- Type
- Shark
- Typical depth
- 25 m
- Level
- Advanced
- Visibility
- 10–25 m
- Water temp
- 19–26 °C
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Open access
- Min cert
- Advanced Open Water
- Offshore Reef
- Aeolianite Shoal
- Shark Aggregation
- Surf Launch
- Marine Protected Area
- Baited Dives Offered
When to dive
BestAvoidOK
Aliwal Shoal hosts an aggregation of ragged-tooth sharks (sand tigers) Jul–Nov, when they migrate up the coast to mate. Sardine Run passes the KZN coast roughly May–Jul (peak late June), bringing dolphins, gannets, and bronze whaler sharks just offshore. Surf launch through the back-line — winter is calmest. Summer brings tiger shark baited dives and warmer water.
30.2667° S, 30.8167° E
Marine life
- Rays
- eagle ray, occasional manta, ribbontail ray
- Sharks
- ragged-tooth shark (Jul–Nov aggregation), tiger shark (Nov–May, baited), bull shark (Zambezi), blacktip, occasional bronze whaler
- Turtles
- loggerhead, green, hawksbill
- Pelagics
- giant trevally, sailfish (rare), tuna
- Whales & dolphins
- bottlenose dolphin, humpback whale (Jun–Nov passing)
- Reef fish
- potato bass, snapper, goldies
Dive clubs that visit this site
- African Watersportssource
Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · Dive centre
- Aliwal Dive Centre & Lodgesource
Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · Dive centre
- Aliwal Shoal Scuba Divingsource
Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · Dive centre
- Blue Ocean Dive Resortsource
Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · Dive centre
Sources
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