Diving in Natal
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Natal's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Natal, ecoregion. This region features 28 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Natal has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Natal (2)
Popular Spots in Natal (28)
Aliwal Shoal
Aliwal Shoal is a dive site located 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet). The site features rocky reefs and is known for diverse marine life, including various shark species, tropical and subtropical fish, and both hard and soft corals. Diving is typically accessed by boat.
Amanzi Harbour
Amanzi Harbour serves as a practical location for training in navigation, search and recovery, as well as night diving. This site is privately owned, and divers must secure permission prior to entry. During dives, divers can encounter various species including small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout.
Amanzi Rock Face
Amanzi Rock Face offers an easy dive experience at shallow depths, making it suitable for both novice and experienced divers. The site features several submerged trees and a small fishing boat that has sunk in the area. Marine life includes small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasional sightings of bass and trout. This location is also noted for its suitability for night diving.
Amphitheatre
Amphitheatre is characterized by its vibrant marine life and unique underwater structures. The site features a maximum depth of 27 meters, with the upper section of the amphitheater starting at 18 meters. Divers can encounter a variety of species, including Sea Goldies, Fusiliers, and Batfish, which contribute to the colorful underwater scenery. The entry to this dive site is from the shore.
Butchers
Butchers is characterized by a distinctive reef structure featuring large boulders, creating a mountainous terrain with numerous gullies and crevices to explore. The maximum depth at this site reaches 27 meters, while the top of the reef is situated around 19 meters deep. Divers can encounter a variety of marine life, including false stonefish, tiger angelfish, oceanic blacktip sharks, and loggerhead turtles.
Canyons
Canyons is an advanced dive site characterized by its maximum depth of 34 meters and an average depth of 27 meters. A notable feature of this site is a prominent mushroom rock adorned with a large green coral tree, surrounded by various sea goldies. The underwater landscape includes numerous gullies, overhangs, and crevices, providing habitats for a diverse array of reef fish and nudibranchs. Additionally, divers can encounter large schools of pelagic game fish in the area. Access to Canyons is by boat.
Castle
Castle is characterized by its pinnacles and structures resembling a castle, featuring swim-throughs, gullies, and overhangs. The maximum depth at this site reaches 25 meters, while the top of the reef is situated at a depth of 12 meters. Divers can expect to see a variety of marine life, including Pineapple fish, Oceanic Black Tip Sharks, Potato Bass, Yellow Fin Kingfish, and Ragged Tooth Sharks during their season, along with numerous nudibranchs.
Cathedral
Cathedral is a notable dive site located on Aliwal Shoal, featuring a maximum depth of 27 meters and a shallower area at 18 meters on top of the structure. The site is characterized by a diverse array of marine life, including resident Potato Bass and large populations of Sand Tigers, particularly from May to October. Other species that can be observed here include Cuttlefish, Paper Fish, Banded Pipe Fish, and Round Ribbon Tail Rays. Entry to the site is conducted via boat.
Chunnel
Chunnel is a dive site characterized by three prominent features: a pinnacle that rises steeply towards the surface, an overhang that serves as a refuge for more elusive marine species, and the notable Chunnel Cave. This site is frequented by sand tiger sharks during the winter months and hosts a diverse array of marine life year-round, including potato bass, turtles, shoals of snapper, and groups of patrolling batfish. The entry to the site is from the shore, making it accessible for divers of various skill levels.
Cohen’s Corner
Cohen’s Corner is located on the eastern shore of the lake and features a steep drop-off characterized by submerged structures and old trees. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of fish species, including smallmouth yellowfish, bigmouth yellowfish, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout. The site offers a unique underwater landscape that enhances the diving experience.
Cowrie
Cowrie is situated within the southern reefs of Aliwal Shoal, reaching a maximum depth of 27 meters, with the reef's summit located at 20 meters. The distance between the southern and northern pinnacles is approximately 120 meters. A notable feature of this site is the inner edge of the reef, which presents divers with a variety of coves and ledges, ideal for exploration and macro photography.
Crystal Cliffs
Crystal Cliffs is a shallow dive site ideal for beginner divers, located between M & M and Cohen's Corner. The site is characterized by a prominent cliff formation and is named after a large quartz deposit found in the area. Divers can expect to encounter various species including smallmouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout. The entry to the dive site is from the shore, making it accessible for divers looking for an easy entry point.
Eelskins
Eelskins is a dive site with an average depth of 13 meters and a maximum depth reaching 19 meters. Access to this site is exclusively by boat, and divers typically enter the water using a negative entry method. The marine life here includes species such as False Stone Fish, Peacock mantis shrimp, Pufferfish, and Boxfish. Divers can also observe soft corals, green corals, and nudibranchs, along with schools of goldies in the area.
Farm House
Farm House is located at coordinates -28.481200, 29.013200 and features the remnants of an abandoned farmhouse, although the main structure has not been located. Divers can find water tanks and various implements scattered across a gentle slope. The shallow waters are home to numerous submerged trees, making it an ideal site for beginner divers. Marine life includes small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasional sightings of bass and trout.
Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal
Inside Edge at Aliwal Shoal features a unique underwater topography characterized by pinnacles, gullies, swim-throughs, and caverns. This site is recognized for its rich biodiversity, making it one of the premier diving locations in Africa. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine species, including clownfish residing in anemones and colorful nudibranchs scattered throughout the area. The entry to this dive site is from the shore, providing easy access to the underwater landscape.
Landers
Landers offers a variety of dive spots, each providing a unique experience. The site features numerous crevices, holes, and gullies that are home to diverse marine life. Divers can encounter vibrant coral formations in various colors, along with a range of reef fish, including goldies. Additionally, sightings of multiple nudibranch species are common. Larger marine species such as ragged tooth sharks, blacktip sharks, Zambezi sharks, and hammerhead sharks may also be observed. The entry to this dive site is from the shore.
M & M
M & M is a dive site characterized by a cliff that transitions into a gentle rocky slope, making it accessible for divers of varying skill levels. This site features a wall dive, allowing for exploration of vertical structures. Marine life commonly observed includes small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout. The site is suitable for both novice and experienced divers, providing diverse underwater experiences.
Msea Hammer
Msea Hammer is a dive site characterized by a maximum depth of 40 meters and an average depth of 22 meters. The area features swim-throughs, caves, gullies, and crevices. Divers can expect to see Scalloped hammerhead sharks and Oceanic blacktip sharks, along with large groupers. The reef structure is home to a diverse array of colorful nudibranchs, enhancing the underwater experience.
MV Produce, wreck
The MV Produce wreck lies at a maximum depth of 32 meters on the sand and is located at coordinates -30.249800, 30.829600. This Norwegian bulk carrier sank on August 11, 1974, while carrying a full load of molasses. Divers can explore the remains of the ship, which measures 168 meters in length. The site is also known for the presence of the Harlequin goldie, a species endemic to the Kwa Zulu Natal area, first documented by Dr. Allan Connel in 1986.
Nebo Wreck, Aliwal Shoal
The SS Nebo wreck is a British steamboat that sank in 1884 while on its way from England to Durban. It went down near the coast of Aliwal Shoal, carrying a cargo of 4500 tonnes of metal intended for railway construction. Divers can explore the wreck, which is home to various marine life including bat fish, barracudas, and occasionally salmon 'dagga', as well as stingrays, bull sharks, crocodile sharks, and guitar sharks. The site is accessible by boat.
North Sands
North Sands is characterized by a significant sand area bordered by rocky structures. During the winter months, from April to October, divers can observe a variety of marine life including Rays, Sand Sharks, and Sand Tigers. Additionally, the site is home to Frogfish, Nudibranchs, Trigger Fish, Hawkbill Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, and Paperfish.
Outside Edge, Aliwal Shoal
Outside Edge at Aliwal Shoal is a dive site that requires a minimum qualification of Advanced Open Water diver due to its maximum depth of 27 meters. Access to this site is exclusively by boat. Divers can explore the reef wall, which is home to a variety of marine life, including macro species such as cuttlefish and nudibranchs, as well as the rare Hawaiian red lobster. The depth and conditions make this site unsuitable for beginner divers.
Pinnacles
Pinnacles consists of a series of rock formations resembling mountains, featuring numerous crevices, gullies, and ledges that divers can explore. The site reaches a maximum depth of 18 meters, with the shallowest areas located at 5 meters. Marine life observed here includes False Stone Fish, Peacock mantis shrimp, Pufferfish, Boxfish, and various soft and green corals, along with nudibranchs and schools of goldies.
Protea Banks
Protea Banks is an advanced dive site characterized by depths exceeding 30 meters. The site is accessed via a boat from Shelley Beach, approximately 6 kilometers away. Divers can encounter a variety of shark species including blacktip sharks, bull sharks, dusky sharks, great hammerhead sharks, great white sharks, guitarfish, sandtiger sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and tiger sharks.
Raggies Cave
Raggies Cave features a significant overhang with a swim-through, attracting sand tiger sharks during the winter and spring months. The site has a maximum depth of 18 meters and an average depth of 11 meters. Divers can also encounter various marine species, including Starry Morays, Ragged Scorpionfish, Clownfish, Lizard Fish, nudibranchs, Potato Bass, and Octopus.
South Sands
South Sands features a prominent sand patch encircled by reef structures, with a maximum depth of 14 meters and an average depth of 11 meters. This site is known for the presence of large groups of rays and guitar sharks, which can often be observed utilizing the sandy area. The clear sand patch serves as a notable habitat for these species, allowing for easy viewing of their movements.
Sunken Forest
Sunken Forest is a shallow dive site with a maximum depth of 12 meters. The area is characterized by scattered rocks and submerged trees, providing habitat for various fish species. Beyond 12 meters, a silty slope descends into deeper waters, reaching depths of up to 30 meters close to the shore. Divers can expect to see small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout during their dive.
The Quarry
The Quarry is a submerged site resulting from a flooded quarry, with a maximum depth of 12 meters. It is sheltered from wind on three sides, making it a suitable location for training dives, especially during windy conditions. Divers can expect to encounter various species such as small mouth yellows, big mouth yellows, barbel, carp, and occasionally bass and trout.