TRAVELSPECIAL
Snapper schools under reef overhangs
Aliwal Shoal , South Africa
There are many places to go diving in South Africa , but Aliwal Shoal offers the most excitement and variety . Highly seasonal and visited by different shifts of pelagic creatures , this reef is rightly considered one of the world ’ s greatest dive sites . It lies three miles off the coast of KwaZulu Natal – most divers use the town of Umkomaas to access it by launching powerful Zodiacs at a river mouth , punching through the surf .
The reef itself is classified as a ‘ marginal ’ environment , because it supports a variety of animals from tropical , temperate and subtropical reefs . For this reason , Aliwal is a sort of battlefield between coral and algae , but the diversity supports a variety life , and big schools of trevally and snapper are common .
There are also sharks , though you need to visit between July and November for the aggregations of grey nurse or ‘ ragged tooth ’ sharks . Shark feeds are popular , and in these warmer months can attract big tiger sharks in addition to the habituated oceanic blacktips and giant grouper .
Aliwal Shoal is an ever-changing crowd pleaser . Alongside the reef and its sharks , dolphins are frequently encountered and there are several wrecks , including the Norwegian bulk carrier MV Produce , which sank in 1974 .
Why winter ?
South Africa may be subtropical , but being in the southern hemisphere , the British winter is their summer ! Daily high temperatures are a bearable 27 ° C , while the water
averages 26 ° C , making it a comfortable destination for 5mm wetsuits . January through March is the warmest time of the year .
Costs
You can put together a very nice 10- day trip , flying via Durban , for around £ 2,000 . Check out Blue Ocean Dive resort , which has an affordable hotel , a well-equipped dive centre and a decent restaurant all under one roof blueoceandive . co . za
Curious potato grouper
Ragged-tooth sharks are a symbol of Aliwal Shoal
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