Diving off the coast of South Africa
Mysterious legends from the southern tip of Africa tell of underwater creatures that have the ability to evoke unimaginable reverence within man, and that only those who have seen them can do the stories justice. Here, in the land where two oceans meet, prehistoric beasts are said to guard the depths, while the maritime great five, namely sharks, whales, dolphins, penguins, and turtles, watch over the rest.
Warm Indian treasures.
The primitive coelacanth, until recently thought to be extinct, was sighted deep off the coast of Sodwana Bay on the east coast in 2003. This popular dive site is part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. , classified as a World Heritage Site. The water temperature never drops below 20°C due to the perennial summer and schools of pelagic fish, sea bass, turtles, right and humpback whales, whale sharks and dolphins abound.
At Protea Banks, 10 minutes from Shelley Beach, advanced divers have the rare opportunity to experience safe and secure ‘cage-free’ shark diving with Carcharodon carcharias (Great Whites) in quite unique conditions. The sharks seen here are naturally present in the area and are not attracted to the bait.
During the summer months, Protea Banks is home to the bull shark (Zambezi), as well as a large number of game fish and hammerheads of the family Sphyrnidae. In winter, the area becomes a mating ground for toothed sharks (Carcharias taurus).
the aquatic cape
At Justin’s Caves, just past Boulders Beach in Simonstown, the water is on average ten degrees warmer than its frigid Atlantic counterpart. Advanced candidates are often transported by boat to do their deep diving qualification later at Millers Point.
The Peninsula, on the other hand, offers superb wreck dives like The Antipolis, near Oudekraal. Both Justin’s Caves and Strawberry Rock, the starting point for a surface swim to Antipolis, boast vibrant coral, seals, starfish, and octopus.
Dyer Island is the shark diving capital of the Western Cape. About an hour and a half from Cape Town, near Gansbaai, colonies of juicy seals attract great whites to feed. These giants keep seal colonies in check, playing a key role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature.
Meridian Dive and Aqua Planet Dive Center will guide you through the waters of Kwa Zulu Natal and Protea Hotel Umghlanga, Protea Hotel Edward Durban, Protea Hotel Karridene Beach or Self Catered Seaside Cottage and Beside Still Waters Guest House in La Lucia will take care of your accommodation requirements .
In Cape Town, Pro Divers will facilitate your adventures and airport transfers can be arranged via a car hire service to any of the following perfectly located nearby guesthouses or hotels; Protea Hotel Cape Castle, Protea Hotel President and The Place on the Bay, as well as Moon Bay Guest House, five minutes from Simons Town in Fishhoek.