Bull shark confirmed 6 months agoPeak season now

Protea Banks

Aliwal Shoal · South Africa

A deep offshore reef 7.5 km off Shelly Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, running roughly 6 km between a Northern and Southern Pinnacle at 27-40 m. Agulhas-fed current draws seven shark species: bull (Zambezi) sharks year round, schooling scalloped hammerheads in spring and early summer, ragged tooth sharks gathering to mate in winter, and tiger sharks in autumn. Sardine Run baitfish funnel through in June and July. Dived as a current drift, often on a baited line, with the reef deep enough that bottom time is short.

Conditions

Depth

27 to 40 m

Advanced depths

Current

Often strong

Can pick up on the edge

Visibility

8 to 15 m

Clearest in the calm season

Water

20 to 26°C

5-7mm wetsuit

Month by month

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Water (°C)	24	24	24	23	22	21	20	20	20	21	22	23
Vis (m)	10	12	10	10	10	8	8	8	10	10	12	12
Current	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Strong	Strong	Strong	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate