Cathedral
Aliwal Shoal · South Africa
Sandstone amphitheater in the middle of Aliwal Shoal — winter aggregation site for ragged tooth (sand tiger) sharks. Dozens stack inside the bowl from June through November. Tiger sharks are commonly spotted in summer baited dives on the same reef.
Conditions
Depth
18 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
18 to 26°C
Temperate wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Egyptian Goose
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 198 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Village Weaver
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 151 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
African Woolly-Necked Stork
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 170 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Ragged-tooth shark
Last confirmed Nov 15, 2025 · 45 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Potato bass
Last confirmed Nov 10, 2025 · 15 records
Very likely
Most dives
Brindle bass
Last confirmed Apr 12, 2025 · 3 records
Rare
Now and then
Tiger shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear