Aliwal Shoal, Umkomaas - Diving Holiday Destination

Aliwal Shoal, Umkomaas (South Africa)

Umkomaas, lies on the banks of the Mkomazi River, 50 kms (31 Miles) south of Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa."UMkhomazi" means the place of the Cow Whales, due to the large numbers of whales which once used the estuary of the river as a nursery, giving birth in the shallows and lolling around in the warm waters.

The town of Umkomaas on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast in South Africa, with its spectacular sea views, developed on a hill crowning the river's southern bank and became a premier holiday destination. Today, the town's colonial-style architecture is 'base camp' for scuba divers from around the world.

The World Famous Aliwal Shoal is a coral reef situated 5kms (3 miles) off Umkomaas, and is home to many spectacular dive sites, wrecks and marine life, including Ragged Tooth sharks.

Climate

The South Africa Summer runs from November to February, when most of the country is characterised by warm to hot weather. December and January are the main summer holiday months when people flock to the beaches. In March and April, Autumn brings warm days and cool nights. The climate is at its best at this time in most parts of the country. Beginning of June to the end of September, you can expect cold conditions in most of the country and rain in the Western Cape. Air Temp 40-70’F.

Dive Facts

Water temperatures vary from between 19º C to 25º C (66º F to 77º F)

Dive Attractions

See our Dive Site Directory for more detailed info on Aliwal Shoal and its dive sites. For South Africa scuba diving clubs see our our Dive Club Directory. Both directories are in the Dive Guide.

Diving is most dependable in the winter months from May to October. At this time, the visibility is good and the migratory spotted, ragged-tooth sharks are in residence.

Dive Depths very from 6 to 27 meters (19 to 88 ft) and offer a tapestry of diversity. The Cathedral area of the reef is one of the more spectacular dives. Its inhabitants include the Ragged Tooth Shark, Loggerhead Turtle and Ribbon Tailed Rays.

For the more daring diver the reef sports a landmark of international importance - Raggie Cave - one of three locations on the reef famed for its shark diving; the other two being Cathedral and Shark Gully. From July to December the Shoal is the congregation point for Ragged Tooth Sharks, where up to 60 sharks have been encountered at ant one time.

In the history of diving the Shoal there has been no recorded incidence of aggression or attack between the thousands of sharks and the hundreds of divers frequenting the reef.

The Aliwal Shoal is not just a vivid pageant of marine life but it is also the final resting-place of two unfortunate ships, which were once ripped asunder by the upper reaches of the reef. The Produce (1974), once a 2000 ton bulk carrier, lies on the sandy bottom at 30 meters (100 ft) and its rusted framework has formed an established reef, home to many species of fish, including 20 tame Brindle Bass. The Nebo which sank on its maiden voyage in 1884 lies at 25 meters (82 ft).

Other

Electricity: 220/230 volts AC . Three round pronged plugs are universal and most hotel rooms have 110-volt outlets for small appliances

Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%; English widely understood in tourist locations.

Currency : rand (ZAR)

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