With its vibrant reefs, abundant tropical fish, deep wrecks, sharks, kelp forests and diverse marine life, South Africa has some of the most varied diving in the world. The best and warmest sites are in sub-tropical KwaZulu-Natal on the north east coast of the country. Sodwana Bay is South Africa’s diving Mecca, but there are a number of alternatives on this coastline.  On a good day, diving its pristine tropical reefs must be right up there with the Red Sea or the Barrier Reef. The brightly coloured sponges, corals and vast shoals of colourful fish, particularly on the reefs further out to sea, are mind-blowing.  Ragged tooth sharks are seasonal visitors, dolphins are regularly sighted and you will occasionally encounter whale sharks, manta rays and even sea horses. 

The reefs of Aliwal Shoal, south of Durban, are also superb.  They offer wrecks, arches, caves and other dramatic features and, of course, the chance to get up close and personal with bull, tiger, black-tip and ragged tooth sharks. The Shoal, and nearby Protea Banks, are often rated by international dive publications as two of the top sites to dive with these apex predators.

The Eastern Cape is the transition zone between the warm water that runs down the east coast and the nutrient rich cold water of the Cape, and this makes for particularly diverse marine life. Port Elizabeth offers reliable diving all year round, with both pretty corals and regular shark sightings.  It is also one o