Diving in South Africa

In the past, South Africa was often overlooked as a scuba diving location. But the Republic of South Africa which has over 1, 700 mile or 2,798 kilometers of coastline fronting both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Considered by many be one the best outdoor adventure capital of the world, South Africa has become a prime international dive spot.

While traveling from one exotic scuba diving South Africa location to another, feel free to take in the natural beauty along with discovering many of the rich cultural traditions. And of course don't be afraid to be awe-stuck with wealth and variety of the undersea wildlife.

Diving in South Africa offers the animal lover and underwater photographer hundreds of opportunities to go home with an adventure of a lifetime.

Diving South Africa Hot Spots

While not a traditional diving spot, you can certain that snorkeling or swimming with penguins at Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula will bring a smile on the face of even the most hard-core scuba addict.

Playing with the big ones - Cage Diving with Great White Sharks

Many divers come to South Africa solely to experience something few people can say they have ever done. Dive with a Great White. Cage diving is the only way I know that you can look into the eyes a Great White without losing an arm or leg to their ever hungry jaws.

Cage diving is fairly new undersea sport in South Africa. Since South Africa was discovered to be part of area known as "shark alley", researchers and adventurers alike have come to scuba dive in reinforced cages and study, take photographs and otherwise experience this fantastic animal in the flesh...so to speak.

Another opportunity to view an animal even most oceanographer have never seen is to book a dive to track down the elusive whale shark. Although most sightings are nearer to Mozambique, occasionally divers off the South African coast have caught glances of this magnificent animal.

Diving in South Africa also offers an opportunity to swim inside a sardine run. A Sardine run is what occurs when cold and warm water merge together. These currents create a rich undersea buffet and billions of Sardines, or pilchards come together to feed.

In turn predators such as thousands of Bottlenose and Common dolphins hungrily follow the sardine run along the coastal waters, providing divers a wonderful opportunity to photograph these wonderful big animals and just marvel at this never to be forgotten spectacle.

And let's not forget the Manta Rays. The manta ray is the largest species of in family of rays. Adult Manta Rays have been known to have a "wing" span of 25 feet across and can weigh in at close to 2 and half tons or 5000lbs (2,300 kg). Typically these gentle giants are harmless but have even the most self-assured diver needs to wary of their barbed tail.

As you can see diving in South Africa can provide you with some the best opportunities you will ever if you want to experience diving with big animals.