Off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, lies a wealth of underwater features so vast, and teeming with such an incredible variety of life, that it could take a lifetime to explore all of it.
While many divers come to Cape Town just to see the Great White sharks and do a few days’ worth of cage diving with these magnificent creatures, there is a whole lot more to explore. As most of the diving here takes place during cooler months, and as this area is located further to the north than some of South Africa’s other popular dive locations like Aliwal Shoal or Sodwana Bay, the water is quite a bit colder than one might anticipate. Not to worry – local dive operators offer a wide range of rentals and can recommend the right wetsuit for the weather.
The diving in False Bay includes plenty of great wreck dives; however, we are going to explore the amazing wealth of reefs for now.
Roman Rock Lighthouse
The area around Roman Rock Lighthouse is home to seals, and is the occasional hunting ground for sharks, which wait in the depths for a seal to stray out of the shallower reef area into open water. There is an abundance of colorful reef fish here, as well as plenty of invertebrates and shellfish. If you encounter seals, feel free to enjoy the experience on their terms, but do not touch them or attempt to take a free ride. They do bite! Watch for pelagics too and if you are lucky, you may even see the seals hunt.
Additional features include a cave where many creatures enjoy a peaceful doze. Maximum depth here is just twenty meters as long as you stick close to the reef.
Castor Rock
Just about three hundred meters to the north of Roman Rock, you’ll find the incredible Castor Rock reef, which varies in depth from about eight to twenty-five meters. Here, you’ll find lamp urchin shells, which may be collected so long as they are uninhabited. The area is huge, and features a wide array of life. Sponges and green coral, as well as feather stars, red chested sea cucumbers, and plentiful reef fish make this lesser-explored dive sites a treasure just waiting to be admired. Shoals of reef fish, including Fransmadam, Dassie, and Hottentot are commonly seen here, as are reef sharks. Occasionally, great white sharks rest in the water nearby, in hopes of catching a wandering seal. Admire them from a distance!
Rambler Rock
About six hundred meters to the southeast of Roman Rock lighthouse, lies Rambler Rock Reef. This site features pinnacles and walls, which drop from about ten meters to twenty-two meters. Here, you will find plenty of colorful life including sea squirts and coral, fan coral and starfish, and colorful nudibranchs. Watch for the seals that live in the area!
Pie Rock Reef
Pie Rock features small caves, exciting pinnacles, and walls that are absolutely covered in soft coral. The area is extremely attractive to small fish, and is an excellent place to work on your underwater photography skills!
Although there can be some surface chop most of the time, the underwater atmosphere is generally quite calm, with visibility being in the five to ten meter range most of the time. You can expect to see seals, and enjoy the macro life all over the reef: False coral, red sea cucumbers, hydroids, and feather stars make this a colorful site!
Caravan Reef
Caravan Reef is made up of three parts, with the northern section being the deepest and most challenging at twenty-five meters, the eastern section at a maximum depth of twenty-two meters, and the central area featuring a relatively shallow ten meter section covered in rocky swim throughs and sandy patches. Along the northern section, you’ll find big brass gunnery shells littering the bottom. Unlike similar artifacts at some other dive sites, these may be removed as souvenirs. Just be sure that they are completely empty because live ammunition can go off, even underwater.
Photographer’s Reef
This incredible section of reef features swim throughs and caves with lots of visible entryways and exits, as well as caves and cracks that should not be entered. At just five to fifteen meters deep, and absolutely swarming with life, as well as coated in corals and punctuated with sea fans, this area is indeed a photographer’s delight.
Batsata Rock
Huge stingrays and schools of yellowtail are often seen in the area surrounding Batsata Rock, which is also referred to as Smits reef. This, along with the calm water and incredible flat rock that marks the peak of the dive site, makes it a very popular place for local spear fishermen. The dive site begins at depths between twenty and thirty meters, then continues up the reef to just a little more than five meters. Here, you will find a kelp forest and plenty of intriguing creatures peeking out from their homes among the kelp! Vibrant coral in red, yellow, orange and green lines the rocky ridges, making this site a colorful adventure worth taking.
As this dive site does lead out into more open waters, it is possible to encounter a Great White shark or two here, especially if anyone is spear fishing. Use your best judgment, stay within your limits, and stay away from areas that have been recently fished if you do not want to see these sharks without a cage protecting you, since Great Whites can smell blood at one part per million, and will be drawn to the area like magnets if they think they can score a free meal.
Whether you long to see big pelagics, or if you enjoy a variety of underwater features, Cape Town’s False Bay reefs are certain to enchant. Enjoy your time here, and remember to work with a reputable diving company and keep your paperwork in order, since many of these sites are protected and require permits. Most of all, have an outstanding time on your adventure, and remember to visit again!