Sodwana Bay
Northern KwaZulu-Natal
Coral reefs inside the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, named by their distance from the launch site. The best all-round reef diving in the country and a good place to learn.
Sodwana Bay diving guideIndependent dive guide
Scuba diving South Africa Two oceans, one coastline
Scuba diving South Africa means two very different oceans on one long coast: warm Indian Ocean reefs, sharks and the Sardine Run in the east, and cold, clear Atlantic kelp forests, seals and wrecks around the Cape in the west. This guide shows you where to dive, what you will see in each season and how to plan the trip.
Why dive South Africa?
Few countries give divers this much variety on a single coastline. South Africa sits where two ocean currents meet. On the east coast the warm Agulhas Current flows south from the tropics, carrying coral reef life down to KwaZulu-Natal. On the west coast the cold Benguela Current wells up nutrient-rich water from the deep, feeding kelp forests, seals and seabirds. Between the two, around the Cape Peninsula and along the south coast, the waters mix.
The result is a country where, in one trip, you can dive the southernmost coral reefs in Africa at Sodwana Bay, sit on the sand while raggedtooth sharks cruise past at Aliwal Shoal, drop into the blue over the deep pinnacles of Protea Banks, and then fly to Cape Town to swim through swaying kelp and play with Cape fur seals.
It is not always easy diving. Many east coast dives start with a boat launch straight through the surf. Currents can be strong, conditions change with the wind, and the Atlantic is cold enough that a thick wetsuit or a drysuit is normal. That is part of the appeal: South Africa is a place for divers who want big animals and wild water, not only calm, warm reef.
The big draws
Sharks. South Africa is one of the best shark diving countries in the world. Depending on where and when you dive, you can see raggedtooth (sand tiger) sharks, tiger sharks, Zambezi (bull) sharks, scalloped hammerheads, blacktips, copper sharks and, offshore from the Cape, blue and mako sharks. Our guide to shark diving in South Africa covers each species, where to find it and how the dives work.
The Sardine Run. In the southern winter, huge shoals of sardines move up the Eastern Cape coast, and dolphins, sharks, gannets, seals and whales follow them. Diving or snorkelling on a bait ball is one of the great ocean experiences, though it is never guaranteed. Read the Sardine Run diving guide before you book.
Wrecks. From the Produce and the Nebo near Aliwal Shoal to the ships scuttled in False Bay, South Africa has wrecks for every level. See our wreck diving in South Africa page.
Kelp and cold water life. Around Cape Town the diving is completely different from the east coast: kelp forests, colourful invertebrates, endemic fish and seals. The Cape Town scuba diving guide covers both the Atlantic side and False Bay.
Two oceans
Warm east, cold west
The single most important thing to know when you plan South African diving is which ocean you will be in.
Indian Ocean coast
Warm Agulhas Current
- KwaZulu-Natal: Sodwana Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks
- Coral and rocky reefs, tropical fish, turtles
- Raggedtooth, tiger, bull and hammerhead sharks
- Many dives launch through the surf from the beach
- A 5 mm wetsuit suits most of the year
Atlantic and the Cape
Cold Benguela Current
- Cape Town: Atlantic seaboard and False Bay
- Kelp forests, invertebrates, endemic reef fish
- Cape fur seals, sevengill sharks, shysharks
- Shore dives and short boat rides
- A thick wetsuit, semi-dry or drysuit is normal
Where to dive
South Africa's dive regions
Aliwal Shoal
South of Durban
A fossilised dune reef off Umkomaas, protected as a marine protected area. Famous for raggedtooth sharks in winter, baited shark dives and two well-known wrecks nearby.
Aliwal Shoal diving guideProtea Banks
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
A deep offshore reef for experienced divers, known for Zambezi sharks, hammerhead schools and tiger sharks. Drift dives in blue water with strong currents.
Protea Banks shark divingThe Sardine Run
Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
A winter migration of sardines followed by dolphins, sharks, gannets and whales. Boat-based, weather-dependent and unforgettable when it works.
Sardine Run diving guideCape Town
Western Cape
Kelp forests, seals, sevengill sharks and wrecks on two sides of the Cape Peninsula, with shore dives minutes from the city and great white shark cage diving a drive away.
Cape Town diving guideWrecks
Both coasts
Cargo ships, steamers and naval vessels scuttled as dive sites, from KwaZulu-Natal to False Bay.
Wreck diving guideWhen to go
Diving seasons at a glance
South Africa has diving all year, but the big animal encounters are seasonal. These are approximate seasons: animals and weather do not follow a calendar exactly.
| Highlight | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raggedtooth sharks, Aliwal Shoal | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||
| Sardine Run, Wild Coast | yes | yes | yes | |||||||||
| Humpback whales, east coast | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||
| Tiger sharks, KwaZulu-Natal | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||
| Hammerheads, Protea Banks | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||
| Turtle nesting, Maputaland | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |||||||
| Atlantic seaboard, Cape Town | best | best | best | best | best | best | ||||||
| False Bay, Cape Town | best | best | best | best | best | best |
Indian Ocean coast: usual seasonCape Town: usually the best conditions
Questions
Scuba diving in South Africa: common questions
Is South Africa good for beginner divers?
Yes, in the right places. Sodwana Bay is one of the most popular places in the country to learn, with shallow reefs, warm water and many dive centres. Cape Town also has sheltered shore dives where people train, though the water is cold. Deep, current-swept sites such as Protea Banks and the Sardine Run are for experienced divers only.
What is the water temperature?
It depends on the coast. KwaZulu-Natal is warmed by the Agulhas Current and is comfortable in a 5 mm wetsuit for most of the year. Around Cape Town the Atlantic side is cold all year, and False Bay is a few degrees warmer, so most divers use a 7 mm wetsuit, a semi-dry suit or a drysuit there.
When is the best time to dive South Africa?
There is good diving all year somewhere on the coast. Winter (roughly June to November) brings raggedtooth sharks to Aliwal Shoal, humpback whales and the Sardine Run. Summer brings tiger sharks and hammerheads to KwaZulu-Natal and usually the best conditions on Cape Town's Atlantic side. The seasons table above and our South Africa dive trip planning guide have the details.
Do I need a permit to dive in South Africa?
South Africa requires recreational divers to have a permit to scuba dive in its marine protected areas, which include many of the best sites. Rules and the way permits are sold change from time to time, so ask your dive centre when you book how to get the current permit.
Can I see great white sharks?
Great white shark cage diving has long been run from Gansbaai and Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. Since the late 2010s sightings there have become much less predictable, so check recent reports with operators before you plan a trip around it. Our shark diving guide explains the options.
Ready to plan your dives?
Seasons, flights, surf launches, wetsuits and permits: everything you need to put a South African dive trip together.