Aliwal Shoal

The majestic Aliwal Shoal in South Africa, a mere 30 minute drive south of Durban on the golden east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, offers great scuba diving. It offers great reef diving with an abundance of fish life and coral. The Aliwal shoal is a reef system, formed some 8 to 10 thousand years ago by submerged dunes & is located approximately 5km offshore.

The beautiful Aliwal Shoal is alive with coral fish. Game fish, rays and sharks are often seen. These vary from the magnificent TIGER SHARK - special dive trips can be arranged to see these amazing animals - ZAMBEZI SHARKS, HAMMERHEADS, WHALE SHARKS and on occasion, even the Great White has been spotted patrolling these waters.

Why dive with us?
We are a small company with years of experience. We pride ourselves on our friendly, professional service, with safety our priority. You will have a boat dedicated to your group, allowing you to have a relaxed diving holiday with no rush, no fuss, just pure enjoyment.

With first class transport, boats, skippers & qualified tour guides LET US make your diving safari holiday a memorable one.

Popular Dive Spots
The Pinnacles - The Pinnacles are very shallow, ranging from 6m to 15m.

Raggies Cave - This dive site is very popular during our winter months from June to November because the Raggedtooth Sharks make the Aliwal Shoal their home and breeding ground during this period and are found in large numbers at Raggies Cave. Here the depth ranges from 12m - 16m.

Cathedral - Another favourite spot for Raggies during their breeding season. With depths of 21m - 29m this spot allows you to watch these graceful creatures from the top of Cathedral or to gather sharks' teeth from the sand below.

The Inside Edge - this is a wonderful drift dive with lots of interesting fish including the Pineapple Fish. Depths here range from 14m - 24m.

Two wrecks in the area are the Produce and the Nebo. The Produce sank after hitting the northern Pinnacles of the Aliwal Shoal in 1974. Today the wreck is in two pieces and lies on the sand at a depth of 30m. It is home to a variety of interesting and colourful fish, the biggest being the Brindle Bass.
The Nebo lies inshore of the shoal and although it has deteriorated over the years, it also makes for great diving when the visibility is good inshore. She lies at a maximum depth of 26m.

AND MANY MORE ……

Climate and Water Temperatures
The Aliwal Shoal is an all year round dive destination, with hot summers and mild winters. Water temperatures range from 27'C in summer to 18'C in winter and visibility fluctuates between 5m and 30m but averages 12m to 20m. 3mm wetsuits are adequate in summer but 5mm are recommended in winter.

The Aliwal Shoal has dive spots for all levels of divers and really is a must for any diver heading this way. All launching is done on semi-rigid boats either through the river mouth or from the beach. The surf launch is unique to these waters and adds a new dimension to your diving experience. Dive Masters accompany all dives and all skippers are of the highest standard with years of experience.

Other Options
Day trips to Durban, Valley of 1000 Hills, Umgeni Bird Park and other places of interest, as well as overland safaris, can also be enjoyed while staying in the area. With the "Big 5" and the Drakensberg Mountains a mere 3 hours drive from the Aliwal Shoal, this is a great destination for both divers and non-divers alike.

CONTACT US NOW TO TAILOR-MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME