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THE BEST DIVE SITES IN KWAZULU NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA, INCLUDING SODWANA BAY, PROTEA BANKS & ALIWAL SHOAL
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Scuba Diving
Diving Safaris
Shark Diving |
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KwaZulu-Natal has plenty to offer the most discerning diver, with free shark diving, and excellent wreck and reef dives dotted along the coast. Being in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean, it is an ideal area to dive throughout the year. There are various reef and wreck dives available. Sea life is in abundance. Truly tropical diving is found on reefs with temperatures in excess of 20ºC (68F). |
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Amazing Dives are to be found at Sodwana Bay Protea Banks Aliwal Shoal |
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Sodwana Bay
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South Africa's most
exciting diving spot with Indo-Atlantic species of coral and other sea-life.
More than 1200 species of fish are found in these waters, as well as
bottle-nosed dolphins, sharks, whale sharks and turtles. A great variety
of viewing is found on the various reefs, with hard corals, abundant life forms,
and pinnacles, buttresses, caves and blow holes. Reef depths vary from a
few meters to over 30 meters. Many reefs are found at 18 meters or less.
Visibility can be anywhere between 10 to almost 40 meters, with the best
visibility to be found in the winter months. The reef formations are
divided into a number of reefs parallel to the shore.
Sodwana is also a National Park Site, renowned for the leatherback and loggerback turtles who lay their eggs in the same place every year, as they've been doing for 200 million years. Sodwana is approximately 4 hours drive from Durban, and is well worth a 3 - 7 day stay. Sodwana can be dived throughout the year, with the best conditions between April and September. Temperatures range from 21 degrees at the least, but are usually between 24 and 28 degrees. |
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Popular dive sites at Sodwana : Anton's reef - 2 Mile Reef : To view an amazing variety of tropical fish, and shoals of Moorish Idols, Big-eyes, Snappers etc, this dive is excellent, with common sightings of Big potato Bass, Marbled Rays and other exciting species. The coral forms various structures and shapes, and is beautiful to see. Pinnacles : There are wonderful formations of coral to be found, resembling caves, over-hangs and swimming alleys. Various species are to be found here. Seven Mile Reef : With drop-offs and mushroom-shaped pinnacles, and a great diversity of sea-life. |
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Aliwal Shoal
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Rated as one of the top
10 dive sites in the world, Aliwal Shoal is a must on your diving schedule in
KZN. Being a 35 minute drive from Durban, it is easily accessible, and has
plenty to offer the serious diver. The best visibility is usually between May to September although Aliwal Shoal can be dived throughout the year. Some of the more popular dives include; |
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Popular dive Sites @ Aliwal Shoal:
The Nebo : A ship wreck in 22 - 30 metres of water. Encrusted by soft corals and sponges, the wreck offers refuge to various marine species. Cathedral : A spectacular church-like amphi-theatre in the reef, which offers spectacular dives. Stingrays, ragged tooth sharks and moray eels may often be found in this site. Depth of 9 - 28m. The Produce : A tanker wreck in 30m of water. Big game fish and small tropical fish may be found. Although we recommend divers do not enter the wreck, there are large moray eels known to inhabit the wreck. Raggies Cave : A cave where groups of ragged tooth sharks may be found during winter months. Averaging at 15m. Pinnacles : Caves, gullies and overhangs make this an exciting dive, where shoals of fish can be found. Averaging 10-15m depths. |
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Protea Banks
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Rated
as one of the top shark dive sites in the world, and is definitely marked as a
site for the serious adventure seeker. Protea Banks is situated 8 km
offshore and the depth ranges between 8m and 40m. There is often a current of 4
or 5 knots, and therefore only experienced divers are recommended for this site.
You need to have logged at least 50 dives, or be an advanced diver to qualify to
dive Protea Banks. Protea Banks offers excellent conditions year round as the dive site is located in the Mozambique Channel and is not affected by run offs or surges. The reefs are accessed by boat launches through the surf which requires divers to assist with pushing the boat out. Visibility ranges between 8m to 40m. |
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Scuba Diving
Diving Safaris
Shark Diving |
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hoto : Williamson
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Tel + 44 (208) 2550067
Fax + 44 (208) 2559152 |
