Diving in Cape Town

Explore diving in Cape Town

The diving in the Western Cape and around Cape Town is some of the most exciting in the world. It certainly is one of the top 5 places to cage dive with great white sharks, but the underwater environment also offers much more than tremendous sharks.

Western Cape’s diving can generally be divided into three major areas: False Bay, the south coast and the Atlantic seaboard. Here divers will find four distinct habitats, namely rocky shores, reefs, kelp forests and sandy bottoms.

There are also a myriad of wrecks on both sides of the peninsula. You can expect colder waters and heavier currents on the western side which hosts a relatively small shelf before dropping into extremely deep waters. In False Bay to the east, current is minimal and the waters are warmer, attracting many species.

When to dive in Cape Town

Scuba diving in the Western Cape province of South Africa is possible year-round. Expect cooler temperatures during the winter season (June-August). However, the southern coast is much calmer and more accessible during these cooler months. On the other hand, the Atlantic coast becomes inaccessible during the winter months.

As a rule of thumb, the season in which you visit will determine where you dive. Water temperatures average between 55 and 63°F (13 and 17°C).

If you are looking for a thrill and the possibility of seeing something big, then diving in Western Cape is the right choice for you.

Book your diving in Cape Town

Common marine life sightings for Cape Town

More Information

Cape Town International Airport in the Western Cape is the second largest airport in South Africa and as such welcomes flights from around the world.

Are you flying from Zurich? Our partner Edelweiss will fly you to Cape Town. 23kg dive luggage is included in the flight price.

Fly with our Partner Condor from Frankfurt to Cape Town. With the Condor Activity Card your dive luggage flies for free.

It is also possible to reach Western Cape by train, car or bus from other parts of the country. The N1, N2, N12 and N7 highways connect Western Cape with other provinces in South Africa.

Time Zone

UTC+02:00

Phone

+27

Currency

ZAR

Voltage

230 V

Pressure

Bar (bar)

Plug

C, D, M, N

Languages

Afrikaans, English

1st Stage

DIN

International airports

Cape Town Intl. (CPT)

Thanks, from PADI.

This page wouldn't be possible without contributions from the following PADI members: Southern Tip Extreme Dive Centre. Disclaimer

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