ALIWAL SHOAL

The Aliwal Shoal with its large variety of sharks, diverse marine life and magnificent wrecks is without a doubt one of South Africa’s finest dive sites. It is a fossilized sand dune, which lies 5 kilometres off the shore of the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast. The Shoal is roughly 3 kilometres long and 300 metres wide. The depth of the Aliwal Shoal varies from 6 to 27 metres.

The warm Agulhas current flows down the eastern coast of South Africa, bringing the warm water with it, but the Aliwal Shoal also benefits from the cold Benguela current. A variety of sponges are to be found, an abundance of hard and soft corals, together with warm water reef fish and cold-water fish. Huge Potato Bass, Whales, Whale Sharks, Turtles, Devil Rays, Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Tiger Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Hammer Head Sharks, Dolphins, Hawk Fish, Brindle Bass and many more species are sighted regularly and even the occasional Great White Shark.

dive sites Aliwal Shoal

The Aliwal Shoal comprises of many caves, overhangs, long ledges, large potholes and swim-throughs under rock formations. A variety of stunning sea life and two wrecks complete the picture.

All diving is done from semi-rigid boats, which are launched from the river mouth. The small town of Umkomaas serves as a base for all diving on the Aliwal Shoal. Divers kit up at the Dive Centre and are transported with their diving equipment to the launch site, so you have the advantage of beginning a dive without sand in your gear.

The launch through the surf is sometimes challenging, always exciting. Professional skippers do the launches. The procedure for most skippers is to move fast in front of the breaking waves to gauge the break and then head for the open sea. You can get wet, and certainly it gets the adrenalin flowing. The comparative calm immediately beyond the breakers is a bit of an anti-climax! The trip to the Aliwal Shoal takes approximately 20 minutes.

dive sites Aliwal Shoal

The water temperature varies between 19^oC and 25^oC and the weather is pleasant all year round. Divers are collected from the beach after the dive and transported back to the Dive Centre where hot showers are available.

Diving on the Aliwal Shoal is thrilling and no two dives are ever the same. At times the Shoal has the reputation of being a very testing dive site, at times a most tranquil diving experience. The abundance of aquatic life varies from Nudibranchs to Manta Rays, from the rare Pineapple Fish to massive Bass. Any dive on the Aliwal Shoal should be a slow dive, as there is so much to see.

The Aliwal Shoal’s biggest attraction must be the concentration of Ragged-tooth Sharks from June to November as they congregate on the Shoal to mate. A dive amongst these ferocious looking, yet docile, creatures are truly an unforgettable experience.

Divers affectionately call the Ragged-tooth Sharks “Raggies”. The dives are done without cages, so you have the unique opportunity to see the sharks in their natural environment. In the history of diving the Shoal, there has been no recorded incident of aggression or attack by a shark. Aliwal Shoal is becoming well known for Tiger Shark Dives. These inquisitive sharks come in very close to the divers, only to veer off at the last minute. Diving amongst sharks without a cage surrounding you definitely is the most exciting shark dive ever to experience.

DIVE SITES:

Raggies Cave & Shark Alley:

Best known for housing groups of Ragged-tooth Sharks in winter, with an average depth of 16 metres. Dive protocol don’t allow touching of animals and invading their space – we observe from a distance and treat them with proper respect.

Cathedral:

Depth varies from 18 metres to 26 metres and featuring a spectacular theatre-type (as the name implies) pothole in the reef.

Pinnacles:

Depth varies from 4 metres to 15 metres and is best to dive when there is no surge and little current. A large variety of Wrasse, Powder Blue Surgeon Fish, Saw tooth Butterfly Fish as well as many species of Surgeon Fish.

North Sands:

This sandy are is a favourite place to observe Dolphins, Sand Sharks and Rays. Depth varies from 12 metres to 15 metres. Large groups of Ragged-tooth Sharks found here in winter.

Aliwal Shoal

South Sands:

Average depth of this area is 16 metres. This is where Honeycomb Ray, Round Ribbon-tail Ray, Sand Sharks and game fish are to be found. All species of Turtles may be found along the reef, including Leatherback Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle & Hawksbill Turtle. Many species of sharks are found here too, including Black Tip Reef Shark, White Tip Reef Shark and Hammerhead Sharks.

Wrecks:

The Aliwal Shoal is also the final resting place of two unfortunate ships. The wrecks can only be dived when the current is not too strong.

The Produce:

This superb wreck (176 metres in length), lies on the sandy bottom at a depth of 30 metres. This dive is for experienced divers only. The Produce, a Norwegian bulk molasses carrier sank in 1974, gradually formed a reef and has an entire ecosystem living in and around it. The Produce now is home to big game fish, Lion Fish and tropical species. The elusive Brindle Bass is a great attraction and truly an awesome sight underwater.

The Nebo:

The Nebo sank in 1884 carrying its cargo of railway material and rests at a depth of 25 metres. Like The Produce, this wreck also now is home to an abundance of marine life.