The Cape Peninsular : The Facts

The Cape Peninsula is renowned for its great scenic beauty. The Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet not at Cape Point but at Cape Agulhus. The South Western Cape is affected by both the Agulhas and Benguela currents. This allows the diver in the Cape Peninsula to dive in two very different ocean environments. The temperatures in the two oceans differ considerably. The Atlantic, on the west has temperatures between 8°C (27F) and 14°C (48F) and on the False Bay side around 17°C (58F) - 20°C (68F). This difference in sea temperatures is responsible for a marvellous diversity of underwater life and scenery, so the Cape Diver literally enjoys the best of two worlds. 

The coast is a graveyard of shipwrecks, most of which met their fate during spectular winter storms and many interesting wreck dives can be done from a boat or from the shore.

Kelp beds are dense and plentiful and take some getting used to. The reef life is spectular. Hard and soft cold-water corals in shades of pale pink, bright purple, red and orange are set off by a background of suplhur-yellow or bright orange sponges, and bright blue, violet or pale green anemones. It is not uncommon for observant divers to be rewarded by the sighting of between five and 15 different species of nudibranchs on one dive.

The eastern coast of the Cape Peninsula comprises the western side of False Bay. The area is well populatred with a series of suburbs nestled in between the mountain and the sea.

In winter, the prevailing north-westerly winds bring rain, and celan and flatten the seas the they blow offshore. This is consequently a great time to dive this lovely coast - if you can brave the inclement topside weather. The good road infrastructure makes it easy to reach most of the dives sites from land, and shore dives are the norm.

The water along this side of the bay is always a few degrees warmer than that of the western side of the Peninsula and can reach as high as 18^oC (65^oF), although it can drop as low as 12^oC (54^oF). The visibility is usually between 5 and 10m (16 - 33ft) but can reduce to almost zero when the south-easter has been blowing (usually in summer). It can, howver, quite often be a spectacular 30m (100ft) in winter.

The western seaboard must rate as one of the most scenic areas in the country, wiht spectacular drives along the steep mountain cliffs, leading to superb dive sites which often have excellent visibility in clear, cold water. While some of these sites can only be reached by boat, most are accessible from shore.

Diving in the Cape: The Facts
Seal Dives
A large population of Cape Fur Seals congergates on Duiker Island, 10 minutes by boat from Hout Bay.
Seals are agile swimmers. Their pups are very friendly and will swim close to the diver and playfully nudge and bite at his fins and masks, thus providing ideal photo opportunities
Dive the Big 5 offers structured courses in seal diving,  with theoretical sessions and lots of practical fun.

Wreck Dives
The Western Seaboard (Atlantic Ocean) has a fantastic diversity of wreck dives. Winter storms have forced many small and large ships to founder on the rugged shoreline between Cape Point and Cape Town.
Wrecks date from the 1600´s to the present.
On the Eastern Seaboard (in False Bay), there are a number of wreck dives. Some of these wrecks are naval vessels scuttled to form artificial reefs

Diversions
Easter Seaboard
> Explore the Cape winelands
> Table Mountain by cableway
> Cape Point Nature Reserve where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet
> Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
> Chapman´s Peak Drive
> The many and varied attractions of the city of Cape Town

Western Seaboard
> The busy fishing harbour of Hout Bay
> Take walks along Long Beach - stretching from Noordhoek to Kommetjie
> Table Mountain by cableway
> Enjoy Clifton Beach