Cape Town scuba diving

Two sides of the peninsula

Cape Town's diving is split by the Cape Peninsula, the mountainous finger of land that runs south from the city to Cape Point. On the west is the Atlantic seaboard, from the city past Camps Bay and Llandudno to Hout Bay and beyond. On the east is False Bay, with towns such as Muizenberg, Simon's Town and Kalk Bay on its western shore.

The two sides behave differently. The Atlantic seaboard is washed by the cold Benguela Current, and in summer the south-easterly wind pushes surface water offshore, drawing up cold, clear water from the deep. That is why the Atlantic side is often at its best in summer. False Bay is a few degrees warmer and is usually calmer and clearer in winter, when north-westerly winds flatten the bay. The simple rule locals use: when one side is rough, check the other. Much of the coast around the peninsula is part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, with zones where fishing is restricted.

The kelp forests

Kelp is what makes Cape diving special. The big kelp along this coast, sea bamboo, grows from the rocks up to the surface in dense forests, its long stems and fronds swaying with the swell. Light filters through the canopy, and the rocks below are covered in sponges, sea fans, anemones, urchins and starfish in every colour. Many of the fish and invertebrates here are found only in southern African waters, including several species of shyshark, small catsharks that curl their tails over their eyes when disturbed.

Diving in kelp takes a little practice: move slowly, keep your gear streamlined so it does not snag, and if you do get caught, stop and untangle calmly rather than kicking. The reward is one of the most beautiful dive environments anywhere.

Cape Town dive sites

1. Seals at Duiker Island

   Atlantic seaboard · Boat from Hout Bay · Snorkel or dive

   Duiker Island, off Hout Bay, is home to a colony of Cape fur seals. Boat trips take divers and snorkellers to the island, where young seals often come to play, twisting and blowing bubbles around visitors. It is shallow and great fun, but the water is cold, so dress warmly.

2. Oudekraal and the Atlantic shore dives

   Atlantic seaboard · Shore · Granite boulders and kelp

   Along the Atlantic side, granite boulders, gullies and kelp make for excellent shore dives on calm summer days. Oudekraal, between Camps Bay and Llandudno, is one of the best known.

3. Millers Point and Castle Rock

   False Bay · Shore · Kelp, invertebrates

   On the False Bay side south of Simon's Town, these sites are favourites for their kelp forests, colourful reef and easy shore access. Parts of the area are no-take zones in the marine protected area. Millers Point is also known for sevengill sharks, although sightings have dropped a great deal in recent years.

4. Pyramid Rock and A-Frame

   False Bay · Shore · Boulders and swim-throughs

   More rocky reef and kelp on the False Bay side, with swim-throughs, octopus, shysharks and nudibranchs. These sites are popular for training and for relaxed weekend dives.

5. Wrecks of False Bay and the Atlantic

   Boat and shore · Range of depths

   The SAS Pietermaritzburg was scuttled in False Bay as a dive site, the Smitswinkel Bay wrecks lie deeper in the bay, the Clan Stuart rests in the shallows near Simon's Town, and the Maori lies on the Atlantic side. See our wreck diving in South Africa guide.

Sharks around Cape Town

Cape waters have their own sharks. Broadnose sevengill sharks were long a highlight in False Bay, and shysharks and pyjama sharks are common on the reefs. In summer, operators run pelagic trips offshore from Cape Point to look for blue and mako sharks in open water. Great white shark cage diving has long been run from Gansbaai, about a two-hour drive from the city, though sightings there have become much less predictable since the late 2010s. Our guide to shark diving in South Africa explains the options and how to check recent reports.

Cold water: what to wear

The water around Cape Town is cold all year, colder on the Atlantic side than in False Bay. A 7 mm wetsuit with a hood, gloves and boots is the minimum for most divers, and many locals dive in semi-dry suits or drysuits. If you are used to the tropics, take this seriously: being cold shortens dives and spoils the experience. Most Cape Town dive centres rent suitable suits.

Planning Cape Town diving

Cape Town International Airport has flights from around the world and from the rest of South Africa, so the city combines easily with a KwaZulu-Natal trip for divers who want both oceans. Many dive sites are a short drive from the city and the southern suburbs, and the wind decides each day's plan, so keep your schedule flexible. You need a permit to dive in the marine protected area. See our South Africa dive trip planning guide for more.