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  Dive Operators - South Africa |  South Africa has a total land surface area of 1219912 Sq Km (471011 Sq miles)
South Africa is part of Africa- The currency used in South Africa is Rand
- The language of South Africa is Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
- The capital of South Africa is Pretoria
- The time in South Africa is 20:19
- The coastline of South Africa is 2798 kilometres (1735 miles)
The climate in South Africa is mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights | |
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South Africa Underwater Photo Sites (7)
Nice Reef inside the bay, long gullys covered with fans and False Lace coral and many other polyps and sponges.
| Facts about Phillips Reef, Port Elizabeth It is in South Africa- Phillips Reef, Port Elizabeth is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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shark cage dives, very stunning
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Sardine Run
| Facts about Port St Johns- It is in South Africa
- Port St Johns is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-50 Metres 0-160 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A beautiful reef with intersecting gulleys.
| Facts about Cross roads- It is in South Africa
- Cross roads is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Good for Cape Fur Seals. Use Pisces Divers in Glencairn, best dive shop in Cape Town
| | Facts about Seal Island, Hout Bay |
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Wonderfull dives in the Wild Side also the Bay Side if weather permits and visibilaty is good - sometimes the viz at the top is bad but opens up when you get on top of the reef.
| Facts about Gasmic - Wild Side- It is in South Africa
- Gasmic - Wild Side is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Sliping Sharks
| Facts about Alival Shoal- It is in South Africa
- Alival Shoal is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 10-30 Metres 30-100 Feet.
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A really nice pinacle rising to around 15m with walls of polyps and soft corals beautiful colours and lots of fish
| Facts about Coral Heads, Port Elizabeth- It is in South Africa
- Coral Heads, Port Elizabeth is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Beautiful site with many corals and false corals. Lots of fish and invertbrates of all sizes.
| Facts about Vital Link, Port Elizabeth- It is in South Africa
- Vital Link, Port Elizabeth is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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One of the best dive sites Ive ever dived...its another world down there.
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This dive site is one of a few Shore dive alternatives from the roadside parking generally referred to as Oudekraal.This particular site Justins caves is a collection of massive boulders which heaped together and have created a maize of swim through and shallow caves.Being the Atlantic side the water can get rather chilly below 10c but the viz can then be 20meters plus.Besides a large selection of invertebrates there are also spectacular displays of noble corals.
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Castle Rocks is situated just before the Cape Point Nature Reserve.Travelling from Cape town you will pass through Fishhoek and Simons town.The Coastal drive in itself is a tourist attraction.After the Millers Point turn off you will see a large outcrop of rocks.Not to hard to see why they are called Castle Rocks.Parking is on the side of the Road,about 15 meters above sea level,so you kit up here and walk down to the entry spot
False Bay cleans up with a North westerly and South Westerly wind,and on good days the viz is more than 20meters.The sheltered Bay varies in depth from 3-7meters and is ideal for snorkelling and Training dives.Once you leave the Bay and drop down the rocky reefs you can get about 18meters.The outside of the sheltered bay can become surgy so care should be taken with novice divers on the change of the tide.This area has been a marine reserve for years so all the Delights of False bay can all be seen in one dive.There are quite a few different fish species the obvious are the Red Roman,John Brown,the Cape Knife jaw,Zebra's,Streepies and of course the National fish the Galjoen.Three species of shy shark,Gully shark and Soupfin are regularly spotted the juvenile Dusky's put in a rare appearance.
Large orange wall sponges jut out along the walls and thousands of micro organisms create stunning colours along the dive.Gas flame Nudibranchs and the cape dorid are some of the numerous nudibranchs to be seen.
Castle rocks is one of the best shore dives on the Peninsula.
| Facts about Castle Rocks,Cape peninsula- It is in South Africa
- Castle Rocks,Cape peninsula is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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One of the best dive sites in the world during Raggie season....it's a must do!
| Facts about Cathedral, Aliwal Shoal- It is in South Africa
- Cathedral, Aliwal Shoal is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Windmill Beach,is along the False bay coast just outside Simons Town.This area is usually dived throughout the winter months and offers sheltered coves with Giant round shaped boulders sandwiching kelp and reef fish filled diving.This site because of it's sheltered location is very popular and offers safe diving to all level of divers and the only problem is the lack of parking.
The Parking area is the kit up point and its a short walk down to the beach which has entries on the left and right side of a large rock.The dive route can be done clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Out behind the rock are numerous below surface rocky outcrops which run out to sea and swimming a route around these can change the length of the dive.
There are quite a few different fish species the obvious are the Red Roman,John Brown, Hottentot,Zebra's,Streepies and Many species of klipvissies.Pajamas shark and puffadder shyshark are to be seen on most dives.Pipe fish can be seen on the sand aswell as octopus.
Seals will often join the divers briefly looking at them curiously,standing on your head or spinning in the water will often get a mimicked response.Remember regard all animals as potentially dangerous and don't touch.
The car park is fenced and the pedestrian gate is there to keep the jackass penguins from staying onto the golf course and into the neighbouring properties.
One of the only sites to have ablution facilities.
Remember as with all the sites around the Cape Peninsula A annual recreational scuba diving permit is required.
| Facts about Windmill beach-Simonstown-False bay- It is in South Africa
- Windmill beach-Simonstown-False bay is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-10 Metres 0-30 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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All Divers meet and join there Dive boats from Miller's Point.These boat dives can be booked from any of the dozens of Dive shops in and around Cape Town.To reach Millers point you take the coastal road through Simonstown.The turnoff is signposted to the left.and immediately visible is the large tarred parking area.Here you kit up and proceed down to the slipway.All the dive boats leave from here to get one of the dozen or so frequented boat dive sites.
Outer Castle.This is the boat dive in line with the shore dive Castle Rock hence named outer Castle.
About a 15-20min boat trip form Millers.The dive starts around a large rock a couple of meters below the surface.Average depth about 15-20 meters.You can swim around the Rock or swim off along one of the rock gully's that run off shoreward and seaward.Large Gorgonian sea fans line the ridges and attached them the magnificent Basket stars.Fish follow the divers waiting for a snack,some divers feed them,but remember this is against the law.
The rock is bell shaped and a small air filled cavity exists,just big enough for two heads. Always fun to pop in with a buddy and have a chat.
Note with all dives done around the Peninsula a annual recreatinal scuba diving permit is required
| Facts about Outer Castle-False Bay-Cape Peninsula- It is in South Africa
- Outer Castle-False Bay-Cape Peninsula is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Pyramid Rocks is situated just before Castle rocks on the road to the Cape Point Nature Reserve.Travelling from Cape town you will pass through Fishhoek and Simons town.After the Millers Point turn off the road dips and then climbs again at the bottom off the dip is a pull off area for about 2 vehicles.This is the Parking
,you kit up here and walk down the path to the right to the dive entry spot
The area around Pyramid Rocks cleans up with a North westerly and South Westerly wind,and on good days the viz is more than 20 meters.The Top of the Pyramid shaped rock can be seen breaking the surface in the distance,this is a long snorkel out to the rocks.
This area has been a marine reserve for years so all the Delights of False bay can all be seen in one dive.There are quite a few different fish species the obvious are the Red Roman,John Brown,the Cape Knife jaw,Zebra's,Streepies and of course the National fish the Galjoen.Three species of shy shark,Pyjama,Gully shark and Soupfin are regularly spotted the juvenile Dusky's put in a rare appearance.
The Attraction of this dive sight are the Seven gill spotted cow sharks,These slow swimming prehistoric looking sharks cruise lazily around the area between the shore and the Pyramid.Broad snouted they can get up to 3 meters in length.they have the unnerving habit of swimming straight at divers .the divers always give way.Potentially dangerous there have been no incidents of attack or aggression at this dive site.
Large orange wall sponges jut out along the walls and thousands of micro organisms create stunning colours along the dive.Gas flame Nudibranchs and the cape dorid are some of the numerous nudibranchs to be seen.
On one occasion we had to stop and wait for a whale to swim passed on our swim out,Also spotted here is the Cape Clawless otter.
| Facts about Pyramid Rocks -False bay-Cape Peninsula- It is in South Africa
- Pyramid Rocks -False bay-Cape Peninsula is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Castle Rocks is situated just before the Cape Point Nature Reserve.Travelling from Cape town you will pass through Fishhoek and Simons town.The Coastal drive in itself is a tourist attraction.After the Millers Point turn off you will see a large outcrop of rocks.Not to hard to see why they are called Castle Rocks.Parking is on the side of the Road,about 15 meters above sea level,so you kit up here and walk down to the entry spot.
False Bay cleans up with a North westerly and South Westerly wind,and on good days the viz is more than 20meters.The sheltered Bay varies in depth from 3-7meters and is ideal for snorkelling and Training dives.Once you leave the Bay and drop down the rocky reefs you can get about 18meters.The outside of the sheltered bay can become surgy so care should be taken with novice divers on the change of the tide.This area has been a marine reserve for years so all the Delights of False bay can all be seen in one dive.There are quite a few different fish species the obvious are the Roman's,John Brown,the Cape Knife jaw,Zebra's,Streepies and of course the National fish the Galjoen.Three species of shy shark,Gully shark and Soupfin are regularly spotted the juvenile Dusky's put in a rare appearance.
Large orange wall sponges jut out along the walls and thousands of micro organisms create stunning colours along the dive.Gas flame Nudibranchs and the cape dorid are some of the numerous nudibranchs to be seen.
Castle rocks is one of the best shore dives on the Peninsula.
| Facts about Castle Rocks -False bay-Cape peninsula- It is in South Africa
- Castle Rocks -False bay-Cape peninsula is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Sardin Run Shou
| Facts about Wild Coast- It is in South Africa
- Wild Coast is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-10 Metres 0-30 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A really nice site in test same system as Gasmic Gorge. Lots of outcrops with an abundance of underwater life lots of schooling fish as well as a wide array of fans corals and sponges. Lots of small marine life for the macro photographer as well
| Facts about Chelsea North, Port Elizabeth- It is in South Africa
- Chelsea North, Port Elizabeth is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A very nice dive in the same reef chain as Scotsmans reef, Lots of nudibranches, blacktail, zebra, roman. and of course the indomitable French Madame. Max depth of just over 20m, like all PE dives the water temperature and vis is variable.
| Facts about Moonie 3, Port Elizabeth- It is in South Africa
- Moonie 3, Port Elizabeth is in the Indian Ocean.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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