Stories / Discover the wild and breathtaking South Africa

Discover the wild and breathtaking South Africa

With over 2,798 kilometers (1,739 miles) of coastline on two oceans, South Africa offers a dazzling variety of dive sites to discover. The warm waters of the East Coast, the exciting shipwrecks and astounding kelp forests of the west coast and the caves and quarries of the inland make this country a mecca for divers. All types of divers can find their favourite dive site here whether you are a trained pro or an absolute beginner. The most southern African nation is a hotspot for diving with large creatures like great white sharks and whales and it is also known for the world famous sardine run.

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Dive sites

Discover the underwater wonders waiting to be explored

Mares

2 Mile Stringer (★4.2)

This site is like an oasis in the desert – 2 rocky outcroppings surrounded by sand. Game fish are regular visitors and is also known as a nursery area for juvenile fish. It is home to a variety of creatures . This dive site is only accessible by boat. The depth is between 10 and 13m and is situated beyond the backline. It is best dived in flat conditions, ensuring that the current is not too strong.
Impact Divers, 7975 Cape Town

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.
Mares

Bikini (★4.3)

This dive site is only accessible by boat. The bikini dive site has an average depth of 18m and a maximum of 22m and is known as a photographer’s playground. This area of the reef always delivers a surprise of some sort such as nudibranchs, pipefish, paper fish, or some other beauty.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town

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.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Antons (★4.4)

Antons is one of the best dives in Sodwana. Anton’s Reef is so-named after one of the first dive operators in Sodwana Bay (1980’s) – Anton Buchel. On this reef you will find various gullies, a long swim-through, and boulders surrounded by sand patches. Numerous varieties of coral such as fleshy soft coral, table, and spiral coral, as well as colourful sponges cover the area. This dive site is only accessible via boat with an average depth of 12m and a maximum depth of 16m.
Mares

Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay (★4.2)

Although popular for students and beginner divers, this site’s ledges and swim-throughs offer something for everyone. The topography is varied with large sand gullies to investigate and shoals of sweepers can be found hiding under the rocky outcrops and small caves. This dive site is only accessible via boat. The average depth is 9m with a maximum depth of 12 m - perfect for all beginner divers.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town

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.
ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Aliwal Shoal (★4.1)

Aliwal Shoal is a fossilized Sand Dune with interesting and unique mountain like reef structures that holds many swim throughs, gullies and crevices to explore. The reef is only accessible by boat, there is no shore entries. The surf launch is part of the adventure. Boats are 8.5m Rubber Ducks/Ribb
ScubaXcursion, 4180 Scottburgh

Chunnel (★4.4)

This is a dive site for everyone, it has three main features – a pinnacle that spirals rapidly up towards the surface, an overhang that provides a sheltered hiding place for many of the shoal’s shier residents, and the famous Chunnel Cave.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town

A-frame Cape Town (★4.4)

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.

Marine Life

Encounter these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat

AdobeStock-Magnus

Humpback Whale
Alamy-Alex Mustard

Seal
iStock/Vladoskan

Great White Shark
iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
Alamy-Cultura Creative

Sharks
iStock/mbolina

Turtles
Alamy/Nature Picture Library

Whales
iStock/NaluPhoto

Dolphins
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