209
F
145
M
131
A
200
M
216
J
102
J
138
A
151
S
155
O
213
N
221
D
377

Triggerfish

1.9k Sightings
J
190
F
187
M
120
A
173
M
197
J
99
J
107
A
132
S
119
O
144
N
162
D
308

Bass

1.8k Sightings
J
189
F
236
M
306
A
114
M
58
J
39
J
33
A
12
S
97
O
174
N
274
D
262

Surgeonfish

1.7k Sightings
J
151
F
141
M
56
A
147
M
188
J
65
J
115
A
102
S
113
O
167
N
140
D
267

Nudibranch

1.6k Sightings
J
227
F
92
M
66
A
89
M
175
J
95
J
143
A
127
S
112
O
91
N
138
D
281

Bannerfish

1.5k Sightings
J
124
F
73
M
51
A
102
M
187
J
92
J
116
A
128
S
114
O
139
N
154
D
255

Trumpetfish

1.4k Sightings
J
166
F
126
M
82
A
117
M
102
J
82
J
75
A
80
S
105
O
115
N
145
D
250

Boxfish

1.4k Sightings
J
153
F
139
M
85
A
126
M
120
J
76
J
93
A
78
S
87
O
125
N
134
D
228

Pufferfish

1.4k Sightings
J
149
F
70
M
66
A
97
M
131
J
81
J
80
A
76
S
77
O
132
N
152
D
286

Scorpionfish

1.2k Sightings
J
145
F
97
M
71
A
69
M
105
J
84
J
33
A
69
S
67
O
130
N
124
D
170

Snapper

947 Sightings
J
59
F
51
M
36
A
55
M
141
J
37
J
49
A
69
S
64
O
95
N
107
D
184

Goatfish

914 Sightings
J
63
F
27
M
59
A
69
M
150
J
59
J
59
A
73
S
51
O
63
N
117
D
124

Soldierfish

829 Sightings
J
59
F
74
M
20
A
51
M
139
J
32
J
34
A
95
S
48
O
66
N
86
D
125

Sweetlips and Grunts

808 Sightings
J
91
F
44
M
21
A
62
M
126
J
53
J
58
A
78
S
30
O
62
N
49
D
134

Damselfish

745 Sightings
J
56
F
29
M
30
A
60
M
123
J
35
J
48
A
61
S
39
O
90
N
76
D
98

Carp

657 Sightings
J
84
F
93
M
126
A
33
M
22
J
12
J
20
A
11
S
26
O
48
N
105
D
77

Whitetip Reef Shark

608 Sightings
J
81
F
78
M
50
A
54
M
25
J
11
J
21
A
43
S
38
O
31
N
57
D
119

Lionfish

516 Sightings
J
39
F
22
M
47
A
59
M
54
J
50
J
22
A
38
S
32
O
60
N
42
D
51

Crab

484 Sightings
J
49
F
31
M
20
A
16
M
42
J
42
J
51
A
26
S
58
O
62
N
40
D
47

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

418 Sightings
J
53
F
48
M
28
A
27
M
29
J
10
J
33
A
36
S
6
O
12
N
38
D
98

Emperor

349 Sightings
J
24
F
4
M
4
A
10
M
78
J
9
J
18
A
28
S
12
O
46
N
49
D
67

Squirrelfish

277 Sightings
J
21
F
1
M
8
A
21
M
73
J
9
J
15
A
21
S
11
O
44
N
29
D
24

Spiny Lobster

255 Sightings
J
23
F
35
M
12
A
14
M
39
J
39
J
6
A
10
S
17
O
9
N
19
D
32

Jackfish

248 Sightings
J
10
F
11
M
12
A
7
M
71
J
14
J
12
A
33
S
6
O
9
N
33
D
30

Fur Seal

216 Sightings
J
16
F
18
M
22
A
26
M
27
J
11
J
19
A
7
S
7
O
27
N
19
D
17

Shrimp

200 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
2
A
8
M
24
J
31
J
8
A
19
S
13
O
8
N
20
D
58