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Dive Safaris
offered by supplier M11328 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 1
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 6
people
Destination:
South Africa
Category: Scuba diving operators
Specialty:
Diving instructor, Scuba diving center
Season: July - November
Min Price: 1050 South Africa Rand (ZAR) per person
Max Price: 1500 South Africa Rand (ZAR) per person
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KwaZulu Natal offers shark diving with no cages. Common sharks to our area are Bull Sharks ( Zambezi Shark), Reef Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Copper Sharks, Tiger Sharks, And the odd Great White if he gets close enough for the occasional encounter.
Aliwal Shoal is most popular for its Spotted Ragged Tooth Shark (The Jewel of Aliwal Shoal) and their favourite haunt "Raggies Cave".
The Raggie is commonly found at Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal, and although are harmless, they make for an exciting dive. Their large, imposing appearance with their ferocious looking teeth, is an impressive sight. Their teeth, however terrifying they may appear to be, are suited for medium sized fish which rules out the threat on divers and large fish. They use the Kwazulu / Natal coastline as a mating ground from July to November, and can be seen in the various caves, and sandy areas which makes them the perfect animal to have a pure shark experience with.
No means of attracting the shark unnaturally is required. They are a common sighting along the South African East Coast and the main attraction at Aliwal Shoal during season as divers also migrate to Aliwal Shoal this time of year to view them.
Aliwal Shoal
Some 5 kilometers off the coast of a between Umkomaas and Scottburgh.
The Shoal runs in a north to south direction and is a little less than 5 kilometers long. It is home to a large variety of fish, coral, and mammalian life forms. The reefs location is on the inner edge of the warm Mozambique current which allows for often excellent visibility as well as pelagic visitors who thrill divers by making an appearance every so often.
Raggie Cave:
This is the area most often occupied by the ragged tooth shark during the shark season. The actual cave is not very large, but is part of a long overhang which forms the outer rim of what is sometimes called the "amphitheater".
This area is characterised by many boulder-like rock outcrops and has a large sandy patch on the bottom, which provides and ideal place for instructors to do their skills with their students.
The maximum depth in this area is 18 meters and hence also within the diving range of most open water divers. Due to the protective haven that the "amphitheater" provides, it is home to many local fish species, and is a welcome place to spend some time when the current on the shoal is a little harsh.
Shark Alley:
This section of Aliwal Shoal, leads from the outer edge of the shoal at a depth of 24 meters up to the opening to "Raggies Cave" which is at 18 meters.
Due to the huge depth change there is a very nice steep rock face to dive which forms the walls of the gully known as "Shark Alley". The bottom is mostly sandy with a few rocky formations jutting out here and there. There are a number of caves going into the rock face and are home to a number of resident Potato Bass. There is also an amazing sea fern to be seen hanging off the face of the southern wall.
Cathedral:
A second home to the ragged tooth sharks, "Cathedral" is an advanced dive. Called such because of the grande entrance from the outer edge to this round cavern which sits on the ocean bed at 26 meters and rises up to a pothole opening at 18 meters, this is one of the most popular dive sites on the shoal.
"Cathedral" is also home to many resident rays which use the sandy bed as a sleeping place when the divers are not sneaking in to see if the Frog Fish is home. From here the most common route taken on a dive tour is from "Cathedral" along the outer edge, and up "Shark Alley". The other route used, especially when qualification level is an issue, is from the opening at the top of "Cathedral" which is at 18 meters, and onto the "South Sands".
South Sands:
Also very popular with instructors because of the shallow depth of only 16-17 meters, "South Sands" is home to many Guitarfish, rays, and sand sharks. It has a ledge which runs the length of it and is home to many small fish and crustaceans. A great place to start when the current is a little strong and a drift dive is the order of the day. Further south of this area is a fantastic spot called "Eel skins", but is not often dived owing to the turn-around time of the dives.It is a long way from shore and is the farthermost southern section on the Aliwal Shoal that is dived. From here you can head to "Cathedral", "Raggies Cave", "North Sands", "Pinnacles", "Inner Edge" or "Manta Point".
Pinnacles:
This section is a long "spine" of mountain-like rock formations that provide a haven for thousands of species of fish and is an amazing place to dive when you want to do a long, slow dive.The depth here averages between 5 meters and 18 meters, depending where you are on the ridges. There are some incredible deep potholes with caves that hide at the base of them. This provides a home for many rays and turtles.
On the one side the "Pinnacles" slope down toward the "Raggie Cave" and "Manta Point" area and on the shore-side they gently slope down to the "North Sands" area. The sea-facing ledges are a lot steeper than the ones which tapes gently off to the "North Sands" basin.
The pinnacles where the reason that the "Produce Wreck" is now available for divers to explore just off the north point of the Aliwal Shoal. There are a few metal shards still lying on the reef believed to have come from the "Produce".
Manta Point:
Situated of the eastern side of the Pinnacles and one of my favourite places on the shoal is
"Manta Point". As the name depicts, this is a popular spot for the magnificent Manta Ray, and is haven to thousands of colorful reef fish. This dive has a maximum depth of around 20 meters and is on route to "Raggies Cave" should you elect to follow the spine of the "Pinnacles" southwards to the "Raggie Cave" area.
While we have tried to describe all the most popular dive sites on the Aliwal Shoal, a full description of what you can expect to find on a dive trip to this amazing place, would take us a lifetime to do justice to it all. Many divers who have visited us have left with a longing to return to our beautiful waters which hold more thrills than many of the worlds most famous dive sites combined.
Also see tour packages in:
Scuba diving operators
Africa
South Africa
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