LATEST INFORMATION:

> 50 kms (31 Miles) south of Durban lies Umkomaas, on the banks of the Mkomazi River. (uMkhomazi means the place of the Cow Whales) due to the large numbers of whales which once used the estuary of the river as a nursery, giving birth in the shallows and lolling around in the warm waters. 

> The Aliwal Shoal is situated 5kms (3 miles) off the village of Umkomaas.

Some divers who regularly dive Aliwal say the dive is second only to the boat ride through the breaking surf to get to the shoal, some divers use up all their air on the ride out - before they even enter the water!

> Depths very from 6 to 27 meters (19 to 88 ft) and offer a tapestry of diversity. The Cathedral area of the reef is one of the more spectacular dives. Its inhabitants include the Ragged Tooth Shark, Loggerhead Turtle and Ribbon Tailed Rays.

> For the more daring diver the reef sports a landmark of international importance - Raggie Cave - one of three locations on the reef famed for its shark diving; the other two being Cathedral and Shark Gully. From July to December the Shoal is the congregation point for Ragged Tooth Sharks, where up to 60 sharks have been encountered at ant one time.

> In the history of diving the Shoal there has been no recorded incidence of aggression or attack between the thousands of sharks and the hundreds of divers frequenting the reef.

> The Aliwal Shoal is not just a vivid pageant of marine life but it is also the final resting-place of two unfortunate ships, which were once ripped asunder by the upper reaches of the reef. The Produce (1974), once a 2000 ton bulk carrier, lies on the sandy bottom at 30 meters (100 ft) and its rusted framework has formed an established reef, home to many species of fish, including 20 tame Brindle Bass. The Nebo which sank on its maiden voyage in 1884 lies at 25 meters (82 ft).

The Aliwal Shoal is like a magnet, inextricably drawing countless ocean species into its realm - now it extends the same invitation to you.

Water temperatures vary from between 19º C to 25º C (66º F to 77º F)

ALIWAL SHOAL: THE FACTS

This area, together with Protea Banks, is the best-known and most popular dive destination in the country.

> Aliwal Shoal is about 5 km (3 miles) off the mouth of the Umkomaas River
> Near Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal there are 2 wrecks - The Nebo, which sank on its maiden   voyage in 1884 - at 25 meters (82ft) and the The Produce (1974), 2 000 ton bulk tanker - at 30 meters (100ft). Its rusted framework has formed an established reef.

DIVE PLAN:

Whether you are a novice or experienced diver  you will find a dive site to suit your experience.

Dive sites are quite far from the shore.

All are dives are zodiac (rubber ducks) dives with launches through the surf

Dives are drift dives led by local divemasters.

BEST TIMES:

Diving is most dependable in the winter months from May to October. At this time, the visibility is good and the migratory spotted, ragged-tooth sharks are in residence.

Dive sites closer in shore are best dived in winter as the summer rain causes high run-off from many rivers. The resulting low visibility is exacerbated from time to time by industrial effluent from the nearby SAICCOR pulp-processing plant. Divers have nick-named this scourge the ‘purple death’.

All diving in South Africa is best done early. Firstly the “Raggies” are found in vast numbers on the reef but, as the day wears on, and the reefs are visited by more divers, the “Raggies” tend to move off. Also, in the mornings, the wind and the seas tend to pick up causing a chop on the water and this makes for unpleasant diving.

DIVERSIONS:

The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is an absolute pleasure for non-diving companions as it is a very well-developed tourist area catering mainly for family holidays.

> Lovely long beaches
> Golf, tennis, bowls, horse-riding
> Shopping malls and restaurants - a major feature of the area
> The Wild Coast Sun Casino - a short drive down the coast.