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Wildlife · Country Guide

South Africa

Two oceans, kelp forests, sharks, and winter pelagic expeditions

Updated Mar 4, 2026 • 14 sources

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Wildlife In South Africa

Browse the full species list linked to approved dive spots across South Africa.

Photo of Nudibranch
molluscs

Nudibranch

10 linked spots

green and black fish in body of water
rays

Stingrays

10 linked spots

Photo of Octopus
molluscs

Octopus

9 linked spots

Photo of Sand Tiger Shark
sharks

Sand Tiger Shark

Carcharias taurus

8 linked spots

crab on rock
crustaceans

Crab

7 linked spots

gray snake photography
rays

Moray Eel

7 linked spots

a large group of sea lions on the beach
other-mammals

Fur Seal

6 linked spots

brown octopus swimming under the sea
molluscs

Cuttlefish

4 linked spots

Great white shark at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, August 2006. Shot with Nikon D70s in Ikelite housing, in natural light. Animal estimated at 11-12 feet (3.3 to 3.6 m) in length, age unknown.
sharks

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

4 linked spots

Green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Moorea, French Polynesia
turtles

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

4 linked spots

a close up of a sea anemone on the ocean floor
saltwater-fishes

Frogfish

3 linked spots

Photo of Grouper/Basslets
saltwater-fishes

Grouper/Basslets

3 linked spots

Humpback Whale underwater shot
whales

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

3 linked spots

Photo of Loggerhead Turtle
turtles

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

3 linked spots

Photo of Shrimp
crustaceans

Shrimp

3 linked spots

Photo of Whitetip Reef Shark
sharks

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

3 linked spots

dolphin in body of water
dolphins

Bottlenose Dolphin

2 linked spots

Shark swimming with striped fish underwater
sharks

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

2 linked spots

Photo of Oceanic Blacktip Shark
sharks

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

2 linked spots

Photo of Reef Manta Ray
rays

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi

2 linked spots

Photo of Seal
other-mammals

Seal

2 linked spots

Photo of Wrasse
saltwater-fishes

Wrasse

2 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in some water
saltwater-fishes

Angelfish

1 linked spots

A blacktip reef shark swims over sandy seabed.
sharks

Blacktip Reef Shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

1 linked spots

Three dolphins swimming in clear blue ocean water
dolphins

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

1 linked spots

a blue and yellow fish on a coral reef
saltwater-fishes

Damselfish

1 linked spots

Gestreifter Adlerrochen ( Pteromylaeus bovinus )
rays

Eagle Ray

1 linked spots

white shark under blue sky
sharks

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

1 linked spots

Photo of Guitarfish
rays

Guitarfish

1 linked spots

Photo of Jackfish
saltwater-fishes

Jackfish

1 linked spots

Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea Common name Spanish: Tinglar Photo by Claudia Lombard, USFWS Location, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands More information: [1]
turtles

Leatherback Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

1 linked spots

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) near Gilli Banta Island (near Komodo, Indonesia)
saltwater-fishes

Lionfish

1 linked spots

Photo of Pipefish
seahorses-and-pipefishes

Pipefish

1 linked spots

Photo of Scalloped Hammerhead
saltwater-fishes

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

1 linked spots

Photo of Scorpionfish
saltwater-fishes

Scorpionfish

Scorpaenidae

1 linked spots

Photo of Sea Wasp
jellyfish

Sea Wasp

1 linked spots

Photo of Skate Fish
rays

Skate Fish

1 linked spots

Photo of Snapper
saltwater-fishes

Snapper

1 linked spots

Photo of Spinner Dolphin
dolphins

Spinner Dolphin

Stenella longirostris

1 linked spots

Photo of Tiger Shark
sharks

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

1 linked spots

a whale swimming in the ocean with a lot of fish around it
sharks

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

1 linked spots

Photo of Wolf Eel
saltwater-fishes

Wolf Eel

Anarrhichthys ocellatus

1 linked spots