Western Cape

Overberg District Municipality

South Africa

Gansbaai is known for its dense population of whales and great white sharks. Divers from all over the world visit Gansbaai for a unique opportunity of diving with great white sharks.

Gansbaai

Great White Sharks dive in shark cage.

South of Gans Bay, close to the seal colony. Between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock.

Shark Alley is also known as Ilha da Fera, Island of wild creatures.

Shark Alley

This is a great dive when training for deeper dives. It is also great for underwater navigation exercises, but care should be taken. There are basically 2 spots that are dived and both are marked by buoys which are actually empty containers. When looking towards them from the entry point the spot on the right is the shallower dive which goes to about 25 meters. The spot to the left of that goes to about 40 meters although unconfirmed reports of even deeper dives have been heard of.

This site is located just off the N2 highway below Sir Lowrys Pass. When driving on the N2 towards the pass turn left into Sir Lowry Road and follow the road for a few hundred meters before you turn left again. There are signs as well to assist. After this left turn follow the gravel road until you reach the buildings where there are facilities including fast foods and cloak rooms. You will have to pay about R120 should you wish to dive here.

Blue Rock Quarry

Buffels Bay is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in South Africa, Western Cape, Cape Town which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Buffels Bay

Known place for Shark Cage Diving.

A Boat from the Harbour. 

Seal Island is also known as Shark Cage Experience.

Seal Island

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 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.
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.

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

Castle Rocks cleans up with a North westerly and South Westerly wind,and on good days the viz is more than 20meters.Next to the Castle Rocks are some smaller rocks that curve out to sea creating a sheltered bay.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. 

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

Castle Rocks is also known as Castle.

Castle Rocks

The area around Pyramid Rocks cleans up with a North westerly and South Westerly wind,and on good days the viz is more than 20meters.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.

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.

Pyramid Rocks is also known as The pinnicle.

Pyramid Rocks

This is not a very popular shore dive in my opinion as most activity is that of the spear fishermen and you will seldom find scuba divers doing a shore dive. Yet, it is worth a try as you can encounter some large fish species here. Always take a buoy as boat traffic does frequent near this area.

Millers Point is where most launches are done as it has a slipway which can be quite busy at times. Many, if not all, dive organisations do their launches from here when diving the Smitswinkel wrecks. Although better known for its slipway this makes for a nice shore dive as well with an easy access and pathway leading to the waters edge from the huge parking area. Always keep your vehicles doors closed as baboons have climbed into unattended cars before.

Millers Point

After entering it is a short swim to the exact position indicated on the map. descend there and a short look around will show you a cave like swimthrough with some awesome sea life including various klipfish and nudibranch. To the right of the indicated area is a large rock which you can follow right around, but do take care of the current on the open ocean side. Here you can see many Cape Knifejaw and the elusive Galjoen which is a sought after fish for anglers. On occasion you may even encounter a playful Cape Clawless Otter or two. Do note that this is within the marine protected area and a permit is required to scuba duve here. 

Drive through Simons Town along the main road towards Boulders Beach. When you get to the turn off to Boulders on your left carry on for another 1km or so. There is parking available alongside the road where you gear up and then if you look on the map there is a pathway visible leading to the shore. Entry here is tricky and best go with someone who is familiar with this divesite as both entry points are over rocks and not easy to identify. Obviously if you are experienced you could try and enter at any other point you may regard safe, but do check the swell before making your decision.

A Frame

The entry and exit points are both very sheltered, gently sloping sand beaches.
This site is almost always sheltered and the entry is probably the easiest on the entire South African coast. Wave action is normally not more than an inch or two and is rarely more than 30cm high. There can be a little surge round the point if there is a big swell.

There is a rocky point going out into the sea for about 100m from the middle of a gentle beach. It is a favourite training dive as you can enter from the beach on one side of the rocks, and swim round the point and exit on the other side of the rocks, on the same beach. Plenty of kelp, red and green seaweed, nudibranches, sea cucumbers, urchins, dogfish and pajama sharks can be seen.


Just south of Boulders Beach, just below the golf course.
Drive out of Simon's Town to the south. Turn left into Bellevue Road and then first right into links road, just past the golf course. Park at the end of the road and walk for about 100m to the beach. 

Windmill Beach is also known as Windmill.

Gansbaai

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Gansbaai