Diving Tips
- Number of dive shops:
10
- Recommended travel time:
c
- Recommended diving suit:
Wetsuit, 5 mm
- Flight connection:
Edelweiss recommendation
Head to Cape Town for a unique underwater experience, and dive during the “Sardine Run”. Between May and July, millions of sardines swim north in huge shoals every year along South Africa’s east coast. The small fish attract dolphins, sharks, birds of prey – and divers too. The shoals of sardines provide a delicious feast for the sea creatures, and for divers they are a fascinating natural spectacle. The start of the Sardine Run is ten hours away from Cape Town at Port Elizabeth, so it is worthwhile taking a trip through the country and making several stops along the coast.
Top racing bike routes in Mallorca
Magical kelp forests off Simon’s Town
The diving spots off Cape Town are divided into three large areas: False Bay, the South Coast and the Atlantic Coast. The three areas in turn offer four different habitats: reefs, rocky coasts, sandy sea beds and kelp forests. Anyone who dives in the last one feels as if they are in an underwater forest. Just 45 minutes from Cape Town’s centre, Simon’s Town offers unique diving and snorkelling opportunities in dense kelp forests. 10 to 20 metres below the water’s surface, the magical, metre-high seaweed creates a maze where colourful fish and starfish make their home. The colourful nudibranch, a sea slug found in the waters around Cape Town, is particularly pleasing to the eye, but don’t be scared: the kelp forest is also one of the preferred habitats of the rare broadnose sevengill shark, also known as the pyjama shark because of their stripes.
For those with strong nerves - diving with great white sharks
The great white shark is one of the “Big 5 of the Sea”, also called the “Marine Big 5”. If you want to get up close to the famous but notorious predatory fish, it is best to travel to the small coastal village of Gansbaai, which is often referred to as the “Mecca of the great white sharks”. With a bit of luck, you can get close to the now endangered great white shark. Cage diving allows you to observe these fascinating animals in their natural habitat, separated from them only by bars. However, even off the coast of Gansbaai, there is no guarantee that visitors will actually encounter a “great white”. On the other hand, you are almost certain to see sharks when you dive around Cape Town, because various smaller and larger species of shark live there. If you want to cage dive the great white sharks, you need to book a tour led by experienced guides who have a background in marine biology.
Sunken wrecks in Smitswinkel Bay
Also close to Simon’s Town is Smitswinkel Bay, where five sunken ships lie on the seabed. The hulks were deliberately sunk and have since become artificial reefs overgrown with sponges and anemones. This dive site is only suitable for experienced divers, because the wrecks are situated at depths of 20 to 35 metres and the currents create tough conditions. However, as the visibility is usually good, smoothhound sharks can also be spotted alongside the ships’ structures and coral reefs. The water temperatures in Cape Town are generally classified as cool to cold for diving, so a 7 mm wetsuit is recommended for Smitswinkel Bay due to the diving spot’s depth.
Diving in a labyrinth both day and night
The “A-Frame” is also a favourite place among local divers. The diving spot located in False Bay features an impressive rock formation like an underwater maze. You can dive through narrow passageways between the rocks and small kelp forests. This is where numerous marine creatures such as anemones, sponges and nudibranchs hide themselves, as well as catsharks and pyjama sharks along with the occasional seal. It gets even more magical when you dive at the “A-Frame” at night. The water depth varies between 5 and 12 metres, making the spot ideal for beginner divers. There are hardly any currents either, as the spot is within a sheltered bay. And for those keen to try something new: the “A-Frame” is also very popular with freedivers, offering them the chance to take on both physical and mental challenges.
Up close with the seals on Duiker Island
Meeting South African fur seals is an absolute highlight for all divers who venture into the cold waters off Cape Town. Anyone taking a boat from Hout Bay to dive off Duiker Island can see – and smell – from afar what’s waiting for them there: there are around 8,000 seals who call the island home. The extremely cute seals are very curious underwater and venture close to snorkellers and divers, rapidly making dives off Duiker Island unforgettable. Surrounded by kelp forests, you can dive here alongside dozens of seals – and if you have the right equipment, you’re guaranteed some spectacular photos to take home. Good visibility and a maximum depth of 12 metres mean this dive spot is also suitable for beginners.
Diving at the Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles can be found not only in Australia, but also in Cape Town. They are on the Atlantic coast directly behind the city of Cape Town, forming part of the Table Mountain range. There is a diving site of the same name in the waters off the Twelve Apostles, reachable in around 20 minutes by car from Cape Town. This dive site’s highlight is the almost otherworldly kelp forest, with trees as thick as a person’s arm and some reaching several metres in height, which you can dive through. The shallow depths there make the “Twelve Apostles” also ideal for beginners, and divers can encounter a variety of fish species, crabs and starfish there. With a bit of luck, a curious seal will accompany you on the voyage of discovery or even show off one or two of its underwater tricks.
Activity at/in the destination
Recommended diving courses
The following diving schools and courses are the ideal choice for exciting excursions.
