Scuba Diving in South Africa
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
PLEASE NOTE : Our Diving packages are for Qualified Scuba Divers only!
We don't offer dive courses so dive sites won't be restricted by student divers on the boats.
The Aliwal Shoal is situated about 5-kilometers from the small diving town of Umkomaas and is rated as one of the top shark diving sites in the world. The Aliwal Shoal got its name due to a 3-mast vessel called the 'Aliwal' that almost collided with the Aliwal Shoal. The 'Aliwal' was under the command of Captain James Anderson who reported the Shoal.
Our Aliwal Shoal scuba dives are aimed at introducing scuba divers to the many species of shark found on the reefs around the Aliwal Shoal. Before each scuba dive we will give a briefing to help you to understand the behaviour of the sharks, ensuring you have a safe and knowledgeable scuba dive with the sharks. Observe the sharks, learn how to identify the different species, understand the sharks behaviour and find out how sharks interpret your behaviour in return.
While the main focus is to scuba dive with the many shark species found on the Aliwal Shoal including Tiger Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Dusky Sharks, Guitar Sharks, Bull Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks & more, the Aliwal Shoal is also home to a huge variety of other marine life including Whales, Dolphin, Turtles, Manta Rays, Devil Rays, Eagle Rays, Ribbontail Rays, Eels, Game Fish, Reef fish & more.
The wrecks of the MV Produce [1974] & the Nebo [1884] are great wreck dives at the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa with loads of marine life.
Between scuba dives we also try to spot Whales & Dolphin during the surface interval.
Shark Diving
Our daily Shark Diving takes place on the wrecks & reefs of the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa. Depending on the season & conditions, we select the dive sites that are best for scuba diving with sharks including Tiger Sharks, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Bull Sharks [known as Zambezi Sharks], Dusky Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Giant Guitar Sharks & sometimes other species
Our baited Tiger Shark diving takes place on the southern end of the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa. We start the baiting either on the southern point of the Aliwal Shoal or on a reef called Castle depending on the direction of the current. The baiting can takes up to an hour. We create an odour corridor to attract the Tiger Sharks as well as other species before entering the water to dive with the sharks.
Before the baited Tiger Shark Dive, we will give a full briefing to help you to understand their behaviour and how we behave in return. Tiger Sharks are very shy, they are also very inquisitive and intelligent animals which is why they are one of the ocean's apex predators and deserve the highest respect. As well as Tiger Sharks we also see Blacktip Sharks, Dusky Sharks and sometimes other species including Bull Sharks {known locally as Zambezi Sharks] and even the odd Hammerhead Shark.
Reef Diving
The Aliwal Shoal is home to a huge variety of marine life including Sharks, Whales, Whale Sharks, Dolphin, Turtles, Manta Rays, Devil Rays, Eagle Rays, Ribbontail Rays, Moray Eels, Game Fish, many species of reef fish & much more, which is why it is rated as one of the top-10 dive sites in the world!
Wreck Diving
Wreck Diving at the Aliwal Shoal is dependent on the current and conditions. There are two wrecks that we can scuba dive, the MV Produce [1974] & the Nebo [1884] which are also great dive sites with loads of marine life including Ragged Tooth Sharks, Huge Brindle Bass [a highlight], Ragged Scorpion Fish, Lesser Guitar Sharks, Turtles, Butterfly Rays, Ribbontail Rays, Moray Eels, Game Fish, many species of reef fish.