Learn to Dive in South Africa
South Africa’s Highlights
With a huge coastline, varied conditions and topographies, South Africa has some interesting diving opportunities. In South Africa, not only can you see the Big 5 above water but also below. This includes the great white, bull shark, hammerhead, sand tiger shark and tiger shark.
South Africa has a huge variety of marine life from sea lions to humpback whales. South Africa lies along two oceans: the Atlantic and the Southern Indian Ocean. Diving in South Africa was made famous by the Sardine Run and the ability to dive with great white sharks. While these are both incredible experiences, diving in South Africa is so much more.
When is the best time to go diving in South Africa?
It’s possible to dive all year round in South Africa. The best time of year depends on what part of South Africa you will be diving in. The area around Kwa-Zulu Natal has warm water all year round.
Water Temperature: The water temperature depends on where you will be diving. Cape Town in winter drops as low as 14°C and in summer rises to 28°C.
Around Kwa-Zula Natal the water temperature is 22°C in winter and 31°C in summer.
Divers should be aware that conditions can be challenging due to large swells and cold water.
Currents: None to strong
Visibility: Depends on where you will be diving. Around Kwa-Zulu Natal visibility is usually between 20m and 40m. In Cape Town it is between 2m and 20m.
South Africa’s best dive sites
The Great Sardine Run
The Great Sardine Run is from May to July when sardines travel up the coast of South Africa to Mozambique. Millions of sardines’ swim in unison which makes for a remarkable site. In addition, spend your time spotting sharks, game fish and dolphins try to hunt them. Most boats will spend time above water looking for the shoals of sardines and drop you right in the center of the actions.
Gansbaai
Only 2 hours from Cape Town, Gansbaai is famous for its sharks. Home to colonies of seals and penguins, sharks have become known to feed in this area. One of the main reasons divers head to South Africa is for the chance to dive with great white sharks. Local operators offer a cage diving experience in order to dive with these majestic sharks. No diving certification is required to cage dive.
Protea Banks, Shelley Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal
A beautiful and intricate reef with amazing topography. It’s the home to game fish including barracuda, snapper and tuna. Different shark species come here to hunt the fish including bull, hammerhead and tiger sharks.
About the country
South Africa is famous for its wildlife and is the third most biodiverse country in the world. From birds, fish, mammals and reptiles, South Africa has it all. South Africa tries to protect its wildlife by establishing numerous land and marine national parks. Kruger National Park is the 8th largest reserve in the world with the greatest variety of wildlife seen in Africa. Additionally, it has more species of mammals than both North and South America together, which means that if you like animals there’s a lot to see.
South Africa is one of the only countries with three capital cities, Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Pretoria (administrative). Moreover, one of the things that brings people together is their love for sports. The most common sports played and watched are rugby, cricket and football.
Recreational Courses in South Africa
Dive Centers in South Africa
Getting to South Africa
With three international airports, you can choose to fly into Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban. It will largely depend on where you will be diving. Once you arrive, hire a car to get around.
Other important information
- Capital: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Official Language: 11 languages: English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Swazi, Tshivenda, and isiNdebele.
- Demonym: South African
- Currency: South African rand (ZAR)
- Calling code: +27
- Driving Side: left
- Population: Above 60,000,000
- Pressure: Bar
- First Stage: DIN
