19/08/2021
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa was rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. The abundance of sea life is what drew him here, and is now what modern day scuba divers love too!! Especially the shark population🦈.
The sea temperature during summer months averages a warm 24 Celsius (75 Fahrenheit). In the winter the sea temperature doesn't drop much below 19 Celsius (66 Fahrenheit), as the Aliwal Shoal lies on the inner edge of the Mozambique current. This current is rich in nutrients, which results in the plethora of marine life here.
Aliwal Shoal is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) offshore of the small KwaZulu-Natal town of Scottburgh. The Shoal itself is a rocky reef, which was named after the sailing vessel Aliwal. The Aliwal ship almost cashed on the rocks in 1849.
Scuba divers that frequent this dive, say that the thrill of the rocky ride over the breaker to get there is second only to the dive itself. Aliwal Shoal is a large rocky area in the middle of a vast sandy plain. There are many caves and rocky overhangs too, many of which are home to the 'Raggies' or ragged tooth sharks.👌
At Aliwal Shoal you are likely to see 15 to 40 sharks at one time. This is what attracts many of the scuba divers here. You can also see:
- Black tip reef sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks (or Zambezi's), as they come to the area to mate.
- Manta rays.
- Moray eels.
- Huge stingrays.
- Sweetlips.
- Potato grouper (also known as potato bass or cod).
- Turtles.
- At certain time of the year, you can also hope to see dolphins, humpbacks, whale sharks and hammerheads.
- Plus many pelagic and coral fish that frequent the 3 mile (5 kilometer) long reef or shoal.
If you are keen and want to explore the Aliwal Shoal on your next diving adventure trip, let us know.
For bookings contact us on:
📞 073 398 5021/ 071 911 8883
📧 [email protected]
www.crystal-divers.co.za
