Dive site
Aliwal Shoal
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Typical depth
- 25 m
- Type
- Shark
- Level
- Advanced
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
Site features
- Offshore Reef
- Aeolianite Shoal
- Shark Aggregation
- Surf Launch
- Marine Protected Area
- Baited Dives Offered
When to dive
- Best
- Jun–Nov
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb
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.
Conditions & access
- Visibility
- 10–25 m
- Water temp
- 19–26 °C
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Open access
- Min cert
- Advanced Open Water + 25 logged dives; surf-launch briefing mandatory
Location
30.2667° S, 30.8167° E
Sources
Curated from 1 source
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