Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Aliwal Shoal location page.
Overview
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.
Briefing note
Deep, current-swept advanced reef reached only by boat; surf launches are weather-dependent and trips cancel in big swell. Most dives are baited shark drifts - good buoyancy and nitrox recommended, and short no-deco bottom times at 30m+. Nearest recompression chamber is in Durban.
What you'll see
5 species curated- year-roundBull shark
- seasonalScalloped hammerheadPeak: Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- seasonalRagged-tooth sharkPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- seasonalTiger sharkPeak: Mar · Apr · May
- seasonalGiant guitarfishPeak: Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24–26 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Feb | 24–26 °C | 12–25 m | moderate |
| Mar | 24–26 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Apr | 23–25 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| May | 22–24 °C | 10–18 m | moderate |
| Jun | 21–23 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Jul | 20–22 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Aug | 20–22 °C | 8–18 m | strong |
| Sep | 20–22 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Oct | 21–23 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Nov | 22–24 °C | 12–22 m | moderate |
| Dec | 23–25 °C | 12–22 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
Book your trip to Aliwal Shoal
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more