Liveaboards

Updated November 15, 2022

This is the one hundred and eighty-seventh in a series of reviews of the best diving destinations worldwide.  In this post, the focus is on great white shark tours. In addition to this series on diving destinations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been great white shark diving before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

There is probably nothing more terrifying and at the same time intriguing than great white sharks.  Today many people are finding that they are widely misunderstood.  To get a close look without any real threat or danger, several locations are available to see them from the safety of a shark cage or even on the deck of a boat if that suits you better.  Several dive operations in South Africa offer half-day and full-day cruises with the opportunity to see them from surface shark cages suitable for certified and non-certified divers.  In South Australia and off Baja California, liveaboards provide full-service 2-6 day tours that not only offer surface cages but mid-water and seafloor cages as well that permit a much different viewpoint.  All use chumming and bait lines and are in areas where the sharks are common due to natural feeding opportunities on the likes of seals, fish, or penguins.

Below are descriptions of the five best-known and most popular shark cage sites.  Please review the information and take a glance at the videos to get a real feel for the excitement of the experience.

Top Great White Shark Tours

• Gansbaai, South Africa
• Mossel Bay, South Africa
• False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
• Guadalupe Island, Mexico
• Neptune Islands, Australia

 Gansbaai, South Africa

Often called the “Great White Shark Capital of the World”, Gansbaai is located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa two hours southwest of Cape Town.  This small fishing town has become a major tourist attraction due primarily to a large number of great whites that are there year-round focusing on the area called Shark Alley between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock where they feed on the 5,000 African penguins and 60,000 Cape fur seals in residence there.  In addition, southern right whales and several species of dolphins are commonly sighted.

The diving is done in cages attached to the boat at the surface after chumming and the use of baited lines to bring them close.  Divers and non-divers can participate and it is offered to people who just want to stay on deck, as well.  Eco-awareness and training in preparation are emphasized.

One operator also offers day cruises 2 hours outside the bay for mako and blue shark dives in open water.  These are guided dives for those with at least an open water certification at 5-10 meters (16-33 feet) of depth.

• Seasons and Conditions – While shark cage diving leads to sightings all year, the best time is from April through September when they more consistently come to the Shark Alley area for feeding.
• Air temperature is mild with average daily highs from 18°C (64°F) in June through September to lows of 23°C (73°F) in January and February.
• The water temperature runs from lows of 14-16°C (57-60°F) from April through September to highs of 18-20°C (64-68°F) from October through March.  Outfitters provide you with adequate thermal protection for the cage dives.
• Rainfall is low all year and it rarely is a factor influencing diving.
• Currents are generally mild to non-existent in the Shark Alley site.
• Visibility is typically 5-10 meters (16-33 feet).

All diving is done from small to medium-sized boats on half-day and day trips.  No liveaboards are possible.

• Gansbaai Lodging Options

For my full review on shark cage diving in Gansbaai, please check out this post:

• Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai South Africa

Mossel Bay, South Africa

Mossel Bay is a middle-sized city also in the Western Cape Province 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Cape Town and the same distance from Port Elizabeth.  This area has a lot of interesting diving on diverse undersea terrain with many of the region’s colorful invertebrates, fish, small sharks like catsharks and shysharks, a couple of historic 19th-century wrecks, the possibility of whales and dolphins from June to November, and the occasional mantas, turtles, and ragged-tooth sharks.  There is also a place called Shark Island about 10 minutes from the dock where great white sharks often congregate for feeding.

One dive shop runs regular baited cage diving tours there much like the ones in Gansbaai where chumming and baited lines are used to lure them to the cage mounted to the boat at the surface.  Again, participants may decide to remain outside the cage on deck.  No diving certification is required to get into the enclosure.

Aside from cage diving, there are dive sites and conditions suitable for all levels of divers.  The dive shops are fully equipped to provide a range of training, equipment rental, guiding, and boat tours.

• Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible all year in Mossel Bay.  The best time for great whites is from April through November but some are always in the Bay.
• Average daily air temperature highs range from 17°C (63°F) in August and September to 23°C (73°F) in January and February.
• Water temperature lows reach 15°C (59°F) in July and highs in January of 22°C (63°F).  Most divers will want a 5-7mm wetsuit when the water is warmest and a drysuit with a hood and gloves when it is at its coolest.
• It is relatively dry with low rainfall year-round and rain is not often a factor in diving.
• Inside the bay, currents are usually mild.  At deeper sites, it may be strong on occasion.
• Visibility is variable and has a range of 4-30 meters (12-100 feet).

All diving is done from shore or small to medium-sized boats on half-day and day trips.  No liveaboards are possible.

• Mossel Bay Lodging Options

For my full review on shark diving in Mossel Bay, please check out this post:

• Shark Diving in Mossel Bay South Africa

False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

False Bay is a large body of water just to the southeast of downtown Cape Town.  There is a lot of interesting diving there with rocky terrain on the west side and sandier bottoms on the east side.  Lots of good sites are not far from shore on the west side with a nice array of cool water corals, sponges, kelp, and other invertebrates to go with a large variety of colorful fish and major attractions including catsharks, pyjama sharks, gully sharks, seven-gill sharks, a number of wrecks, resident African penguins near Simon’s Town, and a massive colony of Cape fur seals numbering 60,000 on Seal Island in the north-central portion of False Bay.  A number of operators run shark cage dives, a few outside of the bay, but many near Seal Island where the great whites congregate for feeding.

The conditions are very similar to those of the other two South African shark cage regions with chumming, baiting, and divers on the surface within the cage attached to the boat.

The dive shops are fully equipped to provide a range of training, equipment rental, guiding, and boat tours.

In the last several years, news reports indicate white shark sightings in False Bay are way down.  Let’s hope it is not permanent.  You can see from the video above published on July 10, 2019, that there was a fair number on that cruise.   This article indicates something else:  Something Fishy in False Bay as Great White Sharks Disappear 

• Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible all year in False Bay with the possibility of great whites historically best from October through March.
• Average daily air temperatures are mild with highs in February at 26.5°C (79.7°F) and lows in July at 17.5°C (63.5°F).
• The water temperature range is 12-16°C (53.6-60.8°F) on the surface but can be 1-3°C cooler at depth.  A 7mm wetsuit, hood, and gloves may suffice for some, but a drysuit is the best bet.
• Rainfall is only 515 mm (20 inches) per year and is not often a factor in diving.
• Inside the bay, the current is not much of a factor.
• Visibility is variable from season to season.  With northeasterly winds in winter, the visibility is often from 5-10 meters (16-35 feet) but can extend to 20 meters (68 feet) or beyond.  During the summer, southeasterly winds can result in some surface chop and decrease visibility to less than 5 meters (16 feet).  At the same time, the dirty surface water on the east side can be blown out actually creating better visibility there.

All diving is done from shore or small to medium-sized boats on half-day and day trips.  No liveaboards are possible.

• Cape Town Lodging Options

For my full review of scuba diving in Cape Town, please check out this post:

• Scuba Diving Cape Town South Africa

Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Located 265 kilometers (165 miles) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico, Guadalupe Island is accessible on 5-6 day liveaboard cruises from August through October before the rains start.  The 18-hour trip puts you on a site rich with tuna, Guadalupe fur seals, and sea lions, all of which attract large numbers of great white sharks looking for feeding opportunities.

The liveaboard yachts are well-equipped for diving and photography and run a very professional and full-service operation.  Each vessel has several cages with air supplied from the surface through hoses or with tanks.  Some cages remain at the surface and there is the possibility of non-certified divers in those.  Other cages are submersible and in some cases, it is even possible to leave the cage with only a rail between the diver and the sharks.

In the off-season, these liveaboard yachts do safaris to the Socorro Islands.

• Seasons and Conditions – The shark cage tours only happen from August through October.
• Water temperature at that time is in a range from 19°C to 22°C (66°F to 72°F).   Divers will likely be most comfortable in 7mm wetsuits or drysuits with a hood and gloves.
• The rainy season begins in October toward the end of these cruises.
• Visibility is typically 30-45 meters (100-150 feet), great for photography.

For my review of Guadalupe cage diving liveaboards, please check out this post:

• Guadalupe Island Shark Diving

For pricing and details on the liveaboard yachts that do shark cage diving on Guadalupe Island and cruise to the Socorro Islands in the off-season, please check out these links:

• Nautilus Belle Amie
• Nautilus Explorer
• Nautilus Under Sea
• MV Solmar V
• Socorro Aggressor
• Socorro Vortex

Neptune Islands, Australia

The 4 Neptune Islands are in the mouth of the Spencer Gulf off Port Lincoln, South Australia.  They are the home of albatross, rock parrots, sea eagles, sea lions, and Australia’s largest fur seal colony.  The great whites are around all year with females which are larger arriving from April to August when they have the opportunity to feast on recently born seal pups.

The Princess II is a 23-meter vessel accommodating a maximum of 12 guests that runs 2-5 day cruises year-round.  Two-day trips typically are for non-certified divers who use surface cages.  The 3-5 day tours include the possibility of floor cages for certified divers only.  Floor dives have average depths of around 18 meters (60 feet).

• Seasons and Conditions – Liveaboards run year-round with the peak time for sharks from April to August when the females arrive.
• The water temperature range is 14-22°C (57-72°F).  7mm wetsuits or drysuits with a hood and gloves are recommended.
• Visibility is great at more than 20 meters (68 feet) at the surface and on the ocean floor, great for photography.

For pricing and details for the Princess II, the only yacht diving on the Neptune Islands, please check out this link:

• Princess II

Cold Water Gear

For my reviews of cold water scuba equipment, please check out this post:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

Photography on Great White Shark Tours

With the interesting close-up shots of sharks and attractive seascapes, as well, there are excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on great white shark tours interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Ragged-Tooth Sharks (Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor & Ocean Explorers Dive Centre)

Updated August 16, 2022

This is the one hundred and seventy-third in a series of reviews of the best diving destinations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Africa.  For other “Best” reviews of liveaboards and destinations, go to “Best Liveaboards & Destinations Lists” on the top menu.

Have you been diving in Africa before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, marine life attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Africa

When you imagine the wildest, most exotic, natural environment possible, chances are Africa comes to mind.  What is diving like there?  Some of the locations are pretty remote.  Is it worth the time to travel to such distant locations?  I say the answer is yes.  Below is an introduction to 10 of the best destinations representing a variety of conditions.  (Please note, the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Middle East are not included in this review.)

• Madagascar
• Port Elizabeth, South Africa
• Dakar, Senegal
• Mozambique
• Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
• Seychelles
• Cape Verde
• Canary Islands
• Sodwana Bay, South Africa
• False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

Madagascar

Most of the best diving in Madagascar is in the Nosy Be area near the northwest tip of the Mozambique Channel.  Whether you dive from a local shop or on a liveaboard, the main focus is on the five-island Mitsio Archipelago to the north or the four-island Radames Archipelago to the south.  The marine life is diverse with 300 species of coral and 1,300 fish species in clear water on a range of basalt subsea formations with lots of plate corals, humongous sea fans, and macro critters.  The megafauna is also memorable with numerous species of sharks and rays, pelagics, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and whale sharks.  Currents can be strong on some sites making for exhilarating drift diving.

• Dive Season:  year-round (the best season for whale sharks is September through December and for humpback  and Omura’s whales is October through December)
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  75-84°F (24-29°C)
• Visibility:  usually around 100 feet (30 meters)
• Highlights:  frogfish, spiny and slipper lobsters, nudibranchs, lizardfish, crocodilefish, octopus, pufferfish, morays, scorpionfish, bannerfish, snappers, regal angelfish, fusiliers, sweetlips, blue-spotted stingrays, titan triggerfish, batfish, Napoleon wrasses, giant groupers, schooling barracuda and jacks, 5 species of sea turtle, many shark species including whitetip reef, hammerhead, leopard, silvertip, and whale sharks, stingrays, manta, mobula, and eagle rays, tuna, dolphins, humpback and Omura’s (dwarf fin) whales

For a more detailed review of Madagascar liveaboards and scuba diving, check out this post:

• Best Scuba Diving Madagascar Liveaboards

Check the Price & Details on Madagascar Liveaboards

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port Elizabeth is located 478 miles (770 kilometers) east of Cape Town and occupies 10 miles (16 kilometers) of coastline along Algoa Bay.  Cold water from the west mixes with warm water flowing along the east coast creating the right conditions for a cold water reef that has a lot of hard corals one might expect on a more tropical reef, to go with cold water sponges, soft corals, and gorgonians.  The underwater topography is diverse with sandy stretches, gullies, pinnacles, rocky formations, and steep drop-offs providing excellent habitat for a range of invertebrates, macro critters, reef fish, game fish, rays, small sharks, ragged-tooth sharks, dolphins, whales, fur seals, and penguins.  Sites are available right offshore, outside the bay, and around small nearby islands.  There are also several wrecks at recreational diving depths.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  59-66°F (15-19°C)
• Visibility:  the best visibility is in the cooler winter months at 16-25 feet ( 5-8 meters) inside the bay and 33-50 feet (10-15 meters) outside the bay
• Highlights:  nudibranchs, anemones, crinoids, sea stars, crustaceans, a variety of reef fish, rock cod, rays, ragged-tooth, pyjama, leopard, and shy sharks, game fish like cape knifejaws and musselcrackers, whales, dolphins, Cape fur seals, African (jackass) penguins, wrecks – Haerlem Wreck, Baratz Wreck

For a more detailed review of Port Elizabeth scuba diving, check out this post:

• South Africa Scuba Diving Port Elizabeth

For information on cold water scuba gear, please check my post:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

Dakar, Senegal

Dakar is located on Cap Vert, the westernmost point of continental Africa.  In its position there the reefs have a mix of Northern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and tropical marine life on volcanic and rocky outcrops interspersed with sandy patches with interesting swim-throughs and caverns.  While not as rich in corals as many tropical areas of the world, there are abundant gorgonians, and soft and hard corals to go along with many macro critters, reef fish, pelagics, turtles, rays, sharks, and cetaceans.  Seasonal attractions are huge stingrays from December to April, nurse sharks from July to November, green turtles from January to April, and humpback whales in September and October.  In addition, there are many historic wrecks and others sunk to discourage trawlers from dragging nets across the reefs, all to the delight of divers.

• Dive Season:  year-round (the best season for whale sharks is October and November)
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  68-81°F (20-27°C)
• Visibility:  16-100 feet (5-30 meters)
• Highlights:  lobster, crabs, shrimp, octopus, scorpionfish, blennies, nudibranchs, moray eels, grouper, trumpetfish, surgeonfish, filefish, white seabream, butterflyfish, angelfish, salema porgy, saddled seabream, pufferfish, parrotfish, red carp, tiger rays, dorado, schooling trevally, barracuda, green turtles, short-tail nurse sharks, guitar sharks, 1.5-meter wingspan stingrays, eagle and manta rays, pods of dolphins and humpback whales, many wrecks including Tacoma wreck, Konnke Thie, Konnahke, and the Red Star

For a more detailed review of Dakar scuba diving, check out this post:

• Dakar Senegal Scuba Diving

Mozambique

With twice the area of California, a 1,535-mile (2,470-kilometer) coastline, and numerous offshore islands and reefs, Mozambique offers a great list of megafauna on its many pristine dive sites across the length of the shoreline.  Interesting subsea terrain of fringing reefs, rocks, walls, pinnacles, and arches are richly encrusted with a great diversity of hard and soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges.  There is an array of macro critters, reef tropicals, and pelagics to go with seasonal mantas, whale sharks, and humpback whales, and an astounding list of other sharks, rays, pelagics, dolphins, and even dugongs.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  73-84°F (23-29°C)
• Visibility:  80-130 feet (24-40 meters)
• Highlights:  leaf fish, peacock flounders, frogfish, nudibranchs, crocodilefish, lionfish, snappers, sweetlips, grouper, fusiliers, moray eels, schooling trevally, barracuda, tuna and other pelagics, leopard, silvertip, hammerhead, tiger, bull, blacktip and whitetip reef, and guitar sharks, marble stingrays, eagle rays, dolphins, dugongs,  whale sharks, and manta rays appear from November through April with humpback whales coming from June through October

For a more detailed review of Mozambique scuba diving, check out this post:

• Best Scuba Diving Mozambique

Aliwal Shoal, South Africa

Aliwal Shoal is a fossilized sand dune 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) offshore from Umkomass in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.  This Marine Protected Area (MPA) benefits from warm currents running along the coastline from the north that bring plankton and nutrients enriching the bountiful reef of hard and soft corals, and sponges.  The subsea terrain consists of rocky areas, overhangs, and caverns that make a good habitat for a rich variety of macro critters, reef tropicals, and megafauna.  A fantastic array of turtles, rays, pelagics, cetaceans, and many species of shark are the highlights.  Ragged-tooth sharks migrate for breeding from June to November, whale sharks in summer, and a baiting program brings in many shark species with masses of oceanic blacktips and individual tiger sharks common.  The pilchard run can be breathtaking, as well, and there are also wrecks to explore at recreational depths.  Passage through the surf to get to the shoal makes for an exciting boat trip and currents can be strong at times.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  70-79°F (21-26°C)
• Visibility:  10-130 feet (3-40 meters)
• Highlights:  mollusks, crustaceans, flatworms, sea spiders, seahorses, anemones, scorpionfish, sea moths, lionfish, octopus, nudibranchs, eels, stonefish, paperfish, frogfish, triggerfish, potato cod, cardinalfish, sergeant majors, soldierfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, wrasses, large stingrays, green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles, dolphins, humpback whales, eagle, mobula, and manta rays, kingfish, tuna, barracuda, from June to November ragged-tooth sharks migrate from the south for breeding, whale sharks in summer, oceanic blacktip, tiger, hammerhead, thresher, Zambezi (bull), dusky, whitetip reef, and giant guitar sharks, billions of South African pilchards run from May through July, wrecks – MV Produce, SS Nebo

For a more detailed review of Aliwal Shoal scuba diving, check out this post:

• Aliwal Shoal Scuba Diving South Africa

Seychelles

Situated below the equator 300 miles (480 kilometers) to the east of mainland Africa, the 115 islands of Seychelles have an inviting warm climate and great diving year-round.  The granite-based undersea topography is not as rich in corals as Caribbean or Southeast Asian sites, but it is pristine and supports diverse marine life rich in macro critters, reef tropicals, and the main larger attractions like turtles, a variety of sharks including bull, silvertip, hammerhead, and whale sharks, stingrays, eagle and manta rays, and pelagics like marlin and swordfish.

• Dive Season:  year-round (the best season for whale sharks is October and November)
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  78-84°F (26-29°C)
• Visibility:  65-100 feet (20-30 meters)
• Highlights:  nudibranchs, spiny lobsters, octopus, Spanish dancers, mantis shrimp, lionfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, squirrelfish, surgeonfish, rabbitfish, lionfish, parrotfish, batfish, giant groupers, bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasses, hawksbill and green turtles, swordfish, marlin, sailfish, barracuda, ribbon-tailed stingrays, grey and whitetip reef sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, nurse sharks, silvertip sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, manta and eagle rays, wrecks – Ennerdale and Aldebaran

For a more detailed review of Seychelles liveaboards and scuba diving, check out this post:

• Scuba Diving the Seychelles – Liveaboards

Check the Price & Details on Seychelles Liveaboards

Cape Verde

Spread over a broad area, Cape Verde (Republic of Cabo Verde) is an archipelago of 10 main islands 350 miles (570 kilometers) off the coast of Senegal, West Africa.  Warm tropical waters combined with cooler Atlantic currents on a volcanic subsea terrain of sandy bottoms, rocky formations, caverns, walls, and crevices provide habitat for a wide range of marine life.  There are colorful invertebrates in the form of encrusting corals and sponges and a variety of macro critters including many crustaceans and nudibranchs along with scorpionfish, frogfish, morays, and a variety of reef fish.  Currents in some areas bring nutrients that encourage a variety of turtles, sharks, mantas, game fish like tuna and wahoo, dolphins, and whales to spend time around the islands.  In addition, there are remains of 70 historic wrecks and a number of divable more recent ones.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  73-81°F (23-27°C)
• Visibility:  33-140 feet (10-40 meters)
• Highlights:   moray eels, nudibranchs, slipper, and spiny lobsters, shrimp, sea spiders, frogfish, cushion starfish, scorpionfish, sea snakes, surgeonfish, cape yellowtails, sergeant majors, trumpetfish, filefish, pufferfish, angelfish, cardinalfish, goatfish, stingrays,  groupers, tuna, wahoo, schools of barracuda, sand tiger, nurse, lemon, hammerhead, mako, tiger, bull and whale sharks, manta rays, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles, dolphins, pilot whales, year-round humpback whales, wrecks – Kwarcit Wreck, Teliarte Wreck, Lost Anchor, Santo Antao Wreck, Dajarti Wreck

For a more detailed review of Cape Verde scuba diving, check out this post:

• Scuba Diving Cape Verde Islands

Canary Islands

Set 62 miles (100 kilometers) west of Morocco, the 7 main islands and numerous islets of the Canary Islands have a volcanic subsea terrain influenced by the warm Gulf Stream, Canary currents, and cold ocean currents with lots of nutrients coming from more tropical areas.  The corals aren’t rich but the topography of ledges, lava flows, caverns, and boulders supports 550 fish species and 1,000 invertebrates.  There are 3 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to help nurture and maintain the pretty rich macro life and reef tropicals with many large attractions that include a variety of rays, sharks, turtles, pelagics, and cetaceans.  Most of the mammals and pelagics are there year-round with mantas more common in September.  In addition, there are dozens of wrecks from many eras and an underwater gallery of sculptures called Museo Atlantico with 35 works of art creating a surreal reef scene.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature: lows in January of 66°F (19°C) and highs of 74°F (23°C) in August
• Visibility:  100 feet (30 meters) or better
• Highlights:  moray eels, garden eels, crabs, sea urchins, nudibranchs, seahorses, octopus, cuttlefish, scorpionfish, trumpetfish, damselfish, pufferfish, glass-eyes, goatfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, boxfish, drummers, groupers, jacks, marlin, tuna, mobulas, common and marbled stingrays, eagle and manta rays, blacktip, whitetip, nurse, guitar, angel, hammerhead, mako, bull, silky, and whale sharks, 400 resident pilot whales, sperm whales, beaked whales, false killer whales, orcas, dolphins, 5 species of turtle (green, hawksbill, leatherback, Kemps Ridley, and loggerhead)

For a more detailed review of Canary Islands scuba diving, check out this post:

• Best Scuba Diving the Canary Islands

Sodwana Bay, South Africa

Sodwana Bay is located just down the coastline from the excellent diving in Mozambique in the far northeast corner of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province.  The dive sites are set on the sandstone continental shelf with 1,200 species of fish and 100 species of coral that is mostly in pristine condition.  Surfers are delighted with the breaks and there is generally north to south drift for divers.  Macro life and reef tropicals are diverse and the megafauna of pelagics, stingrays, mantas, sharks, dolphins, and whales is truly impressive.  Mantas, ragged-tooth sharks, and leatherback and loggerhead turtles all migrate to the area from December through February with humpback whales coming from June through October.  Of note for the technical community, Sodwana Bay’s Jesser Canyon is the site where divers approached coelacanths at 330 feet (100 meters).

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  70-84°F (21-29°C) with the low in August and high in January
• Visibility:  usually 50 feet (15 meters) or better
• Highlights:  seahorses, ghost pipefish, scorpionfish, paperfish, lobster, nudibranchs, anemones, giant clams, morays, butterflyfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, sea goldies, fusiliers, surgeonfish, trumpetfish, hawkfish, numerous varieties of snapper and sweetlips, giant potato cod, stingrays, reef sharks, barracuda, jacks, pelagics, seasonal migrations of whale sharks, ragged-tooth sharks, nesting turtles, right and humpback whales, dolphins, manta rays, extreme technical divers located coelacanths at 100 meters (350 feet) in Jesser Canyon

For a more detailed review of Sodwana Bay scuba diving, check out this post:

• Diving Sodwana Bay South Africa

False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

False Bay is a protected area on the south side of Cape Town.  The west side of the bay is generally rocky with more steep drop-offs when compared to the east side of predominantly sandy bottoms.  Current is not much of a factor but surface chop gets more intense during the summer months when the southeasterly winds kick up.  There is an extensive cool water reef of mostly soft corals, sponges, sea fans, other invertebrates, and kelp, with diverse macro life, reef fish, and a large number of small sharks like shy sharks and catsharks, along with the much larger seven-gill shark, and great white sharks which come to feed on the up to 60,000 Cape Fur seals that take refuge on Seal Island in mid-bay.  Many dive shops operate shark cage dives there to allow a close look.  There is also a large colony of African penguins (jack-ass penguins) near Simon’s Town and several wrecks mostly at depths suitable for advanced and technical divers.

• Dive Season:  year-round
• Skill Level:  beginner to advanced
• Water Temperature:  54-61°F (12-61°C)
• Visibility:  16-68 feet (5-20 meters)
• Highlights:  crinoids, brittle stars, sea stars, sea pens, anemones, crinoids, lobster, crabs, octopus, cuttlefish, dozens of species of nudibranch, horsefish, strepies, pufferfish, Roman fish, Hottentot seabream, stumpnoses, a large number of sharks like puffadder shy sharks, leopard catsharks, pyjama sharks, and gully sharks, seven-gill sharks, African penguins (jack-ass penguins), Cape fur seals, great white sharks, wrecks – SAS Pietermaritzburg, Clan Stuart, Lusitania

For a more detailed review of Cape Town scuba diving, check out this post:

• Scuba Diving Cape Town South Africa

For information on cold water scuba gear, please check my post:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

Other African & Southwest Indian Ocean Scuba Diving

For my reviews of some other African and Southwest Indian Ocean scuba diving areas, please check these posts:

• Protea Banks Diving South Africa
• Scuba Diving Mombasa Kenya
• Zanzibar Scuba Diving Review
• Scuba Diving Mauritius Review
• Scuba Diving Reunion Island

Photography in Africa

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, marine life, sharks, turtles, shipwrecks, and beautiful and historic onshore targets, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on the best scuba diving in Africa interesting and useful.  If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<