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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/D-Frame

The dive site D-Frame, Oatlands Deep Reef or Wave Rock is an offshore rocky reef in the Oatlands Point area of Simon's Town on the False Bay shore of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

This is a pleasant reef, not dived very frequently. It is also the point on the west side of False Bay where the 30 m contour is closest to the shore. Divers wishing to do a 30 m shore dive can do it here.

Position
This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required.
 * S34°12.320’ E018°27.871’
 * S34°12.377’ E018°27.964’
 * S34°12.378’ E018°27.996’
 * S34°12.333’ E018°28.112’ — (29 m deep)

Name
"D-Frame" is a contraction of Deep A-Frame, "Oatlands Deep" is a simple descriptive name based on the nearby Oatlands Point, and "Wave Rock" refers to a rock formation at the reef which looks a bit like a breaking wave.

Depth
Max depth is 30 m (over the sand just beyond the end of the reef). Bottom depth on the sand is about 15 to 20 m at most parts of the reefs, and is mostly about 10 m over the sand on the way back on a shore entry dive.

Topography
The reef comprises several ridges of rock running about 300° magnetic with sand bottom between them. There is one point that rises to about 4 m from the surface with almost vertical drop to 14 m on both sides. Most outcrops not nearly this high. The south reef has an overhanging rock outcrop known as the “Wave Rock”.

The bottom is flat sand sloping down very gradually from about 5 m near the entry at A-Frame to almost level at about 10 m depth for a long way, then down to about 13 m at the inshore edge of the reefs. The sand slopes more steeply over the reef zone and is significantly deeper on seaward side. There are areas of sand with wave induced ridges, places where there are black mussel beds and places of coarser gravel, but the general tendency is very flat. The slope is not discernible between shore and reef, though on the seaward side of the reef it is visibly steeper. The reefs are big granite outcrops as is usual in the area, mostly rounded, and with occasional cracks and gullies, except Wave Rock which has a notable overhang. There are several similar isolated outcrops north and south of Oatlands point, extending at least as far north as Ark Rock and south to Partridge Point. Most of them are virtually unknown to divers and are not yet mapped. Some can be identified from the SA Navy chart.

Geology: Granite outcrops of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton, surrounded by sand.

Conditions
The site is far enough offshore to be exposed to wind from all directions, which can produce an unpleasant choppy sea, and make it difficult for the boat crew to see a diver on the surface. However it is moderately protected from south westerly swell. It is fairly deep so will not be greatly affected by surge unless the swell is long, but may be quite dark because of the depth. The site is usually at its best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities during the rest of the year. Poor visibility at the surface does not necessarily extend to the bottom. Be aware that for a shore dive the long swim back may be a problem in an offshore wind. For this reason it is recommended that the return is done underwater. The appropriate Nitrox mix allows this to be done at the bottom as a no decompression dive. If you have gas for a 2 hour dive it can be done from the shore with both trips under water.

Get in
Boat dive from Miller's Point slipway or Simon's Town jetty, or Shore dive from A-Frame for those who don’t mind a long swim, are competent at navigation, and want a 30 m shore dive.

For a shore dive the entry point is at "Slippery Rock" at A-Frame

Marine life
The sand bottom in the area is fairly fine and feathery sea pens and purple sea pens may be found. Puffadder shy sharks and sand stars are fairly common. Around and beyond the reefs the sand is coarser and in places covered by clumps of common feather stars and hydroids. A considerable number of purple sea pens and cerianthids can be found between the reefs in the 20 m depth range. The North reef is covered by vast numbers of Mauve sea cucumbers, with scattered Red chested sea cucumbers and feather stars. Large shoals of Hottentot and several species of nudibranch have also been seen here. The deeper south reefs are covered mainly by Common feather stars, with areas of Mauve sea cucumbers, Striped anemones, and scattered Red bait. There are also other ascidians, sea fans and sponges. Horsefish are sometimes seen in the cracks. Barred fingerfins are often seen on the deeper reefs. A large variety of fish can be seen on a good day. Close encounters with Southern Right whales have taken place in this area.

Features
There is an interesting rock overhang known as "Wave Rock", and the shortest distance from the shore to the 30 m/100 ft contour.

Photography
Good site for invertebrate photography. Close up and Macro lenses and wide angle lenses will work well for most photographers. External flash is recommended.

Routes
If you go by boat, find the reef with an echo sounder or GPS, and explore as you see fit. For shore dives a few possibilities are suggested:
 * 1) South Reef (Wave Rock): Entry at slippery rock, out on 067°True (091° magnetic) from the beacon about 525 m on surface, dive to bottom and swim to the 15 m contour, follow this to the reef. Leave with enough gas for a 30 minute swim back along the bottom on 270° magnetic. If you want a 30 m shore dive, the 30 m contour is quite close to the South reef.
 * 2) North Reef: Entry at slippery rock, swim out on 048°True (072° magnetic) from the beacon about 460 m on surface, dive to the bottom and swim to the 15 m contour, follow this to the reef. Leave with enough gas for a 30 minute swim back along the bottom on 252° magnetic.
 * 3) Deep Reef: From Wave Rock swim about 200 m on bearing 085° magnetic to the large rock outcrop which ends at about 29 m depth at the South Eastern end. 30 m is a short swim from the reef, and after reaching the 30 m contour, the dive can be continued along the top of the reef until the water is a bit shallower to conserve air and bottom time. Plan on gas for at least an hour at average depth 12 m if you want to get back under water. Course 270° magnetic for 730 m will get you back to the slippery rock.

Hazards
No site specific hazards have been reported. Offshore wind may increase in strength significantly during the dive.

Skills
No special skills are required for boat dives, though appropriate certification for the planned depth is expected. The ability to deploy a DSMB is useful to let the boat know where you are surfacing. Shore divers need to be fit and competent at compass navigation, and should choose weather conditions which will allow a return on the surface if necessary.

Equipment
A light helps restore colour lost due to depth. A compass is essential for shore dives, both to find the site and navigate back to the exit point. A SMB or DSMB is recommended as this is an area with a fair amount of boat traffic. Nitrox is particularly useful for shore dives, as it can allow a no stop dive with the trip out and back at the bottom, which is more interesting than the long surface swim otherwise necessary.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oatlands Point area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Di's Cracks

The dive site Di's Cracks is an offshore rocky reef in the outer Hout Bay area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

A spectacular dive if the visibility is good. Lots of walls and overhangs, swimthoughs and deep, wide cracks between enormous granite outcrops. The walls are heavily encrusted with marine organisms.

Position

 * S34°03.855’ E018°18.400’ – Very big flat topped pinnacle - boulder on top of main reef outcrop. About 300 m north west (328° magnetic) of Vulcan Rock
 * S34°03.873’ E018°18.417’ – Big pointy topped boulder jammed into the top of a crack with a big swimthrough underneath.

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The site is named "Di's Cracks" for the deep cracks between the huge granite outcrops, which are wide enough to dive, and Di Froude, a local diver who discovered and popularised the site.

Depth
Maximum depth is over 30 m. Average about 18 to 24 m. Top of shallowest pinnacle about 9 m. Most of the big cracks are between 20 and 27 m.

Visibility
Viz will usually be much the same at at Vulcan Rock.

Topography
Di's Cracks are at the northwestern end of a broken granite ridge which extends southeast via Vulcan rock, which is the highest point, and Tafelberg Reef, as far as Klein Tafelberg Reef, in the approaches to Hout Bay, where it is interrupted by sand. To the southwest is deep water, while the reef to the norteast may be continuous to Stonehenge, Duiker Island and Dungeons Reef.

The reef is made up of big granite outcrops and boulders with overhangs, a few swim-throughs, and the cracks, which are deep and wide enough for a skilled diver to keep clear of the sides.

There are several swim-throughs right under the pinnacle and among the jumble of huge boulders which form the shallow pinnacle at about S34°03.858’ E018°18.393’. The pinnacle comes up to about 9 m and the bottom to the southwest in this area is at about 30 m. Several of these swimthroughs are fairly spacious.

There is a fairly long, high, and steep wall on the north face of the site, below the 14 m pinnacle, with a few deep gullies extending southwards into the main outcrop.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions
The site is exposed to south westerly swells, which can cause a strong surge. The site is usually at its best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and winter.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by strong south easterly winds, resulting in cold clear water, which may develop a plankton bloom over a few days, which will reduce the visibility again.

A surface current may be experienced, (This has been measured on one occasion at about 1 km/h setting about 170° magnetic, in light south easterly wind)

Keep a lookout for times when the south west swell is low and short period, and there is not too much south easterly wind forecast.

Get in
The site is only accessible by boat. It is about 5.7 km from Hout Bay harbour.

Marine life
Heavy encrustation of invertebrates on the rocks, particularly on vertical and overhanging faces.

Features
The cracks: Deep, almost vertical walled gaps between the outcrops, and swimthroughs.

Photography
A good site for macro and wide angle photography.

Routes
Most suitable as a live-boat dive as this allows the divers to explore the area without having to find their way back to the boat.

 * 1) Di's Directions: "The easiest way to find the caves and cracks is to swim in a N / NE direction from the top of the plateau which is at 11 metres. Drop over the edge of the plateau and continue with the wall on your left side. Pass over a deep gully and you will see what I call the salad bowl below you . This is a circular bowl filled with sand and gravel in the rock on the 'floor' at the bottom of the wall. Drop into the salad bowl and you will see a huge boulder on the right hand side with an overhang. Swim under this overhang on the left side and there is a large hole which will give you access to one of the caves. There is a series of caves to swim through until you get to the main cave which leads into the crack. All the caves have exits that can easily be seen from the entrances and are easy to dive through." (these directions rely on starting from the right place, and unfortunately the start position is not available)

Hazards
Cold water, Strong surge in cracks and swim-throughs. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time, making it tricky to spot divers on the surface, and a wet trip back.

Skills
Good buoyancy control, trim, and finning technique is necessary to avoid damaging the encrusting organisms on the walls.

Equipment
The site is cold and relatively deep, and a dry suit is recommended. This is a dive site where the use of Nitrox can be worthwhile to extend no-stop time. A surface marker buoy may be useful to show position of the group, but hinders access to overhangs and swim-throughs, and may snag on red bait at top of walls. A DSMB is recommended for the ascent and for individual divers in case of separation from the group, even if only to signal to the boat when on the surface.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Outer Hout Bay area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Die Josie

The dive site Die Josie is an inshore rocky reef in the Hout Bay area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

A reef which is close to Hout Bay harbour and is suitable for night dives. It can be dived in very strong south easterly winds as it is in the lee of a high cliff, and the diveable wind strength in a south-easter is limited mainly by the boat ride to and from the site. It can be an option when the wind is too strong for a boat trip around to the Duiker Point sites.

Position

 * S34°04.504’ E018°21.271’

The reefs are at the base of the cliffs below Chapman's Peak

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The name "Die Josie" is given to this area on the SAN charts. It is vernacular Afrikaans, meaning "The Devil".

Depth
Maximum depth at the sand is about 17 m, top of main part of the reef at about 7 m. The reef extends to the shoreline.

Topography
Fairly flat fine sand bottom at about 17 m. Above that, granite reef. Some of the reef is not extensively weathered, like the cliffs above the site. There is considerable jointing more or less vertically, parallel to and perpendicular to the cliff face. This pattern is similar on the reef, the blocky formations are more reminiscent of the sandstone reefs in other parts of the peninsula, but with almost no overhangs, undercuts, caves etc. There are plenty of almost vertical faces and flattish tops, with fairly angular corners and edges, and the characteristic rounded shapes of the corestone reefs are absent excepting for wave rounded boulders. In the area further offshore it is more typical of the usual rounded corestone reefs of the Cape Peninsula. Geology: Basically outcrops of the late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton, with loose boulders of granite and Table Mountain Sandstones from the overlying strata.

Probably one of the best views available of the unconformity between Cape Granite and Graafwater sandstone is clearly visible from the surface of the water, but quite high up on the cliff.

Conditions
Best after south easterly winds. Exposed to south westerly swells. The site is exposed to westerly winds and swell, so should be dived in low swell, and is often good in south easterly winds. The site is usually at it's best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities at other times of the year.

Get in
This site is only accessible by boat, though in principle an entry could be made by base-jumping the cliffs from the Chapman's Peak drive.

The site is about 3.4 km from Hout Bay harbour slipway.

Marine life
Kelp on top of the reef, with a variety of invertebrates on the top and sides of the rocks.

Routes
No special route recommended.

Hazards
Cold water.

Skills
No special skills required. This site is suitable for boat dives at night, and is conveniently close to Hout Bay harbour.

Equipment
No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Hout Bay area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Die Perd

The dive site Die Perd is an inshore, rocky reef in the Karbonkelberg headland area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S34°02.282' E018°18.320' — (approximate). A rock off Duiker Point, and the reef around it.

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required. The site is within the Karbonkelberg restricted area.

Name
"Die Perd" is the name for this rock on the SA Navy charts of the area. It translates to "The Horse", and is probably a reference to the shape of the visible part of the rock which from some angles looks a bit like the back of a horse.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 25 m, and the top of the pinnacle is above the water. Average depth on a dive is likely to be about 15 m.

Visibility
Visibility is likely to be much like the other reefs in this area. Usually better than 5 m if divable, and possibly as good as 20 m after an upwelling and before the algal bloom.

Topography
The site is centred on a large outcrop of granite which extends above the surface and gives the site its name. The reef is low granite corestone reef in deep areas, with large boulders and outcrops and deep gullies in the shallower places. There are some minor swim-throughs and overhangs. The relief is more rugged and interesting in the north of the site where there are some very nice walls in the 10 to 15 m depth range.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite corestones of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
The site is exposed to westerly swells and wind, and also, though the fetch is short, to south easterly winds and wind chop. The wind chop will not usually affect the diver when underwater, but can make recovery by the boat relatively difficult, particularly if there is wind driven spray. South-westerly swell will significantly affect diving due to surge conditions, as the site includes quite shallow areas. The site is usually at its best in summer but there may also be occasional opportunities during autumn and early winter. Note that in summer the south east wind may pick up from a calm morning to strong or even gale force by afternoon. This is reasonably predictable and the weather forecast should be consulted.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by the south easterly wind, resulting in cold, clear water, sometimes followed by a plankton bloom, which reduces the visibility again.

Keep a lookout for times when the forecast is for low short period south westerly swell and light winds, as this will indicate a reasonable chance of good conditions.

Get in
Access to the site is only possible by boat. The site is not very far from the shore, but there are no roads to this area.

The site is about 7.2 km from Hout Bay harbour.

Marine life
Not much variety in deeper areas, but some very nice walls in the 10 to 15 m range. Hard corals, sea fans, lots of sponges, hydroids, bryozoans, starfish etc. Some large areas of urchins. The silver tip and Gas flame nudibranchs are fairly common. Kelp grows on top of the rocks, and there is a good diversity of smaller seaweeds above 9 m. Red bait covers the tops of the reef in shallower areas.

Photography
Macro photography is most likely to produce satisfactory results, as there are lots of subjects, while the topography is not particularly spectacular.

Routes
No specific routes recommended. The reportedly more interesting areas are to the north-west of the exposed rock, below 18 m.

Hazards
Cold water, strong surge, particularly in the shallower areas around the exposed rock on the seaward side.

Skills
No special skills required.

Equipment
No special equipment required, dry suit recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Outer Hout Bay area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dreadlocks Reef

The dive site Dreadlocks Reef is an offshore rocky reef in the north Oudekraal area on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Understand

The site is colourful and fairly spectacular, and is specially notable for the relatively large colonies of the Dreadlocks hydroid Myriothela tentaculata. The depth is suitable for entry level divers.

Position

 * S33°58.3675' E18°21.709833' — (Top of pinnacle)

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The site was named "Dreadlocks Reef" after the Dreadlocks hydroids found there in unusually large numbers.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 20 m. and the top of the pinnacle is about 1.5 m deep at low tide. (Average depth is likely to be about 12 to 15 m)

Visibility
Visibility will depend on weather conditions, and may be in excess of 15 m on a good day after an offshore wind and upwelling.

Topography
Large corestone ridge with low surrounding reefs. The pinnacle is quite pointy, and the tip is only a couple of metres across. Ridge axis bearing 300°T (324° magnetic), ridge length 50 m and width 20 m at 12 m deep. Length at bottom about 100 m, width not known, but probably about 40 m at widest. There is a smaller pinnacle a few metres to the south about 10 m diameter at 12 m depth.

The SAN charts indicate another high reef about 200 m to the north-east of Dreadlocks pinnacle, but this has not yet been mapped.

Geology: Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
The site is exposed to westerly winds and swell.so should be dived in calm or offshore winds, when the swell is low, and is often good in South Easterly winds. The site is reasonably protected from easterly seas.

The site is usually at its best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities at other times of the year.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings of clear cold water, caused by offshore winds, resulting in good visibility and low temperatures, sometimes followed by algal blloms which will reduce the visibility again.

Get in
Usual access is by boat, but it could be dived from the shore by very fit divers in good conditions. The shortest distance to the shoreline is about 620 m, but this may not be a suitable point for entry and exit.

The site is about 12 km from the Oceana Power Boat Club slipway at Granger Bay, or 16,4 km from Hout Bay harbour.

Marine life
The upper regions are covered in the usual large red-bait pods, and there is a light growth of kelp above about 12 m depth. Lower areas are encrusted by sponges, colonial ascidians, sea fans, anemones, small red algae, crustose corallines, hydroids, bryozoans and echinoderms. The flatter deep reefs are heavily covered by sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Small shoals of Hottentot seabream can be expected. A variety of nudibranchs and other gastropods can be found.

Photography
Macro photography is likely to yield good results, and if the visibility is good, wide angle scenic shots should also turn out well.

Suggested Routes
The site is not very large: Start by going down to the bottom of the ridge, and swim round it looking for Dreadlocks colonies, then continue round as you ascend, and do your safety stop at the pinnacle if conditions allow.

Hazards
No known site specific hazards

Skills
No special skills required for boat dive.

Equipment
A dry suit or 7 mm wet suit is recommended, as it will usually be cold. If visibility is not very good a DSMB will help the boat find you when you ascend.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Duiker Island

The dive site Seal Island or Duiker Island is an inshore rocky reef in the Karbonkelberg headland area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

This is a site where you will see Cape fur seals, close up and in your face, both in the water and on the rocks. Other than seals, kelp and some low seaweeds, there is not much to see. The site is very popular with tourists who usually snorkel with the seals, though scuba excursions are generally also available. Locals generally go there once or twice, and then realise that they will see seals quite often at other sites.

Position

 * S34°03.458’ E018°19.562’ — This little island is just round the corner from Hout Bay, below the Sentinel peak.
 * S34°03.733' E018°19.733'

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required. The site is within the Karbonkelberg restricted area.

Name
The small rocky islet marked on maps and charts as "Duikereiland" has become known locally as "Seal Island" due to the resident colony of seals which has become a tourist attraction. It should not be confused with Seal Island in False Bay.

Depth
The site is shallow, at about 6 m depth, in the sheltered inshore anchorage to the north-west but will vary a bit from place to place.

Topography
Granite boulders and outcrops over an extensive area. No sand seen, but lots of kelp. The anchorage has a relatively level rocky bottom and is to some extent protected from the swell by a ridge to the south-west. The kelp in this area is less dense than most of the water around the island, which is why it is the preferred anchorage.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions
The site is exposed to south westerly swells, and is near to the famous "Dungeons" big wave surfing reef. It is also exposed to the south easterly winds, but is protected from the wind chop as it is in the lee of the island. The site is usually at it's best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by the south easterly winds, resulting in cold clear water, which may develop a plankton bloom over a few days, which will reduce visibility again

Get in
This site is only accessible as a boat dive. It is about 4 km from Hout Bay harbour. Anchorage is not good as there is a high risk of fouling among the boulders and dense kelp forests, but there is an area to the west of the island, sheltered from the incoming waves by an underwater ridge, which is relatively clear of kelp. The bottom is mostly rocky, and holding may be good or bad, depending on where the anchor lands, When there are several boats in the anchorage, some luck may be required to find a good spot, but the water is shallow and the anchor can be checked and set on snorkel.

Most diving is done in the kelp forests to the north west of the islet, in the anchorage, to keep clear of the channel which has quite a bit of boat traffic, and lacks space for the larger tourist boats to maneuver if there are divers in the water.

There are boat operators who specialise in snorkel trips to the seal colony. They generally offer a package deal which includes full snorkel kit with the trip. There are also boat trips to view the area from the boat. No landing or diving is possible on the large boats. Make sure you book the tour that you want.

Marine life
Seals and kelp. More seals, extra kelp.

Photography
Good site for photographs of seals. Ambient light and wide angle lens. Seals are fast and will often come very close to a diver. Wide angle video is good for capturing the shots you are not quick enough to frame as stills.

Routes
Most diving is done to the west of the island in fairly shallow water, quite close to the island shore. No routes needed, the seals will come to you. Hang around until you have seen enough, or get too cold, or the boat has to leave, and watch seals.

There is a sandy bottomed patch named G's Sandy Pool to the south east of the island at 34° 3'44.00"S 18°19'44.00"E. This is a sandy spot approx 30 m x 60 m in the middle of kelp beds and reefs. Nice spot in good clear conditions, you will probably see seals.

Hazards
Cold water, but it is shallow and you can get back on the boat at short notice. However, you will have to wait for the last diver to get back before the boat will return to Hout Bay, and the wind chill after the dive may be significant.

Skills
No special skills required, suitable for novices and for snorkelling.

Equipment
No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Outer Hout Bay area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/East Shoal

The dive site East Shoal is an offshore rocky reef in False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Understand
The site is seldom dived, as it is far from the nearest launch sites, and relatively close to Seal Island where Great White sharks are frequently seen predating on the Cape fur seals which breed there.

Position
S34°08.9' E018°38.783' approximately on the top of the reef.

This is an offshore site about half-way across False Bay from the Cape Peninsula to the east side, and about 1/4 of the way south from the north shore between Strandfontein and Macassar. There are no landmarks other than the waves which usually break on top of the reef. The reef never extends above the surface of the sea.

This site is not in a Marine Protected Area (2010). A permit is not required.

Name
The name "East Shoal" is marked on charts of the area, and is descriptive of its position in False Bay. It is the most easterly shallow offshore point in the bay.

Depth
Maximum depth is probably about 25 m, and the top of the reef is probably about 2 m deep at low tide. The shoal is noted to break on the SAN charts, and it has been observed to break in a fairly flat sea.

Average depth of a dive is likely to be between 15 and 20 m. Surge is strong near the pinnacle.

Visibility
Visibility will be similar to other offshore reef sites of False Bay, and is likely to be between 3 and 10 m. This may differ considerably between the surface waters and the bottom, and may be better or worse than it appears from the boat.

Topography
The site is an extensive area of sedimentary rock. Some is fairly high profile, walls of several metres height have been seen on the east side, but more often the reef is moderate to low profile, but fairly rugose, as the rock has frequent steps and cracks, and the dip is fairly steep, at about 30°, roughly to the east.

Geology: Thought to be Sandstone of the Table Mountain Series, based on visual description and similarity to the reef at Rocky Bank. The rock appears to be of fairly consistent resistance to weathering and erosion. Strike is approximately North-South magnetic. Dip is roughly eastwards, and fairly steep, estimated about 30°.

Conditions
The site is exposed to swells from the south west, and wind chop from any direction, so should be dived in flat seas, which may occur at any time of the year, but not frequently. If dived during the summer, pay attention to local weather forecasts as the south-easter may come up strongly over a short time. This may make it difficult for the boat crew to spot divers in the water, but is unlikely to be noticed by divers on the bottom. It will also make the ride home wet and uncomfortable if operating out of Gordon's Bay.

This is an area which sometimes has red tides and thermoclines. Red tides generally reduce the surface visibility significantly, but may have less effect at depth. Thermoclines will result in the bottom water being colder than the surface, which can be an unpleasant surprise and cause you to get cold more quickly, but is not otherwise a hazard.

Get in
Boat access only. The site is several kilometers from the nearest shore.

The site is about 18.4 km bearing 084° magnetic from the slipway at Miller's Point, or 19.3 km bearing 295° magnetic from Harbour Island in Gordon's Bay. It is about 8 km from the north shore of False Bay

Marine life
The site appears to be very suitable for echinoderms. There is no obvious reason, but much of the reef is covered by a mat of brittle stars, and other areas have a dense cover of red-chested sea cucumbers. There are also large numbers of Cape urchins, common and elegant feather stars, mauve sea cucumbers, and moderate numbers of other starfish, including Basket stars, Spiny starfish, Red stars, Granular starfish and Reticulated starfish.

The fish life does not appear to be very prolific, but Roman, Redfingers, Barred fingerfin, Two-tone fingerfin and puffadder shysharks have been seen, Great white sharks have been reported from nearby by fishermen, but have not yet been seen by scuba divers.

Black sponges are common and are associated with an unusual shrimp, which may well be an undescribed species. There is also a variety of neon yellow hydroids not seen on the western side of False Bay. Nudibranchs seem uncommon, despite significant food sources in the form of purple soft corals, hydroids and bryozoans.

Other reef life is similar to the reefs of the east side of False Bay and includes moderate numbers of Sinuous and Multicolour sea fans, a few Palmate sea fans, a fair variety of sponges and colonial ascidians, a few species of sea squirt, including large pods of "red bait", hydroids, bryozoans and anemones. Very little seaweed other than crustose corallines is to be seen below 10 m.

Photography
The visibility is unpredictable, so close-up and macro equipment is most likely to give good results. Particulate matter will cause backscatter when the subject is more than a few cm from the camera lens port, so an external strobe is recommended for photos other than macro and close-up work.

Suggested Routes
No specific roures are known. Start deep, around 20 to 25 m, not more than 150 m from the pinnacle, and work your way uphill until the surge becomes excessive, then head away while surfacing, so the boat does not have to approach the breakers too closely.

The site is largely unexplored, and no data is available on the south, west and north sides of the pinnacle. If you dive one of these areas, please feel free to contribute your observations.

Hazards
Great White Sharks feed at Seal Island, but this is several kilometers away. Scuba divers have not yet reported sightings of Great Whites at East Shoal, however it might not be prudent to hang around in midwater or on the surface for long. Decompression dives are not recommended for this reason.

The swell breaks on the pinnacle in most sea states, and the surge will be dangerous at the top. Use your own judgement to decide how close to the pinnacle to dive, but move away when surfacing, as the boat will not be able to approach too close to pick you up in the surf zone.

Skills
No special skills required. Reasonable fitness is recommended, and the ability to swim a compass course could be useful.

Equipment
A compass is useful for navigation, though depth is generally sufficient indicator of where to go. A deployable SMB will allow the boat to be ready to pick you up when you surface, and avoid long periods waiting for a pickup or swimming at the surface.

Nearby
Other offshore dive sites of False Bay:

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of reef dive sites in the northern False Bay offshore area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fan Reef

{{pagebanner|Fan Reef banner 1.JPG}pgname=Diving at Fan Reef}}

The dive site Fan Reef, also known as Fantastic Reef, is a small offshore rocky reef in the Castle Rocks area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

The site has a large concentration of fairly large gorgonian sea fans

Position

 * S34°14.165' E18°29.260' — A small relatively low area of moderately deep reef, close to the Miller's Point slipway.

The site is about half way between Miller's Point and Castle Rocks and reaches the 30 m depth contour. It is about 1.1 km from the shore directly to the west. North Fan Reef is about 100 m to the north of Fan Reef across the sand.

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Castle Rocks Restricted Zone, though a few small outliers may be outside.

Name
The reef was originally named "Fan Reef" for the large numbers of gorgonian sea fans found there. The alternative name "Fantastic Reef" is based on the original name.

Depth
The bottom is at about 30 m on the sand to the east of the reef at high tide. The top of the pinnacles to the south east is at about 19 m deep at low tide The sand bottom to the east is at about 25 m depth.

Visibility
Visibility will usually be much the same as the other reefs in the Castle Rocks and Miller's Point area, but may be a bit better than on the inshore reefs. It may also be darker due to the greater depth, particularly if there is a plankton bloom at the surface.

Topography
Fan Reef is the southernmost sector of the Fan Reef complex, it is a small granite corestone reef of fairly large outcrops, some of which are quite high, and some low. This section of the reef area is more or less contiguous. There is a small cluster of pinnacles in the south eastern part of this sector, which rise from the sand at about 28m to about 19m, but much of the reef is lower, and most of the edge is between 1 and 2 m above the sand.

A short distance away to the north west, across a narrow sand belt, and visible from Fan Reef in good visibility, is a patch of low and fairly broken reef, the North West sector, and further north again is North Fan Reef. Most of this patch appears to be lower than 2 m above the sand, and much of it below 1 m. The nearest part to Fan Reef is very low, broken and sandy.

North Fan Reef is granite reef of outcrops and boulders of about 10 m maximum height, and up to about 20 m long. Rugged terrain, with lots of gullies and steep walls and quite a few overhangs. There is a small swimthrough, probably on the west side, just above the sand.

There are other scattered outcrops to the west and south west of the main reefs, the largest of which is to the southeast about 100m away, and a small patch of reef to the far north, quite close to the North Fan Reef sector.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions
The site is moderately protected from south-westerly swell. South-east chop may make it unpleasant on the surface, but it may be quiet below the wave base. Generally considered a winter dive site but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and spring.

Get in
Access to this site is only practicable by boat. The site is approximately 1.8 km from Miller's Point slipway and 9.1 km from Simon's Town jetty.

Marine life
The site is notable for a variety of gorgonian sea fans, Sunburst soft corals, striped and strawberry anemones, Basket stars, feather stars, sea cucumbers, coralline algae, encrusting sponges, urchins, colonial ascidians and a few species of nudibranch. You may also see Horsefish, Barred fingerfins and Shy sharks.

Photography
The site is fairly deep. Natural light will usually be poor, so a flash will be necessary. There will usually be enough particulate matter in the water to necessitate an external flash for all except close up work. Macro and wide angle lenses will usually provide good results. Subject size will range from a few millimetres to about a metre.

Routes
No routes recommended, the reef is quite small and may be comprehensively visited on a dive. Spend some time on the sand at the edge of the rock, and work your way up to the higher parts, to see the widest variety of sea life.

Boats should not anchor on the reef, and shotlines should be dropped a few metres off the reef on the sand.Divers can move the shot to within sight of the reef if they intend to return to it to surface

Hazards
No site specific hazards have been reported.

Skills
Appropriate certification for the depth is expected. No special skills are required, though buoyancy control and finning skills should be adequate to avoid damage to the sea fans and other sensitive organisms.

Equipment
No special equipment required. A DSMB and reel are recommended in case it is necessary to surface away from the shotline.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Castle Rocks area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Finlay's Deep

The dive site Finlay's Deep or Mont Blanc is an offshore rocky reef in the Castle Rocks restricted area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

This is a small reef with a large number of Gorgonian sea fans.

Position

 * S34°15.005' E018°29.194' : About 900 m directly offshore of Finlay's point

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2009). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Castle Rocks Restricted Zone.

Name
The name "Finlay's Deep" is a reference to Finlay's Point inshore, and that the reef is relatively deep. The alternative name is “Mont Blanc” as the top of the main granite boulder appears white as if snow-covered.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 30 or 31 m and the top of the reef is reported to be about 20 m.

Topography
The reef is a narrow outcrop of granite about 37 m long from north east to south west on an axis of 39°magnetic, and about 7 m wide. The reef is notched by a number of fairly deep cracks, but mostly they are not very wide, The highest point is only a few metres shallower than the sand bottom which is at 30 m. Some sections of the reef are quite low, in the order of 1 m at the north end. There appears to be another outcrop slightly further offshore, probably about 5 to 10 m to the east, of unknown extent.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
The site is exposed to swell from the south east, and to a certain extent, from the south west. Longer period swell will make conditions on the reef uncomfortable due to strong surge, but short period waves will just make it uncomfortable on the boat. Visibility is less predictable, and at this time is largely a matter of luck and reports from divers who were in the area recently.

The site is usually at it's best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities at other times of the year, though least often in summer, when the south east wind tends to blow much of the time.

Get in
Access to this site is only by boat. The site is approximately 3.2 km from Miller's Point slipway and 10.5km from Simon's Town jetty.

Marine life
The most obvious group is gorgonian sea fans. There are large numbers of Palmate, Sinuous, Flagellar and Multicolour sea fans present but not very big. The surface of the rock is encrusted with Mauve sea cucumbers, Strawberry anemones and sponges, with a scattering of Elegant feather stars and Striped anemones.

Photography
The site is usually dark due to the depth, so anything other than macro will require an external flash.

Routes
No particular route recommended. The reef is small enough to explore on a single dive. If you have time left you might explore to the east of the southern end in case there is more reef in that area.

Hazards
The site is quite far offshore, and the area is often dived in an offshore wind, so there may be a risk of getting lost on the surface if the wind comes up strongly.

Skills
Certification appropriate to the depth will be expected, but no special skills are required. Ability to deploy a DSMB may be useful.

Equipment
No special equipment is required, but a DSMB will be useful if you have to surface away from the shotline.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Finlay's Point to Partridge Point area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Finlay's Point

{{pagebanner|Finlay's point banner 1.JPG{ogname=Diving at Finlay's Point}} The dive site Finlay's Point or Jenga Reef is an inshore rocky reef in the Castle Rocks restricted zone on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

The site is sometimes used as an alternative when conditions are found to be unsuitable on the planned site further south on the peninsula, as visibility here has been considerably better on those occasions. There is more extensive reef in this area than previously anticipated. This has been shown on the SA Council for Geoscience's sidescan sonar surveys of the area done in 2010/1011. This area is inside the Castle Rocks restricted zone of the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area, it is likely that there will be fairly abundant fish life on the reefs.

Position

 * S34°14.926' E018°28.653' The last group of big boulders on the coastline to the north of and before Partridge Point.
 * S34°14.865' E018°28.600' A group of three large exposed rocks 140m north of the point

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Castle Rocks Restricted Zone.

Name
"Finlay's Point" is the name for this area shown on maps and charts of the Cape Peninsula. The origin of the name Jenga reef is unknown. The name itself probably derives from the game of balancing blocks, but it is not clear how this applies to the reef, unless it was given to a section of jumbled boulders.

Depth
Maximum depth of 15 m is quite far out, however 10 m is fairly close inshore.

Visibility
Visibility is usually very similar to the rest of the surrounding area, but there have been occasions where there has been significantly better visibility at Findlays Point than at partridge Point, with a visible border between the good and bad regions. This probably results from wind influence on local water movement, as Findlay's Point is a bit more protected from wind than Smitswinkel Bay, and Partridge Point is at the north border of Smitswinkel Bay.

Topography
Finlay's Point — There is a shallow sandy patch to south of the big boulders. The bottom is mostly low to moderate profile rocky bedrock reef and boulders of assorted sizes, some pretty big, in chaotic arrangement. Directly off the big rocks of the point is an area of big boulders and relatively rugged reef, with small patches of sand.

Finlay's Point swimthroughs — To the north of the point is a group of 3 big boulders which extend above the water near the shore entry point. There are a few large and very colourful swinthroughs under these boulders, with maximum depth of about 6 to 8 m.

North of the 3-rock group the bottom is largely low granite boulders with gaps filled with wave-rounded rubble and pebbles. Offshore of this there are sand patches between the rocks, which tend to be bigger.

Finlay's Pinnacle — About 200 m south east of the point there is a huge outcrop rising from about 15 m on the reef to 6 m from the surface. The surrounding reef is mostly relatively low profile, but extensive. Bottom depth is about 18 m in this area

Alan's Pinnacle — Another pinnacle has been reported from further offshore, more or less in line with Seal Rock and Miller's Point, and roughly south east of Finlay's Point. This has not been surveyed yet, and the exact position is uncertain.

Geology: Granite of the Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton, with occasional boulders of the Table Mountain sandstones, interspersed with sand patches.

Conditions
The site is exposed to south easterly winds and swell and moderately protected from short period south west swell. It is well sheltered from westerly winds.

The site is usually at it's best in winter when the swell is low, but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and spring.

Get in
Access to this site is normally by boat. The site is 3.3 km from Miller's Point slipway, and ?? km from Simon's Town jetty. There is a good anchorage close inshore to the south of the big rocks on sand bottom in about 5 m depth.

The site is close inshore, but the road is a long way up the rather steep mountainside. Parking is at the roadside on a gravel lay-bye visible to top of centre in the aerial photo. There is a "path" down to the water, which has been used in dry weather. It is long and steep, and there is not much to hold on to in some places, while in other places it goes through the bush, and there is too much to hold on to — it holds on to you. Fortunately the bush is not thorny and is more an annoyance than a hazard, but it does make the climb back up more tiring than it would otherwise be. There is a fairly well sheltered entry and exit point just inshore of and to the north of a group of three large boulders arcing out from near the shoreline to the north of the point proper. At the bottom of the dirt path, turn left (north) and within a few metres you will find yourself at the top of a granite ridge sloping down to the north-east. This leads down to the entry point, which is a north-east facing gulley with short heavy kelp and a heavy growth of mussels and limpets. It is an easy climb from the ridge end down to the rocks at the bottom, where you can fit mask and fins and enter at the gully. This may not be safe in a large swell, so check it out first. This entry point is very close to the swimthroughs.

The top of the path is at S34°14.893' E018°28.522'.

Marine life
Kelp forests on the inshore rocks, and a wide variety of invertebrates living on the rocks.

The swimthroughs to the north under the 3-rock group are very colourful, with a wide range of bryozoans, sponges, colonial ascidians, anemones and other encrusting sea life. Outside the swimthroughs where there is more light, there is a lot of seaweed.

Fish life is variable, you may see large shoals of Fransmadam or Hottentot, and there are usually some Roman, Janbruin, Blacktail and other reef fish around. Bank steenbras have been seen at the pinnacle.

There are fair numbers of gorgonian sea fans on the deeper reefs, and, as usual, the shallower areas are densely covered in red-bait.

Features

 * Colourful shallow swimthroughs
 * Inshore anchorage on sand
 * Massive granite pinnacle

Photography
Good site for small invertebrates, and probably also for reef fish..

Suggested Routes

 * 1) Anchor over the sandy patch in the lee of the big rocks. Dive at the boat, out to seaward among the rocks and boulders to 14m depth, work your way north a bit, then back inshore to north side of big rocks, then round to south at 3 to 5 m and surface over sandy patch.
 * 2) For a shore dive, swim out to the big rocks at the point, and on your way back spend some time in the swimthroughs under the 3-rock group.
 * 3) Put down a shotline at the pinnacle and dive around it, starting deep at about 18m and working your way back up to the top for the safety stop, where you have some reef to look at while you degas.

Hazards
There are no recorded site specific hazards. The path to the road may be even more slippery when wet, as the ground is largely weathered granite saprolith, and contains clay.

Skills
No special skills required. The site is suitable for novices. Some fitness and agility is recommended for shore entry.

Equipment
No special equipment required.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Finlay's Point to Partridge Point area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fisherman's Beach

The dive site Fisherman's Beach is a shoreline rocky reef in the Oatlands area of Simon's Town on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S34°12.357’ E018°27.497’

The next cove south of Froggy Pond. It has a much longer beach.

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Boulders Restricted Zone.

Name
No record has been found for the origin of the name "Fisherman's Beach". It is not even popular as a fishing spot.

Depth
Shallow. The 10 m contour is over a hundred metres from the shore.

Visibility
Visibility is not very good as it is shallow and the surge lifts the fine sand, but it is usually well illuminated.

Topography
Granite boulders of various sizes on mostly sand bottom with some reef. None reaching surface at fairly low tide.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrial granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
Very sheltered area, usually only dived if other local sites too rough. It is a relatively safe entry end exit even when too rough to be worth diving, as it is very shallow and wave action will make the surge unpleasant. The site is exposed to wind and waves from the south east, and may be good in north westerly or south westerly winds. The site is reasonably protected from south west swell.

Facilities
Roadside parking bays on far side of road

Get in
This site is normally a shore entry dive.

Parking on inshore side of main road. Easy entry anywhere along the beach.

Marine life
Kelp and invertebrates on boulders.

Routes
Swim out to kelp forest on boulders to south of main beach. Area repays careful examination of encrusted rocks.

Hazards
No site specific hazards recorded.

Skills
No special skills required. Suitable for novice snorkelers.

Equipment
No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Seaforth to Froggy Pond area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fish Hoek Reef

The dive site Fish Hoek Reef is an offshore rocky reef in the Fish Hoek area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S34°08.292’ E018°26.676’ — (at the shallowest known point).

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The name "Fish Hoek Reef " is a geographic description. The Reef is in Fish Hoek Bay.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 16 m at the edge of the sand. There are two areas where the reef rises to about 7 m, and the average depth of a dive is likely to be about 12 m.

Visibility
Visibility is unlikely to be very good, as this is a site more often dived when the conditions elsewhere are worse, but it could be good, and due to the shallow depth, often quite well illuminated.

Topography
The reef is not yet full mapped, The shallowest point found so far is about 7 m deep, and the 9 m contour runs NW-SE, approximately 40 m wide and 150 m long. Most of the reef is deeper, down to about 15 m on the east, and the reef is about 300 m long and 150 m wide. The reef is moderate profile sandstone, quite blocky and rugged, with lots of small ledges and undercuts, and criss-crossed by small cracks and gullies, providing habitat for a fairly good range of invertebrates and fish.

Geology: Sandstone reef probably of the Peninsula formation. Strike is roughly NW-SE.

Get in
A long swim shore dive (about 550 m) or a boat dive from Simon’s Town or Miller’s Point. The site is about 6.2 km from Simon's Town Jetty, or 10.6 km from Miller's Point slipway.

Marine life
There is sparse Split-fan kelp in the shallower areas. Typical fish and invertebrates of shallow reef in the region. Large numbers of Palmate sea fans (Leptogorgia palma) along the outer edge of the reef.

Routes
No particular routes recommended.

Hazards
Anyone considering doing this as a shore dive should be aware that Great White sharks have been seen cruising this area.

Skills
No special skills required. The depth is suitable for entry level divers.

Equipment
A compass is recommended if this is done as a shore dive.

Nearby

Back to the list of Alphabetical list of sites, or dive sites in the Fish Hoek and Glencairn area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle

The dive sites Friskies Pinnacles or North Eastern Pinnacles are two small offshore rocky reefs in the Roman Rock area of Simon's Bay in False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

Friskies and North Friskes are two of a large group of reefs scattered around the area marked by the Roman Rock lighthouse. They are a short ride from Long Beach or the False Bay Yacht Club slipway.

Position
This sites are in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The sites are entirely outside, but very close to the eastern border of the Boulders Restricted Zone.
 * S34°10.778’ E018°27.822’ — A short distance to the east of the Castor Rock reefs. About 380 m at 266° magnetic to Roman Rock lighthouse
 * S34°10.720’ E018°27.830’

Name
The name "Friskies" was given to the southern site by some of the divers on the first recorded dive trip to the reef, in appreciation of a particularly frisky young seal which accompanied the divers for some time.

Depth
Maximum depth at Friskies is about 23 m, and the top of the pinnacle is about 12 m. Average depth of a dive excluding ascent is likely to be about 18 m. North Friskies is a little deeper, down to 26 m on the sand.

Visibility
Visibility will usually be much the same as at Castor Rock reef.

Topography
Friskies is a compact dive site comprising a small fairly steep pinnacle rising about 10m above the sand, surrounded by a boulders, some quite large, and with a more scattered group of large boulders to the immediate north-east. About 100 m slightly east of north from the main pinnacle there is a lower pinnacle known as North Friskies, with a small amount of lower reef to the east.

Geology: Pre-Cambrian granite corestone of the Peninsula pluton, surrounded by sand.

Conditions
The site is exposed to winds from all directions, which, if strong, can whip the surface of the sea to a nasty chop, and can make the boat trip uncomfortable and wet. Also this makes it more difficult for the boat crew to keep track of the divers, though conditions a few metres below the waves may be quite pleasant. Windy conditions should be avoided, but are not a big problem if they develop during the dive. The site is reasonably protected from swells from the south west, but a strong south easterly wind will eventually produce a sea large enough to be a problem.

The site is usually at its best in winter but there are also opportunities during the rest of the year.

Get in
Boat access only. 5.7 km from Miller's Point slipway, 3.6 km from Simon's Town jetty, or 3.5 km from Long Beach.

Suggested Routes
The reef is quite small, and centred on the pinnacle. The boat will usually put down a shotline near to the top of the pinnacle, and this is an appropriate place to start and end the dive. The main part of the dive can be spent exploring the reef down to the sand, then slowly making your way back to the pinnacle.

Hazards
No site specific hazards recorded.

Skills
No special skills required. The site is shallow enough for entry level divers.

Equipment
No special equipment required. A DSMB could be useful to indicate your position if you ascend away from the shot line.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Roman Rock area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Froggy Pond

The dive site Froggy Pond is a shoreline rocky reef in the Froggy Pond area of Simon's Town on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

A shore dive site which is suitable for training exercises as it is sheltered and has a flat sandy bottom.

Position

 * S33°12.22’ E018°27.40’ — First little sandy cove south of the golf course in Simon’s Town.

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Boulders Restricted Zone.

Name
This little bay is actually called "Froggy Pond" on the official maps and charts of the area. In spite of its name this is a sea dive, and there will be no frogs.

Depth
Shallow, the 10 m contour is about 200 m out at the end of the reef south of Froggy Pond.

Topography
Sandy beach with boulders in shallows. Quite steeply shelving at the shoreline. Rocky reefs to both sides. Huge granite corestone outcrops with some dolerite dykes at south end of beach form a wide point separating Froggy Pond from Fisherman's Beach to the south. The point continues out to sea as a reef of medium to low outcrops on a sand bottom. Inshore the sand is loose and clean and fairly coarse. Further out there are places where it is finer and others where there is a coarse overlay of granular shelly sand. There are some narrow deep crevices in the rocks of the point which shelter a surprising variety of organisms.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
There may be a small beach break, and surge as it is quite shallow. Winter dive. Sheltered from the northerly chop

The site is exposed to wind and waves from the south east, and is reasonably protected from south westerly swell, so it is usually at its best in winter. There may be occasional opportunities at any time of the year.

Facilities
Reasonable off road parking nearby.

Get in
Beach entry and exit very sheltered. The beach is fenced as a penguin sanctuary and the gate is not diver-friendly. It may be necessary to take off your cylinder to get through.

There is off road parking on the shoreward side of the road slightly to the south, opposite Fisherman's Beach.

Marine life
More interesting than one might expect from the shore. The open rocks are quite bare, but there is a long horizontal crevice at quite shallow depth on the north side of the point which has a lot in and around it. It seems to be open at the back as a strong surge runs through it which may be unpleasant in a larger swell. Shallow areas have lots of pear limpets on top of the rocks, urchins a bit deeper with fairly sparse Red bait, Common feather stars deeper still. Deepest reefs have some Elegant feather stars too, and Mauve and Red chested cucumbers. The sand is fairly bare, with a few buried horseshoe cucumbers, some Long siphoned whelks, Sand stars and Puffadder shy sharks. Kelp on the rocks is fairly sparse. There are a lot of twiggy corallines in the shallows, more crustose corallines deeper.

Photography
There are plenty of subjects for close-up photography.

Routes
Follow the edge of the reef on the south side of the cove, making excursions up the rocks and occasionally onto the sand. You can go right round the point and exit at Fisherman’s Beach.

Hazards
No site specific hazards are recorded.

Skills
Easy entry and exit, and sandy patches make this a suitable site for entry level training dives. There is plenty of shallow reef for novice snorkellers.

Equipment
No special equipment is necessary. A light is useful to see into crevices and overhangs. A compass is useful to keep track of where you are if you follow the point out far or explore over the sand.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Seaforth to Froggy Pond area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis

The dive site Geldkis is an inshore rocky reef in the North Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

The site has rugged topography, with walls, swinthroughs, gullies, overhangs and chimneys and varied and colourful sea life, and is spectacular in good visibility. There is a small group of Cape fur seals resident in the area, which often visit divers.

Position

 * S33°58.730’ E018°21.613’ — (Biggest rock of group)

A group of large rocks to the north of the point at North Oudekraal (north of the Twelve Apostles Hotel).

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The Dutch East Indiaman 'Het Huis te Kraaiestein' was wrecked on the rocks in the bay at Oudekraal on 27 May 1698. Three chests of treasure disappeared and the name 'Geldkis' (money-chest) appears on maps of the area and is now applied to the offshore rocks

Depth
Maximum depth on the sand is about 15 m on the seaward side, and nearer 10 m inshore of the rocks

Topography
Geldkis is a large group of huge granite boulders and outcrops which extends above water about 5 m and down to sand bottom on the seaward and landward sides. There are numerous lower submerged boulders around the exposed ones, Inshore they tend to reach up to about 4 to 6 m depth on top, but seaward they tend to be somewhat deeper and flatter in profile. Many of the boulders are arranged such that there are overhangs, swim-throughs and caves under them. There are also some which are a bit loose and may be moved by wave action so they bang against each other, making for a noisy dive in places. This is more noticeable on the seaward side of the eastern end. There is a big cave on seaward side under a few huge rocks with several entrances and chimneys This is probably about half way along the length of the exposed rocks. There is a big fairly low headroom overhang/cave just east of the gap at Strawberry Rocks and there are also some deep narrow gaps between rocks.

Surge can be strong. The site is spectacular in good visibility. Bottom is sand between the rock group and shore, with occasional rocks closer inshore, and scattered boulders near the group, often with tall clumps of kelp. Overall length of the Geldkis group is about 175 m (including Strawberry Rocks) and it is about 50 m wide in places. Wider and longer if you count low flat outcrops.

Geology: Corestone boulders and outcrops of late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
The site is often at its best during or after south easterly winds, but strong south easterly winds (offshore) can make it difficult to swim back to shore at the surface. It is exposed to south westerly swells, and surge can be strong, particularly in the swimthroughs.

The site is usually at its best in summer, but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by south easterly winds, resulting in clear cold water, which may develop an algal bloom after a few days, which will reduce the visibility.

Keep a lookout for times when the south west swell is low and short period, and the south easterly winds have just stopped, for a good probability of good diving conditions.

Facilities
No facilities provided. Security is dubious as with parking at the side of all public roads.

Get in
Shore dive. Parking is at the side of the road on the outside of the bend on the City side of the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The path starts near the signpost and after a steep descent curves round to the north between some trees and a granite boulder. It continues north-eastwards and then splits in several directions. The first branch is to the left to the entry for Justin’s Caves, The second continues more or less straight down a slope to a shallow gully between big boulders. There is an old piece of rail and small boulders in this north west entry point. The third branch is to the right, uphill slightly and through between some bushes, then down over the rocks to a shallow sandy gully, with a small beach at low tide. This south-east (closer to the road) entry point has a sand bottom with large granite boulders on both sides. The boulder on the right is convenient resting place for fins, camera etc. when making final preparations for entry. The access at both these points is very protected and safe in almost any conditions you would consider diving. There is quite a long swim to get to the dive site, and the return swim may be very tiring if the south easterly wind comes up.

Boat dive The site may be done as a boat dive, either from Oceana Power Boat Club slipway in Granger Bay, which is slightly closer, or from Hout Bay. Boats may anchor on the sand inshore of the rock.

Marine life
Kelp forests on the tops of the shallower rocks. Walls exposed to the south west and north west swells are relatively bare compared to overhangs, caves and sheltered areas, some of which are very colourful and heavily encrusted with sponges and small sea fans. More exposed areas have a lot of red bait and black mussel, and the low reef on the windward side is granite boulders covered with pink corallines and huge numbers of sea urchins. Also some limpets, red stars, whelks, small orange sponges and grey cucumbers. Huge variety of organisms in caves including knob ascidians, lobed ascidians, white ball sponges, noble corals and sea fans.

Features
Big swimthroughs, crevices and chimney.

Photography
A good site for macro photography, though wide angle is useful if the visibility is good.

Routes
Two routes are suggested for shore dives. Concentrate on the seaward side of the group, as there is more to see there.
 * 1) Entry at Sandy Cove beach, swim out on surface to just inshore of the south west end of the Geldkis rocks. Dive round the rocks in a clockwise direction, going through swim-throughs, and amongst the boulders. Return to Sandy Cove on compass course from the Strawberry Rocks gap, or if air supply and temperature permit, continue the dive to Strawberry Rocks and return from the north east end of the group. Exit at same point as entry.
 * 2) Entry at Sandy Cove beach, swim out on surface to gap at Strawberry Rock end. Dive through swim-throughs and around to seaward side and into the big cave/swim-through under the rocks, then out and round the south west end and back to Sandy Cove along the northern edge of the point.

Hazards
Cold water, Hot sunshine. Strong surge in the gullies and swim-throughs. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills
No special skills are required. For a shore dive a fair level of fitness is required as there is a long swim to and from the site (about 300m each way). Ability to navigate back by compass is recommended, particularly if there is offshore wind forecast.

Equipment
A light is recommended for looking into crevices and overhangs, and because of the loss of colour at depth. A compass is strongly recommended for shore dives and the return should be done underwater if the wind picks up during the dive. The water is usually cold, and a dry-suit is recommended for shore dives

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

The dive site Geldkis Blinder is an inshore rocky reef in the North Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S33°58.67’ E018°21.62’ — (top of the blinder)

A break is usually visible, though at high tide on a good day it may not break. Unfortunately if conditions are at their best, this will be the case. However the site is not difficult to find with a compass. From the gap between Geldkis and Strawberry Rocks, swim out about 40 m bearing 030° magnetic, and you should be over the reef. In good visibility it will be visible from the surface.

Alternatively, dive at the gap, and swim north magnetic until you are obstructed by high reef, then swim around with the reef to your left. It is hard to miss as it is much higher than the surrounding reef.

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The site is just to seaward of the large rock shown on charts and maps as Geldkis, which is also a well known dive site. The highest rock on the reef is a blinder which occasionally breaks the surface at low tide, hence the name "Geldkis Blinder".

Depth
The bottom is generally from 15 m on the inshore side to about 20 m on the sand further to the north west.

Visibility
Visibility is likely to be very similar to Geldkis and Justin's caves, but as the site is deeper, it may be better.

Topography
Geldkis Blinder is a group of large boulders and outcrops which extend to the surface at one place at low tide, where there is usually a break unless the swell is very low. There is occasional sand between the rocks in low areas, and the reef extends down to sand bottom on the seaward side at about 20m. There are numerous lower submerged boulders around the high ones. Some of the boulders have overhangs, or small holes and caves under them. There are also some deep narrow gaps between rocks, and a rock arch about half way along the northern side. The site is spectacular in good visibility. The blinder is a huge rock with a low overhang at the bottom which extends more or less to the surface from 18m, almost vertically on the north side.

Geology: Granite corestone boulders and bedrock of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton, surrounded by quartz sand.

Conditions
Often good during or after south easterly winds, but strong south easterly winds (offshore) can make it difficult to swim back to shore on the surface. The site is exposed to south westerly swells, and large or long period swell will produce strong surge and usually poor visibility. The site is usually at its best during summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by offshore winds, and resulting in clear cold water, which may be followed by algal bloom (red tide), which will reduce visibility again.

Facilities
None. Security is no better than most roadside parking in this area.

Get in
Shore dive: Park at the side of the road on the outside of the bend just north of the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The entry/exit point is Sandy Cove. This gives the most direct route to the site which is beyond the group of large granite boulders known as Geldkis about 300 m from the entry point at Sandy Cove.

Boat Dive: May be from Hout Bay (16 km) or Oceana Power Boat Club slipway (13.5 km). Probably best done as a live-boat dive as the holding ground is questionable.

Marine life
Seals often gather on Strawberry Rocks, and some may come over to watch you during the dive. There are kelp forests on top of the shallower rocks, and on the way to the site. Various brown and red algae grow on top of the rocks. Walls exposed to the south west and north west swells are relatively bare compared to overhangs, caves and sheltered areas, some of which are quite colourful and encrusted with a wide range of hydroids, crinoids, black mussels, encrusting sponges, small sea fans, hard and soft corals. The low reef is covered by pink corallines and large numbers of sea urchins.

Features

There is a large portal arch swim-through formed by a boulder wedged into a wide crack, a short distance to the west of the blinder offshore wall, and the wall itself is a fair height, as it extends down to about 18 m from close to the surface.

Photography
A good site for macro photography, and opportunities with wide angle if the visibility is good.

Routes

There are two basic routes depending on whether the dive is from shore or a boat.
 * 1) For a shore dive, enter at Sandy Cove, and swim out on the surface to the gap between Geldkis and Strawberry rocks. Continue on the surface to the Blinder which can usually be identified by the break. Dive just inshore of the break and swim round the group anti-clockwise, visiting the arch about halfway along and turning when the reef gets low. Surface when finished to take a bearing on the gap unless you are very confident of your navigation. Swim back on compass bearing through the gap and back to Sandy Cove (about 220°magnetic). If you surface nearer to the south end of Geldkis, return by the southern route round the south of Geldkis and follow the north edge of the point.
 * 2) For a boat dive, start in much the same place and follow a similar route round the site, returning to the blinder to surface or using a DSMB. It is not recommended to leave a boat at anchor unattended because of the possibility of strong winds causing it to drag and be blown away out to sea.

Hazards
Cold water, hot sunshine. Strong surge over shallow rocks. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills
No special skills are required for a boat dive, For a shore dive a fair level of fitness is required as there is a long swim to and from the site. Ability to navigate back by compass is recommended, particularly if there is an offshore wind forecast.

Equipment
A light is recommended for looking into crevices and overhangs, and also because of the loss of colour at depth. A compass is strongly recommended for shore dives and the return should be done underwater if the wind picks up during the dive, so save enough air for the swim. A deployable SMB is suggested for boat dives, and Nitrox will allow maximum dive time after your long swim. It is really only of much value if you expect to dive for longer than 45 minutes, in which case a dry suit is also recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Glencairn Barge

The dive site Glencairn Barge, Quarry Barge, or Cement Barge is an offshore recent wreck on a rocky reef in the Glencairn area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S34°09.395’ E018°26.477’ — (approximate), About 500 m bearing 115°magnetic from Quarry entry point

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The name "Cement Barge" is derived from the wreck of a small barge at this site, said to have been used to transport cement, but more probably used to convey rock from the quarry to Simon's Town. The alternative name "Glencairn Barge" refers to the suburb Glencairn, off which it lies, and "Quarry Barge" refers to the quarry it served.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 14 m and the top of the wreckage is about 12 m.

Topography
Low sandstone reef with sandy patches. The wreck lies on the edge of the sand.

Geology: Sandstone reef probably of the Peninsula formation or possibly the underlying Graafwater formation.

Conditions
Best dived in a low swell. This is more important for shore entries, when an onshore wind will make entry and exit tricky, and an offshore wind could make the trip back very tiring if done on the surface.

The site is usually at it's best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities in other seasons.

Facilities
Paved off-road parking at the whale lookout is usually adequate.

Get in
Boat dive or shore dive with a long swim. Access and entry/exit for shore dive as for Quarry.

The site is about 4.0 km from Simon's Town jetty, or 8.8 km from Miller's Point slipway.

Marine life
Reef life is predominantly feather stars and sea cucumbers, with significant presence of large sea squirts. A moderate range of fish may be seen, largely cryptic species, like Klipfish and Redfingers.

Features
Small wreck of a steel barge. The hull is intact and lies upright on a sandy patch between the reefs. Two holds are open to access from above and the overhead around the sides is trivial.

Routes

 * 1) Shore dive: Swim out on the surface using a GPS to find the position. Dive and find the wreck, then work your way back to the shore using compass navigation. Allow enough air for a 500 m swim on the return. The water shelves gradually toward the shore and there should be no danger of requiring decompression
 * 2) Boat dive: Put down a shot-line or anchor at the wreck There are few useful landmarks on the reefs, so it is easy to lose the wreck if you move away from it, so a live-boat dive is convenient for the divers.

Hazards
Entry and exit may be difficult in an onshore wind, and the return swim could be tiring in an offshore wind. This area may be on the summer cruise route of the local Great White shark population, but this is hypothetical at this stage.

Skills
No special skills required on boat dives. Good fitness and ability to navigate with a compass are required for shore dives.

Equipment
A compass is essential for shore dives to navigate back under water. A deployable SMB is convenient when doing a boat dive. On night dives a light on the shot line will help divers find their way back if they move away from the wreck and can’t find it again.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Fish Hoek and Glencairn area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Good Hope Reef

The dive site Good Hope Reef is an offshore rocky reef in the Smitswinkel Bay area on the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

This is a small granite reef on a sandy bottom with lots of gorgonian sea fans.

Position

 * S34°16.049 E018°28.893 About 50 m at 090° magnetic from the transom of the SAS Good Hope wreck.

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required

Name
The name "Good Hope Reef" is derived from the nearby wreck of SAS Good Hope.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 35 m on the sand. and the top of the reef is about 30 m.

Topography
The reef is a small area of granite corestone outcrops, about 33 m in diameter, comprising two main outcrops, both about 5 m high at most, and a few smaller boulders or outcrops on the perimeter. The reef area is split by a sand bottomed gully running roughly NE to SW.

Geology: Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton, surrounded by fine quartz sand.

Get in
This is a boat dive, as it is too far from the coast to swim.

This site is only accessible by boat. It is about 5.2 km from the slipway at Miller's Point and 12.5 km from Simon's Town jetty.

Photography
The reef will usually be quite dark due to the depth, and photography will mostly rely on artificial lighting. There are plenty of subjects for macro and close-up wide angle shots.

Suggested Routes
The site is small and the whole reef may be comprehensively visited on a single dive. The sea fans are almost all on the steep side slopes of the reef, and a circuit of the perimeter will take you past these. If you have time left, take a look over the top of the reef.

Hazards
There are no known site-specific hazards.

Skills
No special skills are required, but it is useful to be able to deploy a DSMB in case you surface away from the shot line.

Certification appropriate to the depth will be expected.

Equipment
Nitrox is recommended to extend no-stop time. A light may be useful to display the true colours of the reef life.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Smitswinkel Bay area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast

 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Gordon's Bay Old Harbour

Gordon's Bay old harbour is a small commercial fishing harbour and marina on the east side of Gordon's Bay, which is occasionally used for dive boat launches.

Understand
The Old Harbour is used by divers at any time of year when diving conditions on the east side of False Bay are suitable. This can be at any time of year, but mor often in summer, when the south west swell is smaller and the south east wind makes conditions on the west side of the bay unpleasant. The slipway is well protected by the harbour walls and boats can be launched and recovered in almost any weather conditions.

The slipway is a concrete ramp 12.8 m wide at the top, about 17 m wide at the water with about 8° slope and is in fairly good condition. There is also a rail slip to the side with trolley 5.2 m wide, 14 m long, about 6° slope. There is a concrete jetty in good condition to the right side of the slipway where boats can tie up to load and wait for access on busy days. Very well protected from waves from all directions.

Public access for boats with seaworthiness certificates and licensed skippers.

The harbour and slipway are controlled by MCM. The responsible person is the Gordon's Bay harbourmaster. For information.

Position

 * S34°09'53.48"S E018°51'33.90" (Slipway/jetty/boarding area)
 * S34°09'54.08"S E018°51'36.09" (Main gate)
 * S34° 9'48.16"S E018°51'29.58" (Harbour mouth)

About (distance)km from Gordon's Bay CBD, and (distance)km from central Cape Town by road.

Conditions
The launching facilities are usable all year, and the use of the facilities by dive boats is mainly dependant on good diving conditions on the east side of False Bay. This is more common in summer, when the lack of rain runoff from the mountainside, and the generally lower south west swell result in better visibility when the sea is calm enough to dive. The dive sites on the Gordon's Bay area are all close inshore in the lee of the mountains, so a fairly strong south easterly wind is not generally a problem, which is a good thing since in summer the south easter can blow very strongly at Gordon's Bay, often for several days running.

Facilities
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access is controlled by a security guard at the gate, who will take your entry fee.

Parking for trailers is limited. The parking area is right next to the slipway and is tarred, with demarcated parking areas. The loading of boats can be done at the trailer parking area or at the jetty. Embarkation of passengers is at the jetty.

Parking for vehicles without trailers is also limited and is occasionally a problem. There are toilet facilities which are usually in working condition and are usually open at all times.There is a kiosk for refreshments which is open during working hours, and a bar/restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating which will cater to divers in wetsuits (outside), within easy walking distance of the slipway.

Fees
Launching fee R42.00 per day (2005) A fee of R2.00 (2005) per vehicle is charged for access to the harbour. Pay at the gate, and get a ticket/receipt.

Hazards
Security of parked vehicles is reasonable, but it is advisable to lock valuables in the boot where they can not be seen by passers-by. The car park is visible to the gate guard if he happens to be outside his office.

Return to Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay


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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Groot Pannekoek

The dive site Groot Pannekoek is an inshore rocky reef in the south Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

This was a site used for a scientific instrument station, and was regularly visited by scientific divers for instrument maintenance.

Position

 * S33°59.13’ E018°20.75’

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required. The site is within the Karbonkelberg restricted area.

Name
The name "Groot Pannekoek" means Large Pancake, and refers to the shape of the rock and compares it with the nearby rock of similar shape known as Klein Pannekoek.

Depth
No records available, Maximum depth near the rock probably about 15m.

Topography
Huge outcrop of Peninsula Granite corestones, Some overhangs, crevices and small caves.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions
Best after South Easterly winds (offshore). The swell should be low, though a bit of white water on the outer reefs is normal. The dive site is exposed to the South West swell, This is a site where good visibility is usually accompanied by cold water. There is usually some surge, and it can be quite strong.

The site is usually at it's best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings caused by south easterly winds, resulting in cold clear water, which may be followed by a plankton bloom ans reduction in visibility

Facilities
Reasonably secure off road parking, clean toilet facilities, fresh water on tap at the parking lot and a fresh water shower at the beach. Picnic areas with tables, seating and usually shade.

Get in
A shore dive for the fit diver. It entails a surface swim of about 270 m to a group of offshore rocks after a moderately long and fairly steep walk to the entry point, along a good set of paths and stairs at the Oudekraal TMNP recreation area.

Alternatively a boat dive: It is 14 km from Hout Bay, or 14 km from the Oceana Power Boat Club slipway.

Shore dive: Use the Table Mountain National Park Oudekraal parking lot off the coast road if there is space. You pay for the parking but the facilities are good, including clean toilets, picnic areas, shade trees, and showers. Security is better than most places. Alternative parking is available at the side of the M6, but the walk is longer and security not as good. Go down the stairs at the west end of parking lot and straight across the grassy area to the rocks at the Westerly cove. There is a bit of a rough clamber over the rocks from the bottom of the path to the entry area which is usually quite a placid spot as it is well sheltered by reefs a few metres out, and heavy kelp, which is easier to negotiate if the tide is high. The long climb down the stairs and the clamber over the rocks require a reasonable level of fitness, but there is fresh water on tap at the top of the stairs and a few litres on your head and suit before the descent will keep you cooler.

Marine life
There are kelp forests and a good variety of invertebrates on the rocks.

Routes
No particular routes recommended.

Hazards
Cold water, Strong surge and breaking waves over exposed rocks. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time. Access to entry/exit point over large boulders.

Skills
The site requires fitness if dived from the shore There is no particular minimum qualification recommended, but this is a site for the reasonably experienced diver. Ability to navigate back underwater is recommended if there is a south east wind forecast.

Equipment
A compass is recommended to help navigate back from shore entry dives in case an offshore wind comes up during the dive.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches

 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area