Aliwal Shoal Scuba Dive Sites

Tiger Shark Diving  http://www.aliwalshoal.co.uk/index.php/dive-sites/tiger-shark-diving

Due to the size of Aliwal Shoal there are various dive sites as listed below. The decision where to dive is based on a number of factors like current, visibility, current, fish seeen recently, sharks seen recently, time of year, diver capabilities. Wherever you or your dive charter decide to dive you are guaranteed to have a good dive.

Aliwal Shoal

• MV Produce Wreck
• Nebo Wreck
• Raggies Cave
• Cathederal
• Outside Edge
• Inside/Edge
• Chunnel
• Manta Point
• North Sands
• South Sands
• Shark Alley
• Pinnacles
• Eel Skin

The Produce Wreck

The wreck of the Produce, which sank in 1974 was a  Norwegian Bulk Molasses tanker. It struck the Aliwal Shoal on the North East Pinnacles in 1974. Fortunately no lives were lost. Her final resting place is in 30 metres of water (100ft) and makes an interesting wreck dive. Game fish such as Kob, Kingfish, Couta often circle the wreck. Brindle Bass share the wreck with lionfish and many colourful tropical species.

This is the area most often occupied by the ragged tooth shark and where the "Raggies" (Ragged Tooth Shark or Snad Tigers) all meet up to spend their winter holidays. (South African winter May - November). The actual cave is not very large and is part of a large overhang which forms the outer edge of what is sometimes called the mphitheatre. Although fierce looking the Raggies can be approached with caution. Average depth 12m maximum depth 18m.

The Nebo Wreck

The Nebos fatal time was in 1984 She sank in fair weather and went down with a cargo of railway material. Much to the delight of the locals who salvaged the timber and to this day still build from the remains!!! Fortunately no lives were lost. She finally settled in 30metres of water (100ft). She is still fairly intact today. The wreck is home to an abundance of reef fish and pelagic game fish often visit here.

Cathedral

This is a spectacular part of the reef and a  second home to the Ragged Tooth Sharks. Cathedral is for advanced divers. Called such because of the grand entrance from the outer edge to this round cavern which sits on the ocean bed at 26 meters and rises up to a pothole opening at 18 meters, this is one of the most popular dive sites on the shoal. Cathedral is also home to many resident rays which use the sandy bed as a sleeping place when the divers are not sneaking in to see if the Frog Fish is home. From here the most common route taken on a dive tour is from Cathedral along the outer edge, and up Shark Alley. The other route used, especially when qualification level is an issue, is from the opening at the top of Cathedral which is at 18 metres, and onto the South Sands.

Outside Edge

This is where you will often see Hammerhead Sharks where they patrol in mainly the summer months

Inside Edge

Depth average 15 metres. Maximum depth 24 metres

Inside Edge is the Western side of Aliwal Shoal. It is a wall that drops from the main shoal about 6 meters onto the sand. Ledges and caves provide shelter to many different species of fish. A must see section of Aliwal Shoal.

Sightings in this area are varied, from turtles to lion fish and  scorpion fish. Rays are often seen passing here also. Eels are often viewd here in the caves and cracks. 

With the right current and conditions the Inside Edge can be one of the best dives on Aliwal Shoal.

Chunel

Average depth 12metres. Maximum depth 16metres

The Chunnel area provides another exciting part of Aliwal Shoal. A smaller sandy patch that is surrounded by a rocky formation of the shoal, that provide many swim through's, caves and crevices.

During winter time Ragged Tooth Shark hide in one of the caves here, as well as those who patrol the area. Other sightings included a Potato Bass that resides in the Northern part of Chunnel, scorpionfish, eel's, octopus, turtles and many tropical fish.

Sand sharks and rays can be found on the sand at times. Corals include hard and leather, smooth horned and bushy whip coral.

Manta Point

Situated of the eastern side of the Pinnacles Manta Point. As the name suggests this is a popular spot for the visiting Manta Rays, and is haven to thousands of colourful reef fish. This dive has a maximum depth of around 20 metres and is en route to Raggies Cave should you choose to follow the spine of the Pinnacles in a SOutherley direction southwards to the Raggie Cave area.

South Sands

Also very popular with instructors because of the shallow depth of only 16-17 meters, "South Sands" is home to many Guitarfish, rays, and sand sharks. It has a ledge which runs the length of it and is home to many small fish and crustaceans. A great place to start when the current is a little strong and a drift dive is the order of the day. Further south of this area is a fantastic spot called "Eel skins", but is not often dived owing to the turn-around time of the dives.It is a long way from shore and is the farthermost southern section on the Aliwal Shoal that is dived. From here you can head to "Cathedral", "Raggies Cave", "North Sands", "Pinnacles", "Inner Edge" or "Manta Point".

Shark Alley

This section of Aliwal Shoal, leads from the outer edge of the shoal at a depth of 24 meters up to the opening to "Raggies Cave" which is at 18 meters.
Due to the huge depth change there is a very nice steep rock face to dive which forms the walls of the gully known as Shark Alley. The bottom is mostly sandy with a few rocky formations jutting out here and there. There are a number of caves going into the rock face and are home to a number of resident Potato Bass. There is also an amazing sea fern to be seen hanging off the face of the southern wall.

Pinnacles

This section is a long backbone of mountain-like rock formations that provide a haven for thousands of species of fish and is an amazing place to dive when you want to do a long, slow dive. The depth here averages between 5 meters and 18 meters, depending where you are on the ridges. There are some incredible deep potholes with caves that hide at the base of them. This provides a home for many rays and turtles. On the one side the Pinnacles slope down toward the Raggies Cave and Manta Point area and on the shore-side they gently slope down to the North Sands area. The sea facing ledges are a lot steeper than the ones which taper off gently towards the North Sands basin. The pinncles where the reason that the Produce Wreck is now available for divers to explore just off the northern point of the Aliwal Shoal. There are a few metal sections still lying on the reef believed to have come from the Produce.

Eel Skin

Maximum depth here is 18 metres
Situated at the South Westerly area of the Aliwal Shoal are plenty of sand gullies and sections of scattered reef with some swim throughs. Many tropical fish can be seen schooling here.

Tiger Shark Diving  http://www.aliwalshoal.co.uk/index.php/dive-sites/tiger-shark-diving