Scuba Diving Cape City – a whole information (2022)

South Africa is famend for its magnificence and is a dream vacation spot for any journey junkie. The mountaineering trails round Cape City are well-known, however many are shocked to be taught that Scuba diving in Cape City is great. With regards to diving actions in South Africa the annual sardine run on the East coast of the nation and shark cage diving are greatest identified.

Superb experiences for certain, however South Africa has much more to supply to the Scuba diver. With such a various shoreline it is likely one of the world’s most attention-grabbing diving locations.

Chilly water diving within the stunning kelp forests of Cape City is a singular expertise with colourful sea slugs, playful seals, a wide range of sharks and fish and a few attention-grabbing wrecks to discover.

Scuba Diving in South Africa

The distinctive South African shoreline, bordered by completely different oceans and currents is dwelling to an enormous biodiversity.

For the greatest Scuba diving with sharks in South Africa descend at Protea Banks in KwaZulu Natal. You’ll swim with Tigersharks, Zambezis, Black Ideas and generally huge shoals of hammerheads.

Probably the most colourful and greatest tropical diving is in South Africa is in Sodwana, dive within the heat Mozambique currentin northern Kwazulu Natal. On Africa’s most southern coral reef you’ll be able to see Whale sharks, Humpback Whales, Ragged-tooth Sharks, Manta Rays, and nesting Sea Turtles in season. 

Driving the Backyard Route additionally provides good diving alternatives; dive with sea horses on the Knysna Heads, go Scuba Diving with Seals at Plettenberg Bay, or go and dive with colleges of sport fish and ragged-tooth sharks on the colourful reef of the Ray Banks from Port Elizabeth.

Cape City provides implausible chilly water diving; go diving with seals, cow sharks and discover a wide range of distinctive nudibranchs. Diving within the stunning kelp forests makes diving right here completely different and spectacular. Cape City is wealthy in shark life that may be seen diving right here both scuba diving, doing pelagic shark dives, or cage diving with nice white sharks. See our in-depth article about completely different choices to dive with sharks in Cape City. On this thrilling metropolis you’ll not have a boring second, right here is our suggestion for our favourite issues to do in Cape City.

Scuba Diving in Cape City

Diving round Cape City is difficult.  The water is chilly and visibility shouldn’t be all the time nice, however on a great day taking over the problem is so value it with an enormous number of distinctive marine life; from implausible small critters to a big number of fish and even marine mammals. Seals are sometimes seen on dives and are very playful. Diving or snorkeling with seals is a must-include in your Cape City itinerary. Dolphins and whales are incessantly seen from the boat, however assembly them below water is a uncommon incidence.

Scuba divers new to the Cape dive scene are sometimes involved about sharks. This isn’t a severe concern, only a few persons are fortunate/unfortunate sufficient to ever see an important white shark scuba diving and assaults by these predators are virtually non-existent. The water is chilly, however this downside is definitely solved by diving in a correct wetsuit or a dry go well with in excessive situations.

Price of Diving in Cape City

Diving is attention-grabbing and difficult round Cape City, however simply since you are in a third-world nation it doesn’t imply diving is affordable. Dive costs in Cape City begin round R600 ($45) for a ship dive together with tools.

Price of diving with completely different operators in Cape City might be discovered on the backside of this entry.

Permits Required for Diving in Cape City

A lot of the dive websites round Cape City are situated in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These marine protected areas goal to preserve marine life and promote the conservation and efficient administration of biodiverse marine areas.

To dive in a MPA it’s essential have a MPA Allow. You should buy this at any native submit workplace at a price of R75, the allow is legitimate for one yr from the day of buy. You may as well purchase a brief allow at sure dive retailers at a price of R45 which is legitimate for one month.

When diving round Cape City, test if the place you wish to dive is situated in a MPA. Be sure you have a allow, giant fines might be issued if you happen to do not need a allow and equipment might be confiscated.

Diving from the Shore in Cape City

Many dive websites are simply accessible from the shore. Since no boat prices are concerned most coaching dives within the space are finished from the shore. This makes diving low cost if you happen to personal your personal tools and know the realm, solely paying for cylinder refills. Renting continues to be less expensive than doing boat dives and lots of dive retailers have dive leaders obtainable for shore dives.

Dive websites round Cape City are both situated inside False Bay or on the Atlantic facet, referring to the west coast of the Cape Peninsula.

Transport round Cape City

It’s potential to get by prepare to Simonstown or transfer round by taxi or Uber, however renting a automotive is unquestionably the easiest way to maneuver round in Cape City. Rentacar Cape City compares costs of all essentially the most respected automotive rental companies. You may lease a automotive beginning at about $20 per day for a medium automotive or as little as $15 per day for a small price range car if you happen to lease for every week! Choose up your car on the town or on the airport.

DIVING IN FALSE BAY

There’s some implausible Scuba diving inside false bay. Diving with seals, giant 7 gill cowsharks and a few very attention-grabbing nudibranches. Shore dives are generally finished and the nice roads make most websites straightforward to achieve. Many large cowsharks are sometimes seen from the shore. There are a selection of world class wrecks to dive within the bay.

Inside False Bay is greatest dived in winter months when the prevailing north-westerly winds flatten and cleans the bay.  In winter visibility is often between 5 and 10 metres, however I’ve seen as much as 20m. Water temperatures this time of yr is often round 16C. In summer season the south easter can spoil situations lowering visibility to zero and water temperatures can drop to 12C.

Dive websites on this space are situated in a Marine Protected Space (2004). The closest submit workplace to purchase a allow right here if you happen to do not need one is Kalkbay.

Shore dives in False Bay

In my scholar days we couldn’t afford boat dives and I did a whole bunch of dives, day and evening, from the shore. As an teacher I’ve educated and confirmed many divers some implausible dives from the shore on this space.

The Clan Stuart

The “SS Clan Stuart” is a 3500 ton British turret steamer that ran aground carrying a cargo of coal after dragging her anchor in a South East gale on 21 November 1914.

This wreck is a straightforward, shallow dive appropriate for all ranges. Nice shore dive, with enough parking and properly shielded from south westerly swell. It’s appropriate for coaching and evening dives, and has fairly a various inhabitants of reef animals and a few attention-grabbing wreckage. The engine block might be seen above the water from the shore. The wreck is roofed in progress, many small fish. Nice white sharks have been seen right here a couple of times.

Avg depth 6m. Max depth 8m

Location

Roughly 4km from the Fish Hoek visitors circle on the Simon’s City Highway, about 100m from the seashore at Mackerel Bay

The A-Body

The A-Body is a really good shore dive, the entry is straightforward, there are some attention-grabbing swim throughs and a wide range of marine life. The entry level is a flat rocky plateau. You decend on a shallow sandy space from the place you begin your tour by means of the kelp Forrest and previous big boulders.

There are a few deep holes and overhangs creating attention-grabbing swim throughs in which you’ll see many colourful invertebrates. The smaller of the 2 rocks has a pleasant cave to enter crammed with large sponges.  The positioning is properly fitted to evening dives. Octopus, cuttlefish, large pink romans, hottentot and shy sharks are generally seen.

Location

The positioning lies roughly 5km from Simon’s City on the Cape Level Highway.

Fortress Rock

Fortress Rock is  big rocks in a small bay space, which is shaped by large boulders. The dive begins in a small bay which you exit by means of a giant Kelp forest. You swim across the rocks and this web site has some wonderful fish life. Purple Roman, Pyjama sharks, Shy Sharks, Butterfish, Galjoen, Cape Knife Jaw, Financial institution Steenbras and Janbruin (John Brown) of descend dimension are seen on most dives.

Max Depth 15m

Location

Driving from Simon’s City Fortress Rocks is located simply earlier than the Cape Level Nature Reserve. After the Millers Level flip off you will notice a big outcrop of rocks, Fortress Rock. Parking is on the facet of the Highway, about 15 meters above sea degree, so that you equipment up right here and stroll all the way down to the entry spot.

Pyramid Rock – Cow Shark Dive

That is my favourite dive in Simon’s City and is usually finished as a ship dive. Comparable fish life to Fortress Rock. The spotlight is the Seven Gill Cow Sharks. Typically many of those giant sharks might be seen. They’ve enamel however in 1000’s of dives no person has been bitten.

Location

A pyramid formed rock protruding above the water between Fortress Rock and the Simon’s City jetty.

Boat Dive in False Bay

Partridge Level    – Cape Fur Seal Dive

Scuba diving with the acrobatic Cape Fur Seals is an superior expertise in Cape City. The seals are very playful and love to indicate off  to divers.

These seals are used to divers and lots of of them typically come to examine and play. Partridge Level is a inshore rocky reef near Fortress Rocks.

The amphitheatre, a shallow part of the reef is an efficient place to look at the Seals. The deeper sections of the reef provides stunning marine life, swim-throughs and huge sea followers.

There are intensive kelp forests within the shallower areas, and a heavy cowl of invertebrates on the rocks.

Max depth 26m

Whittle Rock

Rock in False Bay elevating from 35m deep to only 3m beneath the floor. Number of good dimension fish; Purple Roman, Purple Stump, Yellow Tail and extra. Widespread spearfishing spot. Nice Whites generally seen. Good nudibranchs’ and different invertebrates.

location

Boat dive, 9km from Millers Level.    

The SAS Pietermaritzburg      

This ship was previously often known as HMS Pelorus and led the D-Day invasion of Normandy. It was purchased by the South African Navy and scuttled to kind a man-made reef in 1994. The wreck continues to be intact and is straightforward to entry.  It’s a in style web site for introductory wreck dives and evening dives, primarily as a result of average depth and quick distance from the launch web site. Max Depth 22m

Location

Boat dive, 1 km from Millers Level.

The Wrecks of Smitswinkel Bay

The Wrecks of Smitswinkel Bay are 5 wrecks that had been scuttled within the 1970’s by the SA Navy to kind a man-made reef. It’s potential to go to all 5 wrecks on a single no-decompression dive , this is named a Smits Swim. That is often organised for individuals who wish to have been there and finished that. The 5 wrecks are SAS Transvaal (navy frigate), SAS Good Hope (navy frigate), the Rockeater (diamond dredger), the
Princess Elizabeth (fishing trawler) and the Oratava (fishing trawler)  The dredger and frigates are in an upright place and at this depth might be fairly a ghostly sight.

A superb constitution firm is essential for this dive, some native divers are usually not even certain which wreck is which. Grant from Blueflash Divers actually is aware of what he’s doing. On the wrecks you’ll be able to see varied nudibranchs, anemones, sponges, sea-fans and mushy corals. A superb gentle helps to carry out a whole lot of colour. Due to the depth and chilly water make sure to plan the dive properly and cling to limits.

Lodging in Simonstown, False Bay

• Backpacker Funds – Stoked Backpackers
• Mid Vary – The Lodge Glencairn is a really handy keep for diving in False Bay. Good rooms, pleasant house owners and glorious location lower than 100m stroll from Pisces Divers.
• Deal with Your self – Watercolors Home, set reverse the ocean,  wonderful views, giant photo voltaic heated pool.

DIVING ON THE ATLANTIC SIDE

Diving the Atlantic Facet refers  to the websites on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula. Chilly, clear water introduced by the South East winds makes summer season one of the best time to dive right here. The South east  cleans up the Atlantic facet and visibility can attain as much as 20m, however then the temperatures can drop to about 10°C.

Kelp forest, seals, crayfish and vibrant mushy corals are frequent on dives on the Atlantic facet of Cape Level. Dolphins are sometimes seen from the dive boats and in case you are fortunate you’ll be able to run into the attention-grabbing and big oceanic sunfish.

Detailed listed below are a number of of the preferred dive websites on the Atlantic Seaboard. The boat launches are from Hout Bay harbour. A drive alongside the coast from Hout Bay is likely one of the most scenic drives in Cape City. You probably have time earlier than or after your dive make certain to do it.

Shore Dives on the Atlantic Facet of Cape Level

There are some good shore dives to do within the Oudekraal space on the base of Twelve Apostles. Positioned inside an MPA you want a Scuba allow (from a submit workplace) to dive right here. Parking is often not a giant downside within the coastal space. Be ready to navigate the rocks to the water, battle by means of the patches of floating kelp, and for fairly an extended swim to the dive web site. When within the space make certain to go to the Cape Level Nationwide Park it’s one of many must-see locations in Cape City.

Justin’s Caves

This can be a extremely popular shore dive in summer season when the water is chilly and clear. Massive caverns and swim throughs makes this a enjoyable dive. In all probability one of the best (and hottest) shore dive on the Atlantic facet. Nudibranchs’, anemones, sponges and lots of crayfish dwell in among the caverns. Many hottentot fish and small, innocent sharks swim within the space. A few years in the past I noticed a nice white shark right here on a shore dive. I’ve by no means heard about this taking place to a different diver.

Location

Parking along side the street on exterior of bend north of the Twelve Apostles Lodge. There’s an entry/exit level instantly reverse the caves on the backside of a slope coated with rounded boulders. Dive web site about 150m off shore.

Sandy Cove

Sandy Cove is a pleasant and straightforward dive, shielded from the pumping South Easterly in summer season and in style for coaching. Positioned near the Twelve Apostles Lodge. It’s a steep stroll all the way down to the dive web site, however a straightforward entry. There are some small swim throughs you could squeeze by means of. A number of marine life, crayfish, some fish primarily Klipfish and Hottentots’ , some Shy Sharks and Pyjama Sharks. Should you swim out yow will discover some canons that is still from an outdated wreck the ‘Het Huis Te Kraaienstein’, this is named the oldest wreck in South Africa.

The Antipolis

One other dive web site situated near the Twelve Apostles Lodge contained in the Karbonkelberg Marine Protected Space. The Antipolis ran aground at Oudekraal in 1977 and was later reduce all the way down to water degree. The wreck was a metal ship, the wreckage is especially giant pipes, damaged hull plates and huge valves overgrown with algae with all kinds of shell fish, star fish and a few crayfish conceal across the wreck. Many shy sharks and jelly fish can be seen within the space The encircling reef is especially granite outcrops and boulders.

The swim out to the wreck is greater than 50m, the common depth right here is round 7m reaching a max depth of 15m at this dive web site. Visibility is often 5-10 meters however can exceed 20 meters.

Boat Dives on the Atlantic Facet of Cape Level

Boat dives launch from Hout Bay and there are spectacular wrecks and good reefs, blinders and pinnacles to dive right here on the Western Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula.

The Maori

The Maori is a good wreck dive on the Atlantic facet of Cape City mendacity at a depth from 13m to a most depth of 21m. Jacques Cousteau labelled it one of the best preserved wreck of it’s classic when he dived right here. This 5317 ton cargo ship went down carrying explosives, pipes and crockery from London to New Zealand in 1909. Factors of curiosity on the wreck embrace the steam engines, the railway traces for cargo and plenty extra. Stranded on a rocky reef with an general size of 122 m

Location

Boat dive, situated about 7.5 km from Hout Bay Harbour. Shut inshore in the midst of the bay between Duiker Level and Oude Schip, however not simply accessible from the shore as there aren’t any roads on this space.

The Aster

The Aster was a 27 m lengthy Motor Fishing Vessel registered in South Africa as a lobster fishing vessel. The ship was was scuttled in Hout Bay close to the wreck of the MV Katzu Maru on 9 August 1997 to kind a dive web site. The place was properly chosen and the wreck is properly shielded from the south easterly wind. The ship was ready to be a diver-friendly synthetic reef by making giant openings into the construction. Most compartments have some type of opening to the skin. It’s a good wreck for coaching wreck penetration. The vessel is upright on the underside and is starting to interrupt up. This can be a deep dive with a most depth of 28m and a median depth of about 20m. There are many feather stars, sponges and mussels on the wreck, maintain a watch out for large crayfish. Visibility more likely to be about 10m, however I’ve dived right here in over 20m visibility, however it was a really chilly day with water temperatures beneath 10C!

MV Katsu Maru

The Katsu Maru was Japanese trawler, it struck an unidentified object at sea in August 1978. It flooded and sank whereas it was being towed to Hout Bay. The wreck lies on its starboard facet on the sand backside. It’s a good wreck to dive in good visibility. You cannot actually penetrate this one with out particular coaching. The highest of the hull lies at a depth of about 16m and the utmost depth is 28m.

Vulcan Rock

Vulcan rock is a big pinnacle about about 2km to sea from Hout Bay. It’s a stunning colourful dive, the granite reef is roofed in laborious and mushy chilly coral. At low tide the head breaks the floor, the reef drops to a most depth of 40m. There are some swim throughs deeper on the reef. Vulcan rock is a biodiverse reef internet hosting a wide range of nudibranchs, crayfish, hottentot, galjoen and also you generally discover seals across the reef.

Star partitions

That is the tallest and longest wall dive within the Cape City space. An enormous steady granite wall with a vertical drop of about 25m and the reef has a south face of about 100 m. Numerous and colourful mushy corals and invertebrates cowl the wall.

Lodging Hout Bay

Dive Operators

Alpha Dive Centre

Alpha Dive Centre is a good Dive Heart. Positioned in Strand, however dives in every single place in False Bay. I did my coaching with Alpha. Ettienne, the proprietor, is a good man with 20 years+ of expertise. Good dive masters for shore dives, does boat dives with Blue Flash, a superb constitution firm. Pop in for a cup of espresso and discus any diving concepts you might need.

Contact Alpha Dive Heart for boat dives, shore dives or dive programs.

Pisces Divers

Pisces Divers is a wonderful dive middle ran by proprietor Mike Nortje. Location is implausible, proper on Lengthy Seaside, Simonstown the preferred coaching seashore. Swimming Pool on web site. Good Espresso Store within the dive middle.

Pisces have their very own boat, you equipment up on the store in Simonstown. They’ve varied packages obtainable corresponding to ‘Wreck and Reef’ and ‘Seal and Kelp’.

Contact Pisces Divers for boat dives, shore dives, dive programs or shark dives.

Blue Flash

Blue Flash proprietor Grant Whitford is a really skilled skipper. Grant runs dive charters and caters for skilled, adventurous divers.

Extra Superior Issues to Do Round Cape City

If like us you’re keen on the ocean and the mountains, don’t miss the 2 most well-known mountains to hike in Cape City, mountaineering trails up Desk Mountain, and mountaineering up Lions Head.

The Mom Metropolis is a dream vacation spot for espresso lovers, with loads of top of the range artisan espresso retailers unfold out by means of the town. See our favourite espresso retailers in Cape City.

South Africa is known for wild love, among the finest ‘off the overwhelmed monitor’ nationwide parks within the Kgalagadi Nationwide Park.

If you cannot make it to Kgalagadi or Kruger you’ll be able to see the Massive 5 on a safari at Aquila Sport Reserve, solely about 2 hours drive from Cape City, get picked up at your resort in Cape City.

Kitesurfing in Cape City is world-famous, test it out we went for an introduction in Langebaan.

South Africa is dwelling to some implausible wines, go and take a look at the well-known wine farms in Stellenbosch or go and see the place winemaking began in South Africa on the wine farms of Constantia. Wine tasting and a few attention-grabbing meals and wine pairing in Durbanville can also be a implausible day to be taught and revel in.

Dive Insurance coverage

Pondering of issues that may go fallacious an excessive amount of can put a damper in your journey, however there are apparent dangers. Accidents do occur, be ready. Get a on-line quote in seconds. Have your journey, your well being and your gear coated, learn the small print. World Nomads Diving Insurance coverage

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The robust half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that will be glad to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however typically has to compromise with Alya and go mountaineering as an alternative. Campbell is chargeable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), pink wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.