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MapSpeciesParksDiving
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  2. Diving and snorkelling
  4. South Africa
  5. Aliwal Shoal
Rocky reefMarine Protected Area

Aliwal Shoal

Depth: 5–30 mLevel: Advanced Open WaterJune-November
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An ancient sandstone reef with caves, gullies and pinnacles, about 40 minutes from Durban. Its best-known feature is The Cathedral, an amphitheatre-shaped sandy depression where grey nurse sharks gather by the dozen in season. The depth is around 25 m and it is manageable at Open Water level.

Depth

5–30 m

Recommended level

Advanced Open Water

Average visibility

15 m

Protection status

Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

Did you know?

The reef benefits from the warm Agulhas Current, which brings indigo-blue water and large pelagics. Diving here is cage-free.

Sources consulted: Wikipedia (Sodwana Bay National Park / Protea Banks MPA); iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority; SeaCrush; Mozambique Experience; Jenman Safaris

Location

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Aliwal Shoal: 22 documented species

Ecosystem

Reef

Similar dive sites

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Same country: South Africa

Same country: South Africa

Same country: South Africa

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Based on what we already know about this dive site.

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Water temperature

23 °C

Current

Moderate to strong

Access

Boat

Best season

June-November

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

Approx. price

70 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
June-November
Approx. price
70 USD / dive
See location

Same country: South Africa

South Africa · KwaZulu-Natal
See on the interactive map→
Humpback WhaleLeast Concern

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Risso's DolphinLeast Concern

Risso's Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Portuguese Man-of-warNot Evaluated

Portuguese Man-of-war

Physalia physalis

Bottlenose DolphinLeast Concern

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Blue GlaucusNot Evaluated

Blue Glaucus

Glaucus atlanticus

Great White SharkVulnerable

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Moon JellyfishNot Evaluated

Moon Jellyfish

Aurelia aurita

Mediterranean MusselNot Evaluated

Mediterranean Mussel

Mytilus galloprovincialis

Bryde's WhaleLeast Concern

Bryde's Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Blue SharkNear Threatened

Blue Shark

Prionace glauca

Scalloped HammerheadCritically Endangered

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

Tiger SharkNear Threatened

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

See all 22 species found here
UNESCO
Reef/Sardine Run

Cape Vidal

South Africa

Up to 25 m · Advanced Open Water

Dolphins · sharks and seabirds during the Sardine Run

See dive site
UNESCO
Tropical reef

Sodwana Bay

South Africa

Up to 30 m · Open Water

Tiger sharks · manta rays

See dive site
Deep rocky reef

Protea Banks

South Africa

Up to 40 m · Advanced

Seven species of shark aggregate here · among them hammerheads

See dive site
CountrySouth Africa
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