SAS Transvaal (Wreck)

★★★☆☆ (12)

The wreck of the SAS Transvaal lies at an angle on a flat sand bottom. The bow is toward the NE. The wreck is mostly intact, the mast has fallen to port side, Hull structure is collapsing so beware of entering! Best to dive in winter and summer is the worst, current is quite strong.

Sea sponges, horsefish, Barred Finger Fin, Water is usually quite green, this makes for poor visibility.

Dive Activity

Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Alpha Dive Centre, http://www.alphadivecentre.co.za/

Alpha Dive Centre, http://www.alphadivecentre.co.za/

96 Main Rd (opposite Strand Railway station ), 7139 Cape Town, South Africa
Impact Divers / Cape Radd

Impact Divers / Cape Radd

117 St Georges Street, 7975 Cape Town, South Africa

Dive Sites Nearby

Scubapro, Stephen Frink
SS Oratava, wreck (★4.1)

SS Oratava, wreck (★4.1)

Highest point on the wreck is about 23 m at the top of the funnel. The vessel has an asymmetrical superstructure, the wreck is in a unstable condition. There is a long raised quarter deck, with a small wheelhouse. The front and top of the wheelhouse is gone leaving the superstructure open.
Aqualung
SAS Goodhope, wreck (★4.2)

SAS Goodhope, wreck (★4.2)

Structure is unstable. Scorpion fish has been spotted, Max depth is 36m of depth. This wreck is the 2nd southern wreck of Smitswinkel bay, Main deck was about 25 m before slowly staring to collapse. Visibility is usually bad around the 20 m mark but clears up upon getting to the deck of the shipwreck.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town
Partridge Point (★4.3)

Partridge Point (★4.3)

Also known as Seal Rock. This site is at the southern edge of the Castle Rocks restricted zone, within the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, where no fishing has been permitted for many years, and the result can be seen in the numbers of fish.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink
Whittle Rock, Cape Town, South Africa (★4.3)

Whittle Rock, Cape Town, South Africa (★4.3)

Whittle Rock and the surrounding reefs cover a large area, and are the most significant navigational hazard in False Bay. The reef is situated 8km offshore, West off Millers Point. There is a buoy situated where the reef come up from 20m up to 3m on low tide. There are many sites on the reef all ranging in depth.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Castle Rock Cape Town (★4.4)

Castle Rock Cape Town (★4.4)

Pristine kelp forests ranging in depths and some amazing reef structures as you get further out with massive pinnacles rising from 14m up to 5m. Average depth of dive site is around 10m. This site can can be quite sheltered from the rock structure blocking a NW wind which can be nicer on days with a bit more wind.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Pyramid Rock (★4.5)

Pyramid Rock (★4.5)

About 50-100 meters further out than Millers Point, Pyramid Rock is a kelp dive that also consists of many overhangs and swim throughs. This site was named after a rock formation with a distinct pyramid shape that breaks the surface of the water. This site has a maximum depth of 12 meters and an average of 5-10m.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town
Millers Point (★4.1)

Millers Point (★4.1)

Millers Point is also known as Shark Alley due to the high numbers of Seven-gill sharks that use to be found here in the kelp forest. This site is in a marine protected area. Make sure you get your diving permit and take nothing other than memories and photos.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Shark Alley (★4.2)

Shark Alley (★4.2)

This dive site is accessible by boat and is approximately 8 km offshore. The average depth at Shark Alley is 3 meters and the maximum depth is 5 metres. Shore dives can be done through Shark Alley shallows.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
SAS Pietermaritzburg, wreck (★4.3)

SAS Pietermaritzburg, wreck (★4.3)

This wreck is situated the Miller’s Point area. This is an easily accessible wreck in fair condition, but deteriorating rapidly. The wreck is of some historical interest but is not protected by legislation. The wreck is mostly intact and lies at 22m with the highest point being at about 18m depending on tides.
Mares
Omega Rock (★4.5)

Omega Rock (★4.5)

The site consists of 3 main pinnacles spans over 250m of reef. The depth on the sand is 28m although the average depth is +-15m. The pinnacle is a combination of a large, steep outcrop split by several narrow gullies, and some huge boulders, so there are some overhangs and a swim-through.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town
A-frame Cape Town (★4.5)

A-frame Cape Town (★4.5)

Enter at the rocks on the left and swim toward the two pinnacle rocks out toward the ocean. The smaller rock on the left has a swim-through with three entry points. To the right is a larger rock with lots to see along the wall of the rock. This dive is more for advanced divers.
Mares
Froggy Pond (★4.5)

Froggy Pond (★4.5)

This little bay is actually called “Froggy Pond“ on the official maps and charts of the area. In spite of its name, this is a sea dive, and there will be no frogs! Shore dive site which is suitable for training exercises as it is sheltered and has a flat sandy bottom.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town
Windmill Beach (★4.5)

Windmill Beach (★4.5)

This site has a very easy and protected beach entry and a small cove with a sandy bottom that is suitable for training exercises, while also having a varied topography, diverse ecology, and large area.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Boulders Beach (★3.9)

Boulders Beach (★3.9)

Simonstown Boulders is an easily accessible shore dive. The average depth is 6 meters and the maximum depth is 9 meters, so it is a good training dive site for beginners.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Outer Photographers Reef (★4.4)

Outer Photographers Reef (★4.4)

This is just one of the many smaller offshore reefs in the 20 to 30m depth range that can be found along the coast of False Bay south of the Roman Rock reef complex, where there are a moderate number of scattered granite outcrops of various sizes, many of which are virtually unknown.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Waters Edge (★4.8)

Waters Edge (★4.8)

This is the point where Simon’s Bay meets the south coast of the Cape Peninsula, and the coastline makes a distinct turn, becoming more exposed to the swell and winds from the southeast. This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Boulders Restricted Zone.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Simon’s Town Harbor (★3.8)

Simon’s Town Harbor (★3.8)

This site is an interesting site as you will enter the water at the yacht club and swim under the moored boats and will navigate to a wreck from a boat that sunk while moored. The site has a max depth of 10m and, because of the boat coming in and out the turbidity is high and often viz isn’t great.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Ark Rock (★4.2)

Ark Rock (★4.2)

Named for the large rock of the same name on the SAN charts. 550m north of Penguin Point. This is the biggest rock close offshore in Simon’s Town area, and it is unmistakable as a landmark.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town
Long Beach Simons Town (★4.3)

Long Beach Simons Town (★4.3)

Due to the shape of the harbour, Long Beach is well protected from most winds and waves. This dive site has a maximum depth of about 18 meters. This dive site does not require a boat ride and is a great shore dive.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink
Roman Rock (★4.3)

Roman Rock (★4.3)

Roman Rock can be found on the West Side of Falsebay, it is part of an MPA area, please have your permit available. Site has a flat coarse shelly sand bottom with large boulders and outcrops. The long axis of the reef runs roughly east to west and is about 400 m long and 110 m wide.
Mares
Caster Rock (★4.3)

Caster Rock (★4.3)

Castor Rock is close to the launch site at False Bay Yacht Club and the Simon’s Town jetty, and is relatively sheltered from southwesterly swell. The site is shallow and suited to entry-level divers, but has areas of high-profile scenic topography.
Mares
Target Reef (★3.7)

Target Reef (★3.7)

Target reef got its name from being used as a target for the military. This is a small reef almost 40 m across. There is a large concrete structure full of holes that divers can swim through. Max depth 22 m. Dive site is mostly concrete structures and wide metal beams. Beware of large swell and strong currents.
Mares
SS Clan Stuart (Wreck) (★4.3)

SS Clan Stuart (Wreck) (★4.3)

The dive site SS Clan Stuart is an inshore historical wreck in Simon’s Town area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula. The “SS Clan Stuart”, a 3500-ton British turret steamer carrying a cargo of coal, ran aground after dragging its anchor in a South East gale on 21 November 1914.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town
Seal Island Falsebay (★4.3)

Seal Island Falsebay (★4.3)

Seal Island in False Bay is home to 50 to 60 thousand seals at a time. This is a breeding colony that attracts the Great White shark to these waters during the time the seal pups start swimming.