Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in KwaZulu-Natal

Vetch's Pier is an artificial reef that was created some 80 years ago. Today it is teaming with corals and fish, espacially plenty of eels & scorpionfish. Take a buoy along since a lot of boat traffic is around. The dive site is best accessed from shore just south of the uShaka Waterfront. Vetch's Pier is also known as Vetchies Pier.

Birthday Ledges is so named due to the high number of surprises hidden in every nook and cranny. The site is the southern most tip of the large Blood reef and therefore should be dived in either no current or in the less common south north current. Sitting further off shore than our other sites, Birthday ledges often has better visibility. As you drop down to the deepest part of the site you'll be at 18m and will find an awesome cave roughly 2m in height. While in front of the cave you'll look up to see a colourful array of pink and orange thistle coral. This cave is an area to explore as one can enter the cave through the side wall and exit at three different points. The cave system has three main areas… The 2m deep passage leading out towards the right is the best of the swim throughs as it is slightly wider than the rest and therefore lessens the chance of you damaging the reef or yourself and your gear. The center passage, directly in front of the cave entrance is approximately 3m deep but has no exit point at the end of it how ever there is a roof exit that is in the center of all these passages. The passage leading north, or to the left, is the narrowest of the lot, as it has more overhead rock handing down. It's great to have a torch along, especially in this area as there are always interesting things hiding in the dark recesses of the cave. The northern passage if followed leads towards the channel like rock structure that you'll follow from here. The channel walls are in between 3-4m high, not always being solid to the ground. You'll come across many cave like gaps along the bottom edge of the wall that often house Blue stingrays. The channel walls camouflage many paperfish and the more commonly overlooked Painted anglerfish. Painted angler fish are known as Frogfish and are on most avid divers' 'to-see list'. The skin patterns blend in well with there surroundings and that can easily be mistaken as a small sponge or coral.

Situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay is the only tropical scuba diving site in South Africa. The reefs at Sodwana are the southern-most coral reefs in Africa and offer a wide diversity of attractions.

Situated off the shore of Shelly Beach, Protea Banks is one of the world's top shark diving destinations. This unique reef system with exquisite topography along the KwaZulu-Natal coast offers diving experiences second to none. Protea Banks During the summer months the Bull Shark (Zambezi) makes PROTEA BANKS its home. Hammerhead sharks are often seen overhead and not just one or two, we are talking hundreds .... yes hundreds. Guitar Sharks, Dusky and Oceanic Blacktip sharks frequent this reef with a select few getting the privilege of seeing the elusive Tiger Shark in the Tiger sharks season. In the winter months the Ragged-Tooth Sharks congregate on PROTEA BANKS to mate. Aside from sharks PROTEA BANKS, also boasts a vast number of gamefish such as Barracuda, Snappers, Cape Yellowtail, Kingfish, Tropical Amberjack, Bonita, Prodical Son to name but a few. Friendly Potato Bass are often encountered and sometimes we are privileged to see Brindle Bass. A variety of Rays are also a common sighting - Round Ribbontail Rays, Eagle Rays and occasionally Manta's. And with pristine reef, the reef is alive with a wide variety of reef fish. These are unfortunately often overlooked as once the sharks are sighted, the reef is often forgotten ...lol. And then of course with PROTEA BANKS just about anything can happen. We have had rare sightings of Marlin, Sunfish, Humpback Whales, Dolphins, the odd Great White Shark and even a very curious Blue Shark. So if you are looking for adventure and a dive site where just about anything can happen, PROTEA BANKS is the place to be. I have personally been diving PROTEA BANKS for 15 years, and still get excited each and every time I go on a dive!!! and very jealous when I am not on the dive! PROTEA BANKS - SOUTHERN PINNACLES: Depth 26 to 40m Dived mainly in the summer months, this site is home to the notorious Bull Shark (Zambezi) which brings a great deal of notoriety to this world-renowned dive location. Other sharks frequenting PROTEA BANKS include Hammerheads, Oceanic Blacktips, Dusky, Guitar Sharks and a variety of Rays. For a fortunate few there is even the possibility of sighting the Tiger Shark. PROTEA BANKS - NORTHERN PINNACLES: Depth 28 to 38m This site, normally dived in winter months during the Ragged-Tooth mating season, allows divers to view "Raggies" in close proximity on their annual migration route. The area consists of two cave systems in which the "Raggies" congregate. At times it is impossible to see the mouth of the caves as it is completely obscured by masses of sharks! Access to Protea Banks is from Shelly Beach - about 100 km South of Durban.PROTEA BANKS offers an exceptionally exciting specialty SHARK dive. Situated 7,5km off Shelly Beach, on the KwaZulu Natal's South Coast, PROTEA BANKS allows ADVANCED divers the opportunity to experience a shark dive that is completely unique.

Long drift dive along (soft) coral and rocky outcrops with pinnacles on the south side. Occasionally shark encounter with blacktip reef sharks, tiger shark and spotted eagle rays. Whale shaks may be seen in the channel. During summer (late December to March each year), you can meet pregnant female ragged tooth sharks (within the cave). 1.1 kilometres south of Rocktail Bay

This dive is generally open during the Dec-Jan Holiday season as the spotted ragged tooth sharks are in the area. Close encounters during this season are pretty certain. Access to this site is restricted and divers must be accompanied by an KZN Wildlife accredited divemaster. As with most of the sites in Sodwana this reef is named by the distance from the launching area at Jesser Point. Quarter Mile is also known as Raggie Reef.

This is a stunning small reef for those interested in small creatures. It is also home to Ribbon Eels. Access this divesite is by boat only. Boats launch from Jesser point. Ribbon Reef is also known as Ribbon Reef.

Great dive site(s). All kind of tropical fish, and loads of female sand tiger sharks in caves, more then 2m tall! Have to go with the local dive center via boat. Shark Point is also known as Rocktail bay.

A 1m to 1.5m ledge in the sea bed, home to many lion fish. Also large gamefish. Can have a strong current, in which case a negative entry may be advisable with experienced divers who are comfortable with the practice, as the main wall is a relatively small spot to find, especially after the 30m descent. Great unusual species to be seen. Also beware the lack of profile results in a deep average depth, nitrox may be worth while to extend MDT. Incidentally this reef was discovered on breath hold.

Aliwal Shoal has become internationally renowned as one of the best scuba diving sites in the world. The shoal, a rocky reef situated 5 kilometres off the KZN coast, is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal is situated about 3 km off the coast and 7km from the launch site. A great dive all year round offering different marine species per season. Sharks are all year round. Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Oceanic Black Tips, White Tip reef sharks, Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks, Greater Hammerhead Sharks and even the occassional Great White. Stunning reefs offer plenty of fish, turtles, rays, eels and too many more species for macro divers. Conditions are diverse, making Aliwal an exciting dive experience. Dive site is being accessed from either Umkomaas or Scottburgh by boat. The Channel drop point (inside edge, south of pinnacle ridge) is at S30 15.381 E30 49.791

The top of the reef is at 4m on the southern edge, dropping to 21m on the north-eastern edge. The highlight of this dive is a green tree that towers about 2.5m. Just south of the green tree is a spectacular system of swim troughs, overhangs and caves. Huge green coral tree. The major draw to this reef is a massive green coral tree with millions (well, maybe hundreds) of sea goldies. As this is a deeper reef and more remote the local fish life is extensive. Look around every now and then and you may see some larger fish in the blue. Access to this reef is by boat only. The boats launch from Jesser point and it is a 9 mile journey that can take up to one and a half hours in rough conditions. Save it for a good day.

The drop-offs and mushroom shaped pinnacles, characteristic of this wonderful reef with its great diversity of marine life make it quiet popular among divers. Turtles and rays are often seen and shoals of brightly coloured goldies and other reef fish visit the coral often. 7 mile has been rated by many divers as one of the most beautiful reefs in the world and is frequently rated in the top 15 throughout Africa. As it is less frequently dived the fish life is spectacular. Also it is a high reef, the depth from top to bottom is significant, giving the divers a real feeling for exploring. Access to this site is by boat only. Although the distance to shore is only a few hundred meters, it is a 7 mile boat trip to the reef.

Stringer is a bit closer to Jesser Point than the main portion of 2 Mile Reef. It's is home to many different species and is a fantastic place to practice photography. Many Tomato Rock Cod, cleaning stations and paper fish can be found here as well as ghost pipefish. Access to this reef is by boat only through one of the many charters in the area. Boats launch from Jesser Point Stringer is also known as Stringer reef.

The reef is about 1.7 km long and up to 900 m wide. It is one of the most popular reefs to dive at, since it is only a few minutes away from the launch area. Many different corals, reef and mid-water fish can be found here, with eels and other creatures hiding in the many caves and holes. Two Mile Reef is where most new divers in South Africa do their qualifying dive.