With the world-class dive sites of Aliwal Shoal all within easy reach, a stay at Agulhas House gives you the chance to get up close and personal with some of the world's greatest predators…… SHARKS!
During your stay, you will dive some of the best diving sites along the 3km reef of Aliwal Shoal. You can hope to encounter many species of shark found around these waters including tigers, bulls, hammerheads, oceanic blacktips, ragged tooth, dusky, and guitar sharks. This spectacular reef is also home to a huge variety of other marine life including whales, dolphin, turtles, manta, devil rays, eagle rays, ribbon tails rays, eels, game fish, and many species of reef fish.
With over 25 years of local experience, the professional crew at the onsite dive centre will ensure you get the very best from your experience of diving one of the top dive spots in the world. Your package includes cylinders, weights, nitrox, permits, regular dives and baited shark dives. All dive masters are fully qualified and registered shark dive guides and full briefings on underwater behaviour take place at the onsite dive centre before getting kitted up and onto your RIB ready for your adrenaline filled launch from Umkomaas River through rolling surf!
Diving is generally carried out in the morning as windier afternoons make launches more difficult, and most are drift dives in the blue often with strong currents. There is a great selection of dive sites, all up to 30 minutes away, and diving courses are not offered as the diving package is for qualified divers only. There are a maximum of 8 divers per boat plus a dive guide.
Raggie’s Cave - a popular site and great place to see ragged tooth sharks. Here you will find a massive overhang with two swim throughs, a cave with large sand patch and a long overhang. Max depth is 18m. Shark Alley is a gully that drops off of Raggie’s Cave with a sandy bottom and stony outcrops, home to potato bass, stunning sea fern.
Cathedral – a circular cavern spirals upwards to pothole entrance at 18m. A massive arch dominates an amphitheatre like hole that mimics light through church windows, the arch is encrusted with marine life. You can see raggies, ray, cuttlefish, and resident frogfish. Max depth 26m
Pinnacles – ridge of sharp rock and jutting overhangs, deep potholes, hidden caves, rays, turtles, colourful fish, slopes down to Raggie’s Cave and Manta Point. There are metal shards on the reef from Produce wreck. Max depth 18m
South Sands – this is a starting point for a great drift dive, the current is strong. Rays, guitar fish, sand sharks bury themselves in expanses of sand. Max depth 17m
Chunnel – this is a good dive site for Open Water qualified divers as the max depth is 14m. Sharks, turtles and rays can be seen here.
Manta Point – located east of Pinnacles, there are manta sightings during summer season and an abundance of corals and reef fish making it a great spot for photographers. Max depth 20m
North Sands – sandy bottom, dolphins, rays, giant guitar fish. Max depth 15m
Inside Edge – this site makes up the entire shoreward side of shoal and plunges 10m from reef plateau to sand. Good wall diving and drift diving with a strong current. Lots to see including macro shrimp, peacock mantis, sharks, nudibranch and clownfish. Max depth 25m
Outside Edge – here you can find a fantastic mix of macro, sharks, coral, hammerheads and whale sharks. Max depth 27m
Howards Castle – this site is 2km further south than the rest of the reef, baited shark dives take place here. The site mimics a castle with its ledges, overhangs and swim throughs. You can hope to see blacktips, raggies, nudibranch and the elusive pineapple fish. Max depth 25m
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