South Africa is a beautiful, hospitable country, located at the southern tip of the African continent. While many people are familiar with the concept of taking a wildlife safari in South Africa, the idea of diving there may seem strange. If you are one of those people who has never given much thought to a South African diving vacation, hold on. You’re in for a wild, and wonderful ride.
Popular South African Diving Regions
Cape Province is popular for its’ white sharks, wrecks, kelp forests, and vibrantly colored sponges. The water in this area is cool and clear.
KwaZulu Natal is home to Manta rays, a wide variety of whales and dolphins, turtles, reef sharks, hard and soft corals, and plentiful fish – both tropical reef fish, and pelagics. There are plenty of wrecks in this area, as well.
Mozambique is renowned for its whale sharks, Mantas, dugongs, turtles, and hard coral reefs.
Diving is a quickly growing sport in South Africa, and there are more companies offering both charters and gear rental all the time. There are a few liveaboards available, and some shore entries, but most diving is done off rigid-hull inflatables or “semi-rigid” boats.
Incredible Marine Life
South Africa’s waters are home to some incredible marine life, including sharks, dolphins, whales, and other pelagics. The country’s coral reefs are pristine, and are full of smaller reef fish and macro life. No matter what time of year you would like to visit, you can always meet up with some species that are difficult to find in other places.
Great White Sharks are most often seen between April and September, while Hammerhead sharks visit from April to October. Whale sharks are normally encountered between November and March, and Zambesi sharks from September through May. Other sharks commonly encountered include Tiger sharks and Raggedtooth Sharks.
Turtles and Mantas can be seen year-round, as can eels, tropical fish, and pelagics. Turtles nest between November and February; if you love sea turtles, this is a sight not to be missed.
Endless Wreck Dives
South Africa’s rugged coastline has long been known as a maritime graveyard. Ships have been wrecking here for centuries, and the variety of shipwrecks, as well as the degree of difficulty for diving them, is varied. Whether you are new to diving shipwrecks, or if you are an experienced wreck diver looking for your next challenge, adventure waits just below the shimmering blue waters off South Africa’s Coast. Here are just a few examples of South Africa’s most intriguing shipwrecks.
The Maori
The Maori is located between Hout Bay and Llandudno. While the wreck is just 75 meters off shore in sheltered bay waters, it can only be accessed by boat. She lies in 20-25 meters of water, and was carrying a load of crockery, explosives, and ductwork when it wrecked on the rocks in the area in August of 1909. The wreck is well preserved.
The Het Huis de Kraaiestein
This popular wreck can be accessed from shore and is easy enough for novice divers. She lies in just seven to ten meters of water right by the Oudekraal Hotel, and is quite broken up. This is not surprising since she was built in 1697!
The Katzmaru
Katzmaru was an Asian fishing trawler that went down sometime in the 1970’s. She is mostly intact and lies in 29-32 meters on the sandy bottom. This wreck is full of marine life and is in a normally calm area. This dive is recommended for experienced divers, due to depth and occasional currents.
These are but a few of South Africa’s vibrant underwater offerings. No matter where you dive, or what you decide to see, you’re sure to enjoy your trip!